Necessary Existence
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Author Description
Necessary Existence breaks ground on one of the deepest questions anyone ever asks: why is there anything? The classic answer is in terms of a necessary foundation. Yet, why think that is the correct answer? Pruss and Rasmussen present an original defense of the hypothesis that there is a concrete necessary being capable of providing a foundation for the existence of things. They offer six main arguments, divided into six chapters. The first argument is an up-to-date presentation and assessment of a traditional causal-based argument from contingency. The next five arguments are new "possibility-based" arguments that make use of twentieth-century advances in modal logic. The arguments present possible pathways to an intriguing and far-reaching conclusion. The final chapter answers the most challenging objections to the existence of necessary things.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the fundamental question of why anything exists by defending the hypothesis that a concrete necessary being serves as the foundation for all reality. Alexander R. Pruss and Joshua L. Rasmussen, both established scholars in analytic philosophy and metaphysics, utilize contemporary modal logic and traditional causal reasoning to construct their argument. They systematically evaluate the necessity of a foundational being, providing a rigorous framework for understanding existence through both classical and modern philosophical lenses.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A comprehensive assessment of the traditional causal-based argument from contingency.
- Five original possibility-based arguments derived from twentieth-century modal logic.
- A dedicated chapter addressing and refuting primary objections to the existence of necessary entities.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on metaphysical and logical arguments rather than empirical or scientific evidence.
- It does not attempt to provide a comprehensive history of ontological proofs beyond the specific arguments presented.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Philosophers and students of metaphysics frequently note the technical density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of modal logic. Experts highlight this as a significant contribution to contemporary debates regarding the existence of necessary beings and the nature of reality.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191063894
ISBN-13:
9780191063893
Philosophy
Theology
Ontology
Metaphysics
Logic
