The Nature of God: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Problems of Philosophy)

Philosophy of religion, particularly some of the areas with which Hughes deals in this volume, is invariably a complex study, with many difficult and puzzling concepts. Gerard Hughes has an exceptional gift for probing the depths of these matters, while maintaining a clear, often engaging manner of expression. His exploration of the varied viewpoints, their history, and contemporary challenges to ideas is an exceptional presentation. I particularly liked that, unlike some other authors, Hughes does not compromise on detail for the sake of making a complex topic sound, frankly, simpler than it is. This book is not the sort of introduction which one would use in a discussion group. It is suited as a university text or for those who already have some grounding in philosophy. Though it could not be a standalone text (classroom instruction would require considerable reference to primary sources), it is a superb, concise presentation of some of the more difficult matters in the field. For example, Hughes' treatment of divine simplicity, a concept which I find to be one of the more confusing in the area, is laudable, because it often is skirted in introductory texts. In The Nature of God, Gerard Hughes takes five central attributes - Existence, Simplicity, Omniscience, Omnipotence and Goodness - which are central to the classical concept of God. Incorporating texts by Aquinas, Ockham, Molina, Descartes, Hume and Kant, he aims to give the reader first-hand acquaintance with these classical writers, and then to discuss their arguments in the light of contemporary debate. While the focus of The Nature of God is on the philosophy of religion, Hughes widens his scope to consider its implications in epistemology, metaphysics and moral philosophy. The issues he considers include necessity and possibility, the relation of logic to epistemology and the connections between causation and moral philosophy. This book will interest senior undergraduates with some grounding in philosophy as well as those working in the philosophy of religion. Hughes' non-technical approach will encourage and enable the reader to understand the arguments about the nature of God from both a classical and a contemporary perspective. In The Nature of God, Gerard Hughes takes the central attributes ascribed to God, such as Existence, Simplicity, Omniscience, Omnipotence and Goodness and gives them a historical and analytical background. Incorporating texts by Aquinas, Ockham, Molina, Descartes, Hume and Kant, he aims to give the reader first-hand acquaintance with these classic writers, and to then discuss their arguments in the light of contemporary debate. While the focus of The Nature of God is on the philosophy of religion, Hughes widens his scope to consider its implications in epistemology, metaphysics and moral philosophy. The issues he considers include necessity and possiblity, the relation of logic to epistemology and the connections between causation and moral philosophy. Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 10 A Note on References......Page 11 Introduction......Page 14 I Existence......Page 16 II Simplicity......Page 42 III Omniscience......Page 66 IV Omnipotence......Page 106 V Goodness......Page 138 Conclusion......Page 164 Notes......Page 170 Bibliography......Page 190 Index......Page 194 'This is an excellent work, which can be recommended without reservation. Above all, this work is to be valued because it sets out in a clearly argued fashion a standpoint which has been relatively neglected in recent discussion.' - Theology Humanities Preliminaries 1 Contents 7 Acknowledgements 10 A Note on References 11 Introduction 14 I Existence 16 II Simplicity 42 III Omniscience 66 IV Omnipotence 106 V Goodness 138 Conclusion 164 Notes 170 Bibliography 190 Index 194 Providing the reader with afirst-hand acquaintance of the religious philosophies of such classic writers as Aquinas and Hume, Hughes goes on to discuss their arguments in the light of current debates. First Published In 1995. Routledge Is An Imprint Of Taylor & Francis, An Informa Company.