Philosophy of Religion: The Key Thinkers

Arguments concerning the existence and nature of God have been a staple of western philosophy for over 2,000 years. This title offers a historical overview of this field. It also includes essays that introduce and explore the contributions of those philosophers who have shaped the subject and the central issues and arguments therein.This is an accessible survey of the most important thinkers on Religion, from Aquinas, through Kant to William James. Arguments concerning the existence and nature of God have been a staple of western philosophy for over 2,000 years. "Philosophy of Religion: The Key Thinkers" offers a comprehensive historical overview of this fascinating field. Nine specially commissioned essays introduce and explore the contributions of those philosophers who have shaped the subject and the central issues and arguments therein. The book reconstructs the history of the philosophy of religion, clearly illustrating the most important attempts to address such crucial issues as the ontological argument, the cosmological argument, the problem of evil, miracles, the moral argument, the design argument, religious experience and the idea of god. Thinkers covered include Anselm, Aquinas, Pascal, Hume, Kant, Paley and James. Crucially the book demonstrates why the ideas and arguments these key thinkers developed are still relevant in contemporary thought. Ideal for undergraduate students, the book lays the necessary foundations for a complete and thorough understanding of this fascinating subject.