1st Edition

Consciousness and the Existence of God A Theistic Argument

By J. P. Moreland Copyright 2008
    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    254 Pages
    by Routledge

    In Consciousness and the Existence of God, J.P. Moreland argues that the existence of finite, irreducible consciousness (or its regular, law-like correlation with physical states) provides evidence for the existence of God. Moreover, he analyzes and criticizes the top representative of rival approaches to explaining the origin of consciousness, including John Searle’s contingent correlation, Timothy O’Connor’s emergent necessitation, Colin McGinn’s mysterian "naturalism," David Skrbina’s panpsychism and Philip Clayton’s pluralistic emergentist monism. Moreland concludes that these approaches should be rejected in favor of what he calls "the Argument from Consciousness."

    Chapter One: The Epistemic Backdrop for Locating Consciousness in a Naturalist Ontology

    Chapter Two: The Argument from Consciousness

    Chapter Three: John Searle and Contingent Correlation

    Chapter Four: Timothy O’Connor and Emergent Necessitation

    Chapter Five: Colin McGinn and Mysterian "Naturalism"

    Chapter Six: David Skrbina and Panpsychism

    Chapter Seven: Philip Clayton and Pluralistic Emergentist Monism

    Chapter Eight: Science and Strong Physicalism

    Chapter Nine: AC, Dualism and the Fear of God 

    Biography

    J.P. Moreland is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Biola University. He has published over 60 articles in journals that include Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, American Philosophical Quarterly, Australasian Journal of Philosophy and Metaphilosophy. He has authored, edited or contributed to thirty-five books including Universals (McGill-Queen’s), Naturalism: A Critical Analysis (Routledge) and Does God Exist? (Prometheus).