Atheism and Agnosticism

Description

This Element is an elementary introduction to atheism and agnosticism. It begins with a careful characterisation of atheism and agnosticism, distinguishing them from many other things with which they are often conflated. After a brief discussion of the theoretical framework within which atheism and agnosticism are properly evaluated, it then turns to the sketching of cases for atheism and agnosticism. In both cases, the aim is not conviction, but rather advancement of understanding: the point of the cases is to make it intelligible why some take themselves to have compelling reason to adopt atheism or agnosticism.

Graham Oppy is Professor of Philosophy at Monash University, Victoria. He has previously published some books in philosophy of religion, including (as author) Naturalism and Religion (2018) Ontological Arguments and Belief in God (Cambridge, 1996), Philosophical Perspectives on Infinity (Cambridge, 2006), Arguing about Gods (Cambridge, 2006), Describing Gods: An Investigation of Divine Attributes (Cambridge, 2014), The Best Argument against God (2013), and Reinventing Philosophy of Religion: An Opinionated Introduction (2014), and (as editor) Ancient Philosophy of Religion (with Nick Trakakis, 2013), Reading Philosophy of Religion (with Michael Scott, 2010), The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy of Religion (2017), and Interreligious Philosophical Dialogues (with Nick Trakakis, 2017). Forthcoming books include (as author) Atheism: The Basics, and (as editor) Ontological Arguments (Cambridge) and Companion to Atheism and Philosophy.

'... Atheism and Agnosticism is a concise presentation of both views from one of the leading authors on these topics, and recommended for anybody who appreciates clear definitions and precise arguments.' Dan Baras, Reading Religion