Philosophy of ReligionPhilosophy of Religion
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Book, 2003
Current format, Book, 2003, , No Longer Available.Book, 2003
Current format, Book, 2003, , No Longer Available. Offered in 0 more formatsDoes God exist? Who or what made this world? Was it made at all? And if it wasn't made, how did it get here? How did I get here? What do these answers mean to me as I decide how to live? Questions such as this have tantalized and perplexed our species since the first moment we were capable of asking them. It's hard to imagine anyone-no matter what they ultimately conclude or how long they ponder the issues-who hasn't asked these same questions. And the answers we have formulated have produced not only hope and serenity, but anguish and war. Philosophy of Religion invites you on an intellectual journey to explore the questions of divine existence, not from the standpoint of theology, but as an issue of epistemology, the classic branch of philosophy that concerns itself with knowledge theory. Tools You'll Use Every Day This course offers benefits you can take far beyond the issue of God's existence or the broader subject of religion. Tools of knowing and logic included are ones you can use to dissect and analyze arguments in virtually any arena. The focus of these lectures is on applying these tools to the question of the existence of a god or gods. Professor Hall has crafted a course that is both intellectually challenging and superbly clear, and fits well with his friendly, engaging style of lecturing. If you especially enjoy wrapping your mind around questions for which every potential answer triggers new questions and issues, you should find this course enjoyable no matter what your beliefs. Terms like ontology, cosmology, and teleology-along with the rationale for a divine presence that grew out of these three forms of argument-are presented with clarity and context, using examples ranging from Descartes to William Paley's 18th-century presentation of a clock on a rock-strewn beach. Professor Hall examines the definition of the term "god" and explores each argument in turn, using the analytical tools taught earlier in the course-primarily the "principle of sufficient reason" and Ockham's Razor-to show why such arguments are said to fail and to introduce challenges other thinkers offered. This course encompasses far more than just positive arguments for the central question: "Can humans know that God exists?" Professor Hall also considers the reverse side: "Can humans know that God does not exist?" He introduces a new, equally vital, area of argument centering on the existence of evil. Just as there are rebuttals available for all of the arguments put forth in favor of a divine existence so, too, are there rebuttals for arguments that attempt to prove God does not exist, and Professor Hall examines each in detail.
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- Chantilly, VA : Teaching Co., c2003.
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