Materialism and christian belief alvin plantinga according to materialism, human persons are material objects. Against materialism by alvin plantinga mp3 audio philosopher alvin plantinga presents a philosophical case against materialism. Why the materialist neodarwinian conception of nature is almost certainly false. Lynne rudder baker 2011 international journal for philosophy of religion 70 1. Evolutionary argument against naturalism wikipedia. Reassessing plantingas ontological argument for god. Where the conflict really lies science, religion, and naturalism alvin plantinga. Alvin plantingas evolutionary argument against naturalism formally stated. So lets stick with what is possible instead of making up hypotheticals. In opposition to plantinga, who rejects materialism about the human person, peter van inwagen has long argued for materialism. This is the first in a series of interviews about religion that i will conduct for the stone. Another of plantingas contributions to metaphysics concerns the metaphysics of the mind. Alvin plantinga materialism is the idea that human beings are material objects brains, perhaps, or some part of the brain without immaterial selves or souls.
He gives two arguments against materialism, or, if you think thats too negative, two arguments for substantial dualismsubstantial as opposed to some trivial versions of. Feb 09, 2014 this is the first in a series of interviews about religion that i will conduct for the stone. Carr so the guy is making logically valid deductions from premises that happen to be incorrect. He gives two arguments against materialism, or, if you think thats too negative, two arguments for substantial dualismsubstantial as opposed to some trivial versions of property dualism, and in accord with the platonic, augustinian, cartesian, and even. Alvin plantinga has a new, aptly titled essay in faith and philosophy 23. All but one of the eleven are printed here for the first time, all are of high quality, and all receive plantingas trademark treatment rigorous, perceptive, thorough. Plantingas argument against materialism maverick christian. Although plantinga cannot remember ever not having been convinced. Almost a decade ago, alvin plantinga articulated his bold and controversial evolutionary argument against naturalism. Yet many people seem to have a hard time understanding it. Alvin plantinga the following is the outline of the lecture prof.
Alvin plantinga, gods philosopher 3 he resolved to become a philosopher. His father, cornelius, was then a philosophy graduate student at the university of michigan. An evolutionary argument against naturalism by prof. T his is a collection of philosophical papers by alvin plantinga. Alvin plantinga, to be published by cambridge university press. Dec 27, 2012 plantingas evolutionary argument against naturalism eaan is currently one of the most widely discussed arguments targeting philosophical naturalism see, for example, beilby 2002. Feb 20, 2017 alvin plantinga is the person all material. Reformed epistemology was first clearly articulated in a collection of papers called faith and rationality edited by alvin plantinga and nicholas wolterstorff in 1983. Toward a commonsense answer to the special composition carmichael australasian journal of philosophy 93 3 alvin plantinga. Obrien professor of philosophy emeritus at notre dame university i give two arguments against materialism. Materialism is the idea that human beings are material objectsbrains, per haps, or some part of the brainwithout. An analysis of the arguments for and against materialism, naturalism.
Giberson, the christian century recommended for readers seeking a rigorous philosophical survey of complex religious thought. This intriguing line of argument raises issues of importance to epistemologists and to philosophers of mind, of religion, and of science. The god delusion is an extended diatribe against religion in general and belief in god in particular. Alvin plantinga, materialism and christian belief plantingas essay, which overlaps with his against materialism, faith and philosophy, 231.
Pdf on may 1, 2012, maarten boudry and others published alvin. Against materialism by alvin plantinga mp3 audio apologetics315. His modal ontological argument for foundational religious necessity is seen as an almost. Plantingas evolutionary argument against naturalism refuted. Plantinga s second argument seems to be an argument from ignorance. Perhaps paul very much likes the idea of being eaten, but when he sees a tiger, always runs off looking for a better prospect, because he thinks it unlikely the tiger he sees will eat him. Evaluating alvin plantingas evolutionary argument against. The probability of the reliability of our cognitive faculties, given that. Dawkins and daniel dennett whose recent breaking the spell is his contribution to this genre are the touchdown twins of current academic atheism. The argument was first proposed by alvin plantinga in 1993 and raises issues of interest to epistemologists, philosophers of mind, evolutionary biologists, and philosophers of religion. And we then come to materialism, which gutting thinks is a primary motive for being an atheist. Alvin plantinga was born 15 november 1932 in ann arbor, michigan. Jun 07, 2010 plantinga on dualism im in the process of writing the next podcast episode on alvin plantinga and his arguments around the idea of belief in god as a properly basic belief.
