On the Existence and Relevance of God

by Clement Dore

Overview

The main aims of this book are to establish that it is rational to believe that God exists; to show how God relates to morality; and to show how God is causally connected to his creation. Dore defends a version of the ontological argument and refutes the atheistic argument from suffering. He argues that only God can account for the overridingness of morality. He also treats ethical supernaturalism as a type of ethical attitude theory, showing how it is related to secular theories which base valid judgments of moral goodness and evil on pro and con attitudes. He illlustrates precisely how, given scientific explanation, theistic explanation of the empirical universe can get a foothold. His method is to adopt and defend a version of theistic (Berkeley-like) phenomenalism and, in that connection, a pragmatic-instrumentalist interpretation of scientific theories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349243426
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	01/14/2014
Edition description:	1st ed. 1996
Pages:	143
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface - The Concept of Supreme Perfection: Some Arguments for God's Existence - The Argument from Suffering I - The Argument from Suffering II - How God Grounds Morality I - How God Grounds Morality II - How to Apply the Ideal Observer Theory: The Controversy over Artificial Contraception and Abortion - Causal Realism and the Egocentric Predicament - Theistic Phenomenalism: An Alternative Causal Theory of Perception - Appendices I-IV - Index