Alvin Plantinga on Treating Theism Philosophically

January 7, 2013 | Is belief in God properly basic to humanity? Philosophers of religion have vigorously contested this question, and the relationship between theism and rationality more generