God: A brief philosophical introduction

Front Cover
Vernon Press, Nov 28, 2016 - Philosophy - 290 pages

This is a clear and original investigation of God's nature and existence.

 
First of all, it considers two of God’s traditional properties: being all-knowing and being all-powerful. It argues he cannot possess these properties. But, it argues this is in accord with him being worthy of worship.
 
Secondly, it introduces the notion of evil being “overridden”. It argues he has to bring about other free living things and it is plausible they have to be liable to experience evil due to their conditions. But, it argues the evil in this world is “overridden”.

Thirdly, it considers the principal arguments for the claim he does not exist. (They refer to the evil in the world.) It argues they do not establish sufficient grounds for this claim.

Finally, it considers some well-known arguments for the claim he exists. It argues they face difficulties. It sets out other arguments. 
 
 
It covers as a whole the principal parts of the Philosophy of Religion.

It unifies these parts to a significant degree. It proceeds regularly by way of formal and clear arguments. These arguments are frequently original.
 
It will be of interest to advanced students and specialists in Philosophy, Religious Studies and Theology.

Given its explanation of key terms, its jargon-free language, its clarity and brevity.... , it will be of interest to others, too.

 

Contents

Introduction
9
The Nature of God
31
An allknowing or omniscient thing and Gods knowledge
45
An allpowerful or omnipotent thing and Gods power
86
Evil being overridden
131
God bringing about this particular kind of universe
150
Alvin Plantingas response in The Nature of Necessity
163
The Existence of
177
Some Design arguments
190
Some Cosmological arguments
205
An argument from the religious experience of God
230
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

absurdity follows act freely alive all-knowing or omniscient all-powerful or omnipotent better or greater brought capacity claim conclusion is true concrete things cosmological argument degree of value eternal period example exercise the power exercises a power exist in reality explanation fifth premise fourth premise further conclusion follows God’s power grounds for someone grounds to hold hold the belief human being’s initial conclusion follows initial premises kind have existed Let us consider Let us suppose living and non-physical living thing possesses mise Nirvana non-physical individual thing ontological argument particular pen-ultimate physical thing physical universe possess powers possesses the power possible world power to act power to bring power to lead premise is true Proslogion re-statement readily forthcoming result the desire rience second premise series of things someone to hold statements or propositions sufficient grounds Tate gallery things which possess third premise tion ultimate conclusion follows uniform chance process untrue

About the author (2016)

Karim Esmail, BA, MPhil, MPhil, PhD. Educated at Oxford, Cambridge, London, & Harvard. Awarded a British Academy Studentship. Awarded the Gregg Bury Prize, Cambridge. Formerly, Research Fellow, Oxford  and  Visiting Fellow, Harvard and Burney  Student, Cambridge. Currently, he is a Course Director and Tutor (Philosophy & Religious Studies), Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge.

Bibliographic information

TitleGod: A brief philosophical introduction
Series in Philosophy
AuthorK.H.A. Esmail
PublisherVernon Press, 2016
ISBN1622731484, 9781622731480
Length290 pages
Subjects › 

Philosophy / General
  
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