“Naturalism” is broadly understood as the worldview that the natural, physical world exhausts all of reality. Put negatively: naturalism denies that there are supernatural realities, the most prominent contender for such a reality being, arguably, God. In the popular imagination, the rise of modern science gives strong reasons in favor of naturalism and against supernaturalism.
This reading group will employ the tools of philosophy to assess the claims of naturalism and the question of God. We will peruse the arguments of philosophers of various persuasions on questions such as:
- Is there a deep conflict or concord between science and belief in God?
- Is it rational to believe in miracles, understood as suspensions of the laws of nature?
- In what sense is it reasonable to claim we can know ‘truth’–if the world came from nowhere, is going nowhere, and for no purpose?
These questions will be discussed in a spirit of honest, charitable debate. Students from all backgrounds and perspectives are welcome.
Meets Tuesdays
3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13, 4/30
