George Berkeley’s proof for the existence of God

International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 78 (2):183-193 (2015)
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Abstract

Most philosophers have given up George Berkeley’s proof for the existence of God as a lost cause, for in it, Berkeley seems to conclude more than he actually shows. I defend the proof by showing that its conclusion is not the thesis that an infinite and perfect God exists, but rather the much weaker thesis that a very powerful God exists and that this God’s agency is pervasive in nature. This interpretation, I argue, is consistent with the texts. It is also an important component of Berkeley’s philosophical project, which consists of launching many small arguments against his philosophical and theological opponents

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10.1007/s11153-015-9527-0

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Citations of this work

Berkeley: tres vías para el conocimiento de dios.Alberto Luis López - 2021 - Revue Philosophique de la France Et de l'Etranger 146 (4):465-482.
Berkeleyan idealism and Christian philosophy.James S. Spiegel - 2017 - Philosophy Compass 12 (2):e12400.

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References found in this work

Locke, Berkeley, Hume; Central Themes.Jonathan Bennett - 1971 - Oxford,: Oxford University Press UK.
A Treatise on the Principles of Human Knowledge.George Berkeley - 1710 - Aaron Rhames. Edited by G. J. Warnock.
Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous.George Berkeley - 1713 - New York: G. James. Edited by Jonathan Dancy.
Berkeley: An Interpretation.Kenneth P. Winkler - 1989 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press UK.

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