Challenging the new atheism : pragmatic confrontations in the philosophy of religion / Aaron Pratt Shepherd.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shepherd, Aaron Pratt, author.

Series:

Routledge studies in American philosophy.

Routledge studies in American philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Atheism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 207 pages).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York, New York ; London : Routledge, [2021]

Summary:

"This book presents a pragmatic response to arguments against religion made by the New Atheism movement. The author argues that analytic and empirical philosophies of religion-the mainstream approaches in contemporary philosophy of religion-are methodologically unequipped to address the "Threefold Challenge" made by popular New Atheist thinkers such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett. The book has three primary motivations. First, it provides an interpretation of the New Atheist movement that treats their claims as philosophical arguments and not just rhetorical exercises or demagoguery. Second, it assesses and responds to these claims by elaborating four distinct contemporary philosophical perspectives- analytic philosophy, empirical philosophy, continental philosophy, and pragmatism-as well as contextualizing these perspectives in the history of the philosophy of religion. Finally, the book offers a metaphilosophical critique, returning again and again to the question of method. In the end, the author settles upon a modified version of pragmatism that he concludes is best suited for articulating the terms and stakes of the God Debate. Challenging the New Atheism will be of interest to scholars and students of American philosophy and philosophy of religion"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Preface

1 The New Atheism: A Threefold Challenge

The Three Challenges of the New Atheism

What's "New" about the New Atheism?

The Three Challenges: A Critical Exposition

The Three Challenges and the "God Debate"

Conclusion

2 Contemporary Philosophy of Religion vs. the Threefold Challenge

The Mythology behind the Consequences Challenge

The Truth Challenge and Analytic Philosophy of Religion

Ayer on Religion

Wittgensteinian Philosophy of Religion

Plantinga's Realism and Reformed Epistemology

Conclusion on Analytic Philosophy of Religion

Empirical Philosophy of Religion

"Explaining" Religion-Naturally

On Empirical Philosophy of Religion and the Three Challenges

Gestures in the Right Direction for Addressing the Meaning Challenge

3 Modern Origins of the Threefold Challenge

Essentialism and Skepticism in Modern Philosophy of Religion

The Social Dimension in Modern Philosophy of Religion

Kant's Philosophy of Religion

Post-Kantian Philosophy of Religion: Schleiermacher and Hegel

4 A Postmodern Approach to the Truth and Meaning Challenges

Postmodernism in Contemporary Continental Philosophy of Religion

Vattimo's Nihilistic Secularization

The Truth and Meaning Challenges in Postmodernity

Marion: Theologizing an Impossible God

Caputo's Radical Theology and Postmodern Philosophy of Religion

5 Challenging Meaning: Pragmatic Reflections on Metaphilosophical Issues

A Metaphilosophical Interlude

Advancing the Challenge: Pragmatist Philosophy of Religion

Pragmatist Philosophy of Religion and the Three Challenges

Pragmatist Philosophy of Religion: Toward "Integration"

6 Integration and "More than Pragmatist" Philosophy of Religion.

The Meaning of "Integration"

Conceptual Elements of Religious Integration

"More-than-Pragmatist" Philosophy of Religion

Concluding Remarks

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-429-33141-X

1-000-17528-6

9780429331411

OCLC:

1150863087