They are not immaterial things, or objects, or substances. We are fortunate to live under a constitutional system and a code of manners that by and large keep it from disturbing the social peace. Mackie stated that the following three propositions cannot all be true at the same time. Alvin plantinga is regarded as one of the foremost religious philosophers of the contemporary era. Themes from richard swinburne, bergmann and brower, eds. This is a video introducing the argument behind the evolutionary argument against naturalism developed by alvin plantinga. Naturalized truth and plantingas evolutionary argument. In 2002, james beilby edited a volume entitled naturalism defeated essays on plantingas evolutionary argument against naturalism. Reformed epistemology internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Against materialism, written on the fruits of materialism. Plantingas argument against naturalism stephen law. Alvin plantinga against materialism veritas vincit.
This collection of eleven critical essays, together with plantingas replies, examines his evolutionary argument against naturalism eaan. Alvin plantinga is professor of philosophy emeritus at the university of notre dame and is the author, most recently, of where the conflict really lies. The evolutionary argument against naturalism eaan is a philosophical argument asserting a problem with believing both evolution and philosophical naturalism simultaneously. Plantinga on the free will defense hugh lafollette. The dispute between realism and antirealism has been centerstage in western philosophy ever since kants. Alvin plantinga famously defends a version of the ontological argument that makes use of the notion of possible worlds. If this is really an argument about consciousness we are aware of the image in a more meaningful way than the computerthen that is a much more complicated and unresolved question, but if thats the case, plantinga still isnt saying anything new here. Alvin plantinga has recently turned his attention to materialism. His argument strategy is to use the modal intuitions of possibility and impossibility in relation to the mindbody problem. Alvin carl plantinga born 1932 is an american analytic philosopher who works primarily in the fields of philosophy of religion, epistemology particularly on issues involving epistemic justification, and logic. The argument was first proposed by alvin plantinga in 1993 and raises issues of interest to epistemologists, philosophers of mind, evolutionary biologists, and. Plantinga s probability arguments against naturalism and evolution 1997 by brandon fitelson and elliott sober off site pdf in chapter 12 of warrant and proper function, alvin plantinga constructs two arguments against naturalistic evolution.
Against materialism alvin plantinga materialism is the idea that human beings are material objectsbrains, per haps, or some part of the brainwithout immaterial selves or souls. Materialism is the idea that human beings are material objects brains perhaps, or some part of the brain without immaterial selves or souls. Many christians who have argued against christian materialism have. Jun 27, 2019 alvin plantinga against materialism pdf posted on june 27, 2019 by admin toward a commonsense answer to the special composition carmichael australasian journal of philosophy 93 3 alvin plantinga.
Plantinga on the free will defense hugh lafollette east tennessee state university i in his recent book god, freedom, and evil, alvin plantinga for mulates an updated version of the free will defense which, he argues, successfully counters all attacks by the atheist. Alvin plantinga, materialism and christian belief philpapers. Against materialism alvin plantinga faith and philosophy. From 1963 to 1982, plantinga taught at calvin college before accepting an appointment as the john a. Obrien professor of philosophy at the university of notre dame. Plantinga presents the logical problem of evil as set out by the famous philosopher j. Plantinga against materialism or for immaterialism. Peter van inwagen sees this as a difficulty mqterialism materialism. This account, he con tends, shows that it is not within gods power as. Articles 2016 law, cause, and occasionalism, in reason and faith. Sep 27, 2012 alvin plantinga, utrecht, the netherlands, 1995 1. Obrien professor of philosophy emeritus at notre dame university. Where the conflict really lies is an ambitious volume a careful reading repays the reader with insights developed by one of the sharpest minds in the conversation. As is typically done, we might think of a possible world as a complete way that things might have been.
