World without Design: The Ontological Consequences of Naturalism

by Michael C. Rea

Overview

Philosophical naturalism, according to which philosophy is continuous with the natural sciences, has dominated the Western academy for well over a century, but Michael Rea claims that it is without rational foundation. Rea argues compellingly to the surprising conclusion that naturalists are committed to rejecting realism about material objects, materialism, and perhaps realism about other minds.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199247608
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/12/2002
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 5.60(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Michael C. Rea is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction1 Naturalism2. Pillars of the Tradition3. Naturalism Characterized2 Ontology4. The Discovery Problem5. Proper Function6. Pragmatic Arguments7. What Price Anti-Realism?3 Alternatives8. Intuitionism9. SupernaturalismReferences, Index

Editorial Reviews

"World Without Design is filled with excellent summaries of positions and philosophers and enough provocative argumentation to incite even the most naturalistically minded. It was a pleasure to read! —Christian Scholar's Review

"Rea's is a dense and closely argued book, illustrating the convergence of philosophy of religion and sophisticated metaphysics and representative of the best of Christian philosophy today." —PHILOSOPHIA CHRISTI

From the Publisher