I haven't yet read Haught's Is Nature Enough? Meaning and Truth in the Age of Science, but it's on my list of books that I must read soon. Meanwhile, here's a review of it by Tom Clark. Doubtless, I'll have some comments of my own when I manage to get to it.
One of my tasks at the moment is reading a lot of these recent anti-atheist books, if only for the purpose of clarifying just what myths are "out there" in this body of literature. It seems a bit masochistic, I suppose, but I do find it interesting, and I'm quite open to learning a thing or two if it turns out that way. On the other hand, I'm very familiar with the main argument (apparently) run in this book - it's hardly original to Haught - so I don't think he's about to reconvert me or anything like that.
About Me
- Russell Blackford
- Australian philosopher, literary critic, legal scholar, and professional writer. Based in Newcastle, NSW. My latest books are THE TYRANNY OF OPINION: CONFORMITY AND THE FUTURE OF LIBERALISM (2019); AT THE DAWN OF A GREAT TRANSITION: THE QUESTION OF RADICAL ENHANCEMENT (2021); and HOW WE BECAME POST-LIBERAL: THE RISE AND FALL OF TOLERATION (2024).
6 comments:
"One of my tasks at the moment is reading a lot of these recent anti-atheist books"
Speaking of which, I had recommended to me by a theist Edward Feser's The Last Superstition. I haven't had a chance to get it yet (and I found his writing on his blog downright confusing), so I was wondering if you had read it yet and if so what you thought of it.
No, not familiar with it at all.
Thanks Russell. I found that reading Haught was useful just to understand the psychology behind theology and how it drives epistemic irresponsibility, which I explore in more detail in my review of God and the New Atheism at http://www.naturalism.org/projecting_god.htm
I've (sort of) read Feser's The Last Superstition, but haven't taken the time to analyze or respond to his arguments. Someone should do it though...
Russell,
Well, I tend to deliberately only read atheist/anti-theist books and blogs, except I do that for "fun" and not to do research for a book, so I'd have to be more masochistic than you on that score [grin].
I'm quite open to learning a thing or two if it turns out that way. On the other hand, I'm very familiar with the main argument (apparently) run in this book - it's hardly original to Haught - so I don't think he's about to reconvert me or anything like that.
If you're not even a teensy bit open to being converted... if you don't really really put your thoughts on the line... if you don't throw your balance away and hope to pick it up later... you haven't actually entered the Marketplace of Ideas, not so?
Anyway I think it's important to engage with people who don't necessarily agree with me. Obviously.
Thank you for the interesting blog post on the apologists and your perspective on them. Have you looked at some of the material from James White at Alpha Omega Ministries. I know he's not of the liberal ilk, but he "seems" to strive for consitency in theology if there is such a thing. Thank you again for such a wonderful site!
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