Darwin and the Problem of Natural Nonbelief
The Monist 96 (3):349-376 (2013)
Abstract
Problem one: why, if God designed the human mind, did it take so long for humans to develop theistic concepts and beliefs? Problem two: why would God use evolution to design the living world when the discovery of evolution would predictably contribute to so much nonbelief in God? Darwin was aware of such questions but failed to see their evidential significance for theism. This paper explores this significance. Problem one introduces something I call natural nonbelief, which is significant because it parallels and corroborates well-known worries about natural evil. Problems one and two, especially when combined, support naturalism over theism, intensify the problem of divine hiddenness, challenge Alvin Plantinga’s views about the naturalness of theism, and advance the discussion about whether the conflict between science and religion is genuine or superficialAuthor's Profile
ISBN(s)
0026-9662
DOI
10.5840/monist201396316
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Citations of this work
Plantinga’s Religious Epistemology, Skeptical Theism, and Debunking Arguments.Andrew Moon - 2017 - Faith and Philosophy 34 (4):449-470.
Religious Belief is not Natural. Why cognitive science of religion does not show that religious belief is rational.Hans Van Eyghen - 2016 - Studia Humana 5 (4):34-44.
Divine hiddenness and the problem of no greater goods.Luke Teeninga - 2021 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 89 (2):107-123.
References found in this work
Evidence and Evolution: The Logic Behind the Science.Elliott Sober - 2008 - Cambridge University Press.
Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought.Pascal Boyer - 2002 - Basic Books.