God, Evil and Design: An Introduction to the Philosophical Issues by David K. O'

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A clearly written and up-to-date textbook on the profound question of how God can exist simultaneously with evil. It introduces the fundamental issues of philosophical thinking for the beginner student, while at the same time clarifying and the answering deeper philosophical questions of interest to a more advanced readership.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

Although vast and complex, the universe is orderly in many ways, and conditions at its beginning were right for the eventual evolution of life on this planet. But with life there is death, and with sentient life there is great pain and suffering, often with no apparent justification or purpose. Taking these things together, is it reasonable to conclude that the universe was brought about by God? Moreover, does the magnitude of seemingly pointless suffering square with the idea that God exists, or is it good reason to think there is no God? These questions come up for many people, not just religious believers, and are examined in this engaging and thought-provoking book. Starting out with no pre-disposition to theism, atheism, or agnosticism, God, Evil, and Design takes up these questions in order to see where an impartial investigation leads. To achieve impartiality, the reader is invited to simulate ignorance insofar as his or her own religious preference is concerned. With this approach, God, Evil, and Design provides both a fresh look at important and controversial issues in philosophy and an excellent introduction to the contemporary debates surrounding them. Lively and non-technical, this book will be accessible to anyone with an interest in these topics.

Back Cover

Although vast and complex, the universe is orderly in many ways, and conditions at its beginning were right for the eventual evolution of life on this planet. But with life there is death, and with sentient life there is great pain and suffering, often with no apparent justification or purpose. Taking these things together, is it reasonable to conclude that the universe was brought about by God? Moreover, does the magnitude of seemingly pointless suffering square with the idea that God exists, or is it good reason to think there is no God? These questions come up for many people, not just religious believers, and are examined in this engaging and thought-provoking book. Starting out with no pre-disposition to theism, atheism, or agnosticism, God, Evil, and Design takes up these questions in order to see where an impartial investigation leads. To achieve impartiality, the reader is invited to simulate ignorance insofar as his or her own religious preference is concerned. With this approach, God, Evil, and Design provides both a fresh look at important and controversial issues in philosophy and an excellent introduction to the contemporary debates surrounding them. Lively and non-technical, this book will be accessible to anyone with an interest in these topics.

Flap

Although vast and complex, the universe is orderly in many ways, and conditions at its beginning were right for the eventual evolution of life on this planet. But with life there is death, and with sentient life there is great pain and suffering, often with no apparent justification or purpose. Taking these things together, is it reasonable to conclude that the universe was brought about by God? Moreover, does the magnitude of seemingly pointless suffering square with the idea that God exists, or is it good reason to think there is no God? These questions come up for many people, not just religious believers, and are examined in this engaging and thought-provoking book. Starting out with no pre-disposition to theism, atheism, or agnosticism, God, Evil, and Design takes up these questions in order to see where an impartial investigation leads. To achieve impartiality, the reader is invited to simulate ignorance insofar as his or her own religious preference is concerned. With this approach, God, Evil, and Design provides both a fresh look at important and controversial issues in philosophy and an excellent introduction to the contemporary debates surrounding them. Lively and non-technical, this book will be accessible to anyone with an interest in these topics.

Author Biography

David O'Connor is Professor of Philosophy at Seton Hall University, and the author of three books, including Hume on Religion (2001), God and Inscrutable Evil (1998) and The Metaphysics of G.E. Moore (1982).

Table of Contents

Preface. Part I: Introduction:. 1. What We Are Going to Investigate and How. 2. Terminology. Part II: The Logic of God and Evil:. 3. Is the Existence of God Impossible?. 4. A Free-Will Defense of the Possibility that God Exists. Part III: Design and Evil:. 5. Natural Order, Natural Selection, and Supernatural Design (1). 6. Natural Order, Natural Selection, and Supernatural Design (2). Part IV: Evil and Design (1):. 7. Is the Existence of God Improbable?. 8. Skeptical Defenses. 9. Evaluating Skeptical Defenses. Part V: Evil and Design (2). 10. Greater-Good Defenses. 11. Evaluating Greater-Good Defenses. Part VI: Taking Stock:. 12. Taking Stock. Index

Review

"O'Connor's book is written as an introduction to the topic, and is therefore easily readable."  (The Heythrop Journal, 5 December 2014) "O'Connor's book ranks with the very best of the many introductions to the philosophy of religion that have been published over the past several decades. His selection and discussion of two main topics, the problem of evil, and the apparent design of the universe, convey especially well the importance of the question of God's existence." Quentin Smith, Western Michigan University"This is a very clear and unusually objective examination of the problem of evil and its interface with the design argument. For those tired of theistic or atheistic apologetics masquerading as philosophy of religion, this book is highly recommended." Paul Draper, Purdue University"David O'Connor's God, Evil, and Design is a remarkably accessible opinionated introduction to the issues. His critique of skepticism about arguments from evil will be of interest to professionals as well. Highly recommended." Daniel Howard-Snyder, Western Washington University "It is aimed at the beginner, but is also of interest to more advanced readers." Times Higher Education Supplement

