Saints, Heretics, and Atheists: A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
0
0
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Author Description
Does God exist? What is the nature of evil, and where does it come from? Are humans free? Responsible? Immortal? Does it matter? Saints, Heretics and Atheists offers a historical introduction to fundamental questions in the philosophy of religion. Ranging from ancient times to the twentieth century, it is divided into twenty-five succinct, chronological chapters. Individual chapters discuss philosophies from history's greatest thinkers including Plato, Augustine, al-Ghazali, Aquinas, Margarite Porete, Spinoza, Hume, Mary Shepherd, and Nietzsche. The book closes with an exploration of William James's defense of the right to believe, possible limitations of that right, and the nature of philosophical progress.Based on lectures from a popular course taught in the Program for General Education at Harvard University for over a decade, Saints, Heretics, and Atheists invites readers along for a journey that is unique in its sweeping historical approach to the philosophy of religion and the balance it strikes between traditional, non-traditional, and atheistic standpoints with respect to religion in the western tradition.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the fundamental questions of religious philosophy by tracing the historical evolution of arguments regarding the existence of God, the nature of evil, and human agency. Jeffrey K. McDonough, a professor at Harvard University, distills over a decade of pedagogical experience into this structured introduction. By examining the works of thinkers ranging from Plato to Nietzsche, the text provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how religious and secular perspectives have shaped Western thought over centuries.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological survey of religious philosophy spanning from ancient antiquity to the twentieth century.
- Analysis of twenty-five distinct philosophical positions including those of Augustine, Aquinas, Spinoza, and Hume.
- A balanced examination of traditional, non-traditional, and atheistic arguments regarding faith and morality.
- An exploration of the nature of philosophical progress and the ethics of belief as articulated by William James.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts highlight this text as a highly accessible and well-structured resource for students and general readers interested in the history of religious thought. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose, which effectively translates complex academic lectures into a coherent and engaging format for a broader audience.
Page Count:
288
Publication Date:
2022-11-14
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0197563856
ISBN-13:
9780197563854
Non-Fiction
Philosophy
History
Religion
Community Tags
Similar Books
