Is God the Best Explanation of Things? A Dialogue

This book provides an up to date, high-level exchange on God in a uniquely productive style. Readers witness a contemporary version of a classic debate, as two professional philosophers seek to learn from each other while making their cases for their distinct positions. In their dialogue, Joshua Rasmussen and Felipe Leon examine classical and cutting-edge arguments for and against a theistic explanation of general features of reality. The book also provides original lines of thought based on the authors’ own contributions to the field, and offers a productive and innovative inquiry into on one of the biggest questions people ask: what is the ultimate explanation of things?

Introduction

Section 1: Is There a Foundation for the Universe?

Chapter 1: For a Foundation (Rasmussen)

Chapter 3: The Geometric Argument (Rasmussen)

Chapter 4: Finitude, Topology, and Arbitrariness (Leon)

Chapter 5: Argument from Arbitrary Limits (Rasmussen)

Chapter 6: Varieties of Naturalism (Leon)

Section 2: Is the Foundation Personal?

Chapter 7: For a Personal Foundation (Rasmussen)

Chapter 8: How Naturalism Could Explain Morality, Rationality, and Intentionality (Leon)

Chapter 9: Foundational Mind Theory Extended (Rasmussen)

Chapter 10: Filling out a Naturalistic Picture via Spinoza and Russell (Leon)

Chapter 11: How the Best of Naturalism Fits Inside a Foundational Mind (Rasmussen)

Section 3: Is God Good?

Chapter 13: A Perfectly Good Foundation: Some Reasons for Doubt (Leon)

Chapter 14: The Great Story Theodicy (Rasmussen)

Chapter 15: Questioning the Story (Leon)

Chapter 16: How to See the Good in the Foundation (Rasmussen)

Epilogue

Joshua Rasmussen is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Azusa Pacific University, USA

 Felipe Leon is Associate Professor of Philosophy at El Camino College, USA