Four ideas by alvin plantinga about god and materialism. Of course christians may disagree, at least in emphasis, as to how to think of god. Here things get mildly interesting, because plantinga launches his well known attack against materialism, suggesting that evolution of all notions. Science, religion, and naturalism, alvin plantinga has argued that despite the assertions of the atheist and naturalist communities, science is not at odds with theism at all. Plantingas evolutionary argument against naturalism eaan is currently one of the most widely discussed arguments targeting philosophical naturalism see, for example, beilby 2002. Plantinga for example, that of a prehistoric hominid fleeing a tiger.
That is to say, he not only rejects materialism, not only thinks it false. Evaluating alvin plantingas evolutionary argument against naturalism posted on june 14, 2012 by facedownphilosophy in where the conflict really lies. Only by disputations and debate may truths about god emerge. Alvin plantingas modal ontologicals argument is a irrefutable logical argument for the existence of god. Plantinga states that it seems possible for every part of your body, including your brain, to be replaced without negating your existence. Adversarial proceedings about god, as if in a court of law, can provide insights. The reason for reformed in reformed epistemology is a result of the clear influences from the reformed theological tradition on this view. Alvin carl plantinga born 1932 is an american analytic philosopher who works primarily in the fields of philosophy of religion, epistemology particularly on issues involving epistemic justification, and logic from 1963 to 1982, plantinga taught at calvin university before accepting an appointment as the john a. Daniel dennett made short shrift of plantingas argument against. Philosopher alvin plantinga presents a philosophical case against materialism. Alvin plantinga argues that if one takes both the tenets of naturalism and evolution, one has a defeater for all of their beliefs, including their belief in naturalism. Analytic philosopher alvin plantinga puts forth two arguments against materialism in his essay.
Plantinga aims to show that naturalism, in combination with evolutionary theory, is, as he puts it, incoherent or selfdefeating. Both arguments hinge on the idea that naturalistic evolution cannot account for the reliability of. The interviewee for this installment is alvin plantinga, an emeritus professor of philosophy at the university of notre dame, a former president of both the society of christian philosophers and the american philosophical association, and the author, most recently, of where the conflict really lies. The book is not necessarily an easy read, but delves deeply into the subject area with clear, reasonable and philosophical argumentation. Alvin plantinga, in his evolutionary argument against naturalism, shows.
The interviewee for this installment is alvin plantinga, an emeritus professor of philosophy at the university of notre dame, a former president of both the society of christian philosophers and the american philosophical association, and the author, most recently, of where the. One of the things atheists tend to believe is that modern science is on their side, whereas theism is in conflict with science. In his absorbing new book, where the conflict really lies, alvin plantinga, a distinguished analytic. Contrary to stereotypes, this did not make young alvin a bookish nerd indeed, he was an enthusiastic participant in high school football, basketball and tennis. In it, im clearly on plantingas side, and i think his work in that area represents a crucial contribution to philosophy of religion and to epistemology. Plantingas thesis is that there is a superficial conflict but deep concord between science and theistic religion, but superficial concord and deep conflict between science and naturalism. Science, religion, and naturalism alvin plantinga addresses philosophically the perennial question of the conflict between science and religion. Why darwinist materialism is wrong the new republic. Nagel, a leading analytic philosopher, is an atheist.
A philosopher defends religion by thomas nagel the new. Nov 16, 2012 alvin plantinga is professor of philosophy emeritus at the university of notre dame and is the author, most recently, of where the conflict really lies. The gulf in outlook between atheists and adherents of the monotheistic religions is profound. Against materialism alvin plantinga materialism is the idea that human beings are material objectsbrains, perhaps, or some part of the brainwithout immaterial selves or souls. Alvin plantinga, in his evolutionary argument against naturalism, shows that if mental properties, such as the propositional content of beliefs, are causally inefficacious, then evolution has not been. Reason and belief in god alvin plantinga belief in god is the heart and center of the christian religion as it is of judaism and islam. Obrien professor of philosophy at the university of. There are three major theses in plantingas latest version of his evolutionary argument against naturalism. A new argument against materialism philosophia christi 14. According to jean patti sartre, existentialism is the view that existence pre. Plantinga 2006, 4 4 van inwagen 1995, corcoran 2001, merricks 2007.