Consciousness and the existence of God : a theistic argument

255 Pages·2008·3.17 MB·English

by  James Porter Moreland

Consciousness and the Existence of God
In Consciousness and the Existence of God, J.P. Moreland argues that the
existenceoffinite,irreducibleconsciousness(oritsregular,law-likecorrelation
withphysicalstates)providesevidencefortheexistenceofGod.Moreover,he
analyzesandcriticizesthetoprepresentativeofrivalapproachestoexplaining
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.’’
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 con-
tributed to thirty-five books including Universals (McGill-Queen’s), Nat-
uralism:ACriticalAnalysis(Routledge)andDoesGodExist?(Prometheus).
Routledge Studies in the Philosophy of Religion
Peter Byrne, Marcel Sarot, and Mark Wynn
1 God and Goodness
A natural theological perspective
Mark Wynn
2 Divinity and Maximal Greatness
Daniel Hill
3 Providence, Evil, and the Openness of God
William Hasker
4 Consciousness and the Existence of God
A theistic argument
J.P. Moreland
Consciousness and the
Existence of God
A theistic argument
J.P. Moreland
Firstpublished2008
byRoutledge
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LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Moreland,JamesPorter,1948–
ConsciousnessandtheexistenceofGod:atheisticargument/ByJ.P.
Moreland.
p.cm.–(Routledgestudiesinthephilosophyofreligion)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
1.Consciousness.2.Naturalism.3.Theism.I.Title.
B808.9.M672008
2120.1–dc22 2007037875
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 0-203-92933-0(cid:13)(cid:10) Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 978-0-415 -96240-7 (hbk)
ISBN 978-0-203-92933-9 (ebk)
J.P.Moreland’s intriguingand well-informed book argues forcefullyforthe
view that a theistic explanation of human consciousness is the only viable
alternative to an implausibly strong form of reductive physicalism in the
philosophy of mind. It deserves close attention from philosophical naturalists
and theists alike, and is written in an engaging and accessible manner that
makes it suitable material for upper-level undergraduate and graduate
courses in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and philosophical theology.
E.J. Lowe, Durham University
In Consciousness and the Existence of God, J.P. Moreland develops a ground
breaking, rigorous, systematic case against naturalism and for theism in light
of the evident reality of consciousness. His engagement with contemporary
naturalism is vigorous, thorough, and fair. This is essential reading for those
with interests in metaphysics and epistemology in general, and philosophy
of mind and philosophy of religion in particular.
Charles Taliaferro, St. Olaf College

To William Lane Craig
Ui´ko& jai Rtrsqasix´sg& jasa sgm o’do´m

Contents
Preface x
1 The epistemic backdrop for locating consciousness in a
naturalist ontology 1
2 The argument from consciousness 28
3 John Searle and contingent correlation 53
4 Timothy O’Connor and emergent necessitation 70
5 Colin McGinn and mysterian ‘‘naturalism’’ 95
6 David Skrbina and panpsychism 114
7 Philip Clayton and pluralistic emergentist monism 135
8 Science and strong physicalism 156
9 AC, dualism and the fear of God 175
Notes 195
Bibliography 221
Indexes 230