The Cambridge Companion to Atheism (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

In this 2007 volume, eighteen of the world's leading scholars present original essays on various aspects of atheism: its history, both ancient and modern, defense and implications. The topic is examined in terms of its implications for a wide range of disciplines including philosophy, religion, feminism, postmodernism, sociology and psychology. In its defense, both classical and contemporary theistic arguments are criticized, and, the argument from evil, and impossibility arguments, along with a non religious basis for morality are defended. These essays give a broad understanding of atheism and a lucid introduction to this controversial topic. In This Volume, Eighteen Of The World's Leading Scholars Present Original Essays On Various Aspects Of Atheism: Its History, Both Ancient And Modern, Defense And Implications. The Topic Is Examined In Terms Of Its Implications For A Wide Range Of Disciplines Including Philosophy, Religion, Feminism, Postmodernism, Sociology And Psychology. In Its Defense, Both Classical And Contemporary Theistic Arguments Are Criticized, And, The Argument From Evil, And Impossibility Arguments, Along With A Non Religious Basis For Morality Are Defended. These Essays Give A Broad Understanding Of Atheism And A Lucid Introduction To This Controversial Topic. Atheism In Antiquity / Jan N. Bremmer -- Atheism In Modern History / Gavin Hyman -- Atheism : Contemporary Numbers And Patterns / Phil Zuckerman -- Theistic Critiques Of Atheism / William Lane Craig -- The Failure Of Classical Theistic Arguments / Richard M. Gale -- Some Contemporary Theistic Arguments / Keith Parsons -- Naturalism And Physicalism / Evan Fales -- Atheism And Evolution / Daniel C. Dennett -- The Autonomy Of Ethics / David O. Brink -- The Argument From Evil / Andrea M. Weisberger -- Kalam Cosmological Argument For Atheism / Quentin Smith -- Impossibility Arguments / Patrick Grim -- Atheism And Religion / Michael Martin -- Feminism And Atheism / Christine Overall -- Atheism And The Freedom Of Religion / Steven G. Gey -- Atheism, A/theology And The Postmodern Condition / John D. Caputo -- Anthropological Theories Of Religion / Stewart E. Guthrie -- Atheists : A Psychological Profile / Benjamin Beit-hallahmi. Edited By Michael Martin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover Page......Page 1 The Cambridge Companion to Atheism......Page 2 Cambridge Companions to Philosophy......Page 4 Title Page......Page 6 ISBN 0521842700......Page 7 Part II The Case against Theism......Page 8 Part III Implications......Page 9 Contributors......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 Glossary......Page 16 General Introduction......Page 22 Part I Background......Page 30 1 Atheism in Antiquity......Page 32 2 Atheism in Modern History......Page 48 3 Atheism - Contemporary Numbers and Patterns......Page 68 Part II The Case against Theism......Page 88 4 Theistic Critiques of Atheism......Page 90 5 The Failure of Classical Theistic Arguments......Page 107 6 Some Contemporary Theistic Arguments......Page 123 7 Naturalism and Physicalism......Page 139 8 Atheism and Evolution......Page 156 9 The Autonomy of Ethics......Page 170 10 The Argument from Evil......Page 187 11 Kalam Cosmological Arguments for Atheism......Page 203 12 Impossibility Arguments......Page 220 Part III Implications......Page 236 13 Atheism and Religion......Page 238 14 Feminism and Atheism......Page 254 15 Atheism and the Freedom of Religion......Page 271 16 Atheism, A/theology, and the Postmodern Condition......Page 288 17 Anthropological Theories of Religion......Page 304 18 Atheists - A Psychological Profile......Page 321 A......Page 340 B......Page 341 D......Page 342 E......Page 343 G......Page 344 H......Page 345 K......Page 346 M......Page 347 P......Page 348 R......Page 349 S......Page 350 V......Page 351 Z......Page 352 Cover Page 1 The Cambridge Companion to Atheism 2 Cambridge Companions to Philosophy 4 Title Page 6 ISBN 0521842700 7 Contents 8 Front Matter 8 Part I Background 8 Part II The Case against Theism 8 Part III Implications 9 Contributors 10 Preface 14 Glossary 16 General Introduction 22 Part I Background 30 1 Atheism in Antiquity 32 2 Atheism in Modern History 48 3 Atheism - Contemporary Numbers and Patterns 68 Part II The Case against Theism 88 4 Theistic Critiques of Atheism 90 5 The Failure of Classical Theistic Arguments 107 6 Some Contemporary Theistic Arguments 123 7 Naturalism and Physicalism 139 8 Atheism and Evolution 156 9 The Autonomy of Ethics 170 10 The Argument from Evil 187 11 Kalam Cosmological Arguments for Atheism 203 12 Impossibility Arguments 220 Part III Implications 236 13 Atheism and Religion 238 14 Feminism and Atheism 254 15 Atheism and the Freedom of Religion 271 16 Atheism, A/theology, and the Postmodern Condition 288 17 Anthropological Theories of Religion 304 18 Atheists - A Psychological Profile 321 Index 340 A 340 B 341 C 342 D 342 E 343 F 344 G 344 H 345 I 346 J 346 K 346 L 347 M 347 N 348 O 348 P 348 Q 349 R 349 S 350 T 351 U 351 V 351 W 352 X 352 Z 352 In this volume, 18 of the world's leading scholars present original essays on various aspects of atheism. The topic is examined in terms of its implications for a wide range of disciplines including philosophy, religion, feminism, postmodernism, sociology and psychology