Naturalism defeated? : essays on Plantinga's evolutionary argument against naturalism
James K. Beilby (Editor)
Plantinga's argument is aimed at metaphysical naturalism or roughly the view that no supernatural beings exist. Naturalism is typically conjoined with evolution as an explanation of the existence and diversity of life. Plantinga's claim is that one who holds to the truth of both naturalism and evolution is irrational in doing so. More specifically, because the probability that unguided evolution would have produced reliable cognitive faculties is either low or inscrutable, one who holds both naturalism and evolution acquires a "defeater" for every belief he/she holds, including the beliefs associated with naturalism and evolution
x, 283 pages ; 25 cm
9780801439728, 9780801487637, 0801439728, 0801487633
48140662
pt. 1. Science and evolution. Naturalism defended / William Ramsey ; Is science biologically possible? / Jerry Fodor ; Darwin's doubt, Calvin's calvary / Evan Fales
pt. 2. Skepticism. Commonsense naturalism / Michael Bergmann ; Plantinga's evolutionary meditations / Ernest Sosa ; Can atheists know anything? / James Van Cleve
pt. 3. Conditional probabilities and confirmation theory. A house divided against itself cannot stand / Timothy O'Connor ; Conditional probabilities in Plantinga's argument / Richard Otte
pt. 4. The nature of epistemic defeat. The illusion of defeat / W.J. Talbott ; Conditional probability and defeat / Trenton Merricks ; Plantinga, naturalism, and defeat / William Alston
Reply to Beilby's cohorts / Alvin Plantinga