Disanalogies in Plantinga's Argument regarding the Rationality of Theism
Alvin Plantinga argues in "God and Other Minds" that it is rational to believe God exists because the teleological argument strongly resembles the analogical argument used to justify our belief that others have minds. His argument fails because of a disanalogy between the two arguments. On...
| Published in: | Journal for the scientific study of religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
[1971]
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| In: |
Journal for the scientific study of religion
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| Further subjects: | B
Justified beliefs
B Analogical argument B Theism B Atheism B Evil B Other minds problem B Existence B Falsity B Teleology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Alvin Plantinga argues in "God and Other Minds" that it is rational to believe God exists because the teleological argument strongly resembles the analogical argument used to justify our belief that others have minds. His argument fails because of a disanalogy between the two arguments. One who uses the analogical argument cannot deny that a person who acts as they do has a mind. But a person who uses the teleological argument can deny that God exists while admitting that the universe is designed if they believe the existence of evil is incompatible with the existence of God. Analogical arguers consider only factors relevant to the analogical argument while theists must assert many propositions, such as "evil is justified" and "exactly one Being designed the universe," which are not relevant to the teleological argument. Since atheists need only deny one of the many propositions theists must assert, it is reasonable to believe that God does not exist. |
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| ISSN: | 1468-5906 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the scientific study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/1384479 |