Why Atheism?Is it possible for the nonbeliever to lead a happy and meaningful life? This is one question George H. Smith, defender of reason and personal liberty and author of an influential contemporary classic on nonbelief, seeks to answer in Why Atheism? Smith reviews the historical roots of nonbelief going back to the ancient Greeks, argues that philosophy can serve as an important alternative to religion, and defends reason as the most reliable method humans have for establishing truth and conducting one's life. Why Atheism? tackles a wide range of subjects, some of which have never been thoroughly analyzed from an atheistic point of view. Beginning with the problem of atheism's credibility, Smith points out the various ways in which religious opponents have sought to exclude atheism from serious consideration. He also analyzes a number of classical philosophical issues, such as the nature of knowledge and belief, concluding that modern atheism is largely an unintended consequence of the religious diversity brought about by the Protestant Reformation. Two chapters are devoted to ethics, one focusing on the ethics of belief with particular attention given to the views of Thomas Aquinas and John Locke. Other chapters discuss the persecution of religious dissenters and the features of an ethical system without belief in God. Smith's characteristic lucidity, analytical rigor, and wit make Why Atheism? an accessible and enjoyable guide to living a positive life without belief in a supreme being. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 13 |
The Methodology of Atheism | 31 |
Doubt As | 51 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
abstract accept according affirm Anselm appears assent assess attributes Ayn Rand Bacon belief called Catholic century certainty Christian cognitive conceive concept context contradiction credibility critical deconversion defend deny Descartes disbelief divine doctrine Epicurus ethics evaluate evidence evil example existence of God experience external fact faith fallible Fideism freethinkers freethought Gassendi Gibbon gods Hobbes Ibid idea infallible intellect Jack John Locke judgment justified Kant kind kinda know knowledge claims Locke's logical M. A. Screech matter means ment merely metaphysical methodic doubt mind miracles modern Montaigne moral natural theology nature necessarily never nonexistence object Ontological Argument opinion perfect joke personal atheist philosopher position possible predicate problem proposition Protestants prove psychological Pyrrhonic question rational rationalist reason refutation reject religion religious René Descartes revealed theology revelation Santa Schopenhauer sense skepticism Spinoza suppose theologians theory things Thomas Aquinas Thomas Hobbes tion trans triangle true truth universe word