By: Bnonn|22 March, 2011|Categories: Metaphysics . Philosophy|Tags: argument from reason . determinism . free will . physical determinism
D Bnonn Tennant looks critically at a New York Times article that discusses the tension between the idea that all the events in the universe are caused deterministically by physical laws, and our deep-seated intuitive belief that this cannot be so because we have free will.
Read more »By: Jason|03 March, 2011|Categories: Metaphysics|Tags: determinism . materialism . Naturalism . Paul Copan . richard dawkins . theism
Can the naturalist believe in the rationality of her beliefs if they are determined by non-rational, material forces? Paul Copan discusses his recent interaction with Richard Dawkins on this question.
Read more »By: Bnonn|18 November, 2010|Categories: Metaphysics . Theology|Tags: Arminianism . Calvinism . libertarian free will . modal logic . Molinism . Open Theism . perfect definite foreknowledge . Possible Worlds . principle of alternate possibilities
This is a continuation of the discussion started with Stuart in his article ‘Openness Theology (Part Two)’, exploring the ramifications of libertarian free will, the principle of alternative possibilities; and how an Arminian theology ultimately collapses into either a Reformed or Open theology, depending on how you push it.
Read more »By: Bnonn|12 November, 2010|Categories: Metaphysics . Thinking Matters|Tags: dualism . Ethics . omnipotence
The first of a three-part series answering some questions about God, raised by an email correspondent named Albert.
Read more »By: Jason|26 January, 2010|Categories: Metaphysics|Tags: Bill Vallicella . consciousness . free will . human nature . human person . imago dei . J P Moreland . mental states . mind-body problem . Naturalism . physicalism . Rationality . scientism
Can naturalism account for the most basic features of human life, such as consciousness? Philosopher J.P. Moreland argues it cannot.
Read more »By: Jason|09 December, 2009|Categories: Headline . Metaphysics|Tags: atheism . benevolence . Big Bang . cosmology . General Revelation . God . Quentin Smith . theism . Thomas Morris . william lane craig
Is the Big Bang incompatible with God’s existence?
Read more »By: Stuart|25 October, 2009|Categories: Ethics . Metaphysics . Philosophy of Religion|Tags: Axiological Argument . Ethics . morality . Platonism
There is an objection to the moral argument for God’s existence, specifically the premise which states the best explanation for the foundation for objective moral values and duties is God. It is the idea that moral values and duties can be plausibly anchored in some transcendent, non-theistic ground. That moral values and duties exist objectively, but as brute facts, not needing an explanation for their existence. They are sort of eternal unchanging ideas that are necessary features of the universe. This position we shall call Atheistic Moral Platonism, and there are three ways we could respond.
Read more »By: Bnonn|31 December, 2008|Categories: Metaphysics|Tags: argument from meaning
A simple, five-step argument reasoning from the existence of meaning to the existence of God.
Read more »By: Bnonn|27 December, 2008|Categories: Metaphysics|Tags: argument from reason . eliminative materialism . philosophy of mind
Philosopher Bill Vallicella has started a new series on eliminative materialism. The introduction, ‘Defining Eliminative Materialism’, is worth reading if you’ve been following the debate here on Talk regarding whether abstracta are possible in a non-theistic worldview, and would like to better familiarize yourself with the topic.
Read more »By: Bnonn|14 December, 2008|Categories: Ethics . Metaphysics|Tags: Ethical Systems . Ethical Theories . Metaethical Foundations . Values
An argument undercutting non-theistic attempts to defend their value systems, by demonstrating that value itself is incoherent in a universe without God.
Read more »By: Bnonn|06 October, 2008|Categories: Metaphysics|Tags: occam's razor . presuppositionalism
A brief discussion of two objections to Christianity based on Occam’s Razor, pointing out the various problems with these from a presuppositional perspective.
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