Long Description

Although vast and complex, the universe is orderly in many ways, and conditions at its beginning were right for the eventual evolution of life on this planet. But with life there is death, and with sentient life there is great pain and suffering, often with no apparent justification or purpose. Taking these things together, is it reasonable to conclude that the universe was brought about by God? Moreover, does the magnitude of seemingly pointless suffering square with the idea that God exists, or is it good reason to think there is no God? These questions come up for many people, not just religious believers, and are examined in this engaging and thought-provoking book. Starting out with no pre-disposition to theism, atheism, or agnosticism, God, Evil, and Design takes up these questions in order to see where an impartial investigation leads. To achieve impartiality, the reader is invited to simulate ignorance insofar as his or her own religious preference is concerned. With this approach, God, Evil, and Design provides both a fresh look at important and controversial issues in philosophy and an excellent introduction to the contemporary debates surrounding them. Lively and non-technical, this book will be accessible to anyone with an interest in these topics.

Review Text

?O?Connor?s book is written as an introduction to the topic, and is therefore easily readable.?  (The Heythrop Journal, 5 December 2014) ?O?Connor?s book ranks with the very best of the many introductions to the philosophy of religion that have been published over the past several decades. His selection and discussion of two main topics, the problem of evil, and the apparent design of the universe, convey especially well the importance of the question of God?s existence.? Quentin Smith, Western Michigan University?This is a very clear and unusually objective examination of the problem of evil and its interface with the design argument. For those tired of theistic or atheistic apologetics masquerading as philosophy of religion, this book is highly recommended.? Paul Draper, Purdue University?David O'Connor's God, Evil, and Design is a remarkably accessible opinionated introduction to the issues. His critique of skepticism about arguments from evil will be of interest to professionals as well. Highly recommended.? Daniel Howard-Snyder, Western Washington University "It is aimed at the beginner, but is also of interest to more advanced readers." Times Higher Education Supplement

Review Quote

"O'Connor's book is written as an introduction to the topic, and is therefore easily readable." ( The Heythrop Journal , 5 December 2014) "O'Connor's book ranks with the very best of the many introductions to the philosophy of religion that have been published over the past several decades. His selection and discussion of two main topics, the problem of evil, and the apparent design of the universe, convey especially well the importance of the question of God's existence." Quentin Smith, Western Michigan University "This is a very clear and unusually objective examination of the problem of evil and its interface with the design argument. For those tired of theistic or atheistic apologetics masquerading as philosophy of religion, this book is highly recommended." Paul Draper, Purdue University "David O'Connor's God, Evil, and Design is a remarkably accessible opinionated introduction to the issues. His critique of skepticism about arguments from evil will be of interest to professionals as well. Highly recommended." Daniel Howard-Snyder, Western Washington University "It is aimed at the beginner, but is also of interest to more advanced readers." Times Higher Education Supplement

Promotional "Headline"

"O'Connor's book ranks with the very best of the many introductions to the philosophy of religion that have been published over the past several decades. His selection and discussion of two main topics, the problem of evil, and the apparent design of the universe, convey especially well the importance of the question of God's existence." Quentin Smith, Western Michigan University"This is a very clear and unusually objective examination of the problem of evil and its interface with the design argument. For those tired of theistic or atheistic apologetics masquerading as philosophy of religion, this book is highly recommended." Paul Draper, Purdue University"David O'Connor's God, Evil, and Design is a remarkably accessible opinionated introduction to the issues. His critique of skepticism about arguments from evil will be of interest to professionals as well. Highly recommended." Daniel Howard-Snyder, Western Washington University"It is aimed at the beginner, but is also of interest to more advanced readers." Times Higher Education Supplement

Feature

Effectively links the problem of evil to other issues in the epistemology of religious belief Written by the author of God and Inscrutable Evil Includes a chapter on the cosmological and design arguments for God's existence

Details ISBN1405157712 Short Title GOD EVIL & DESIGN Language English ISBN-10 1405157712 ISBN-13 9781405157711 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 214 Year 2008 Imprint Wiley-Blackwell Subtitle An Introduction to the Philosophical Issues Edition 1st DOI 10.1604/9781405157711 UK Release Date 2008-04-22 AU Release Date 2008-04-22 NZ Release Date 2008-04-22 US Release Date 2008-04-22 Pages 240 Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd Publication Date 2008-04-22 Place of Publication Hoboken Alternative 9781405157704 Audience Professional & Vocational Author David K. O'Connor Country of Publication United Kingdom We've got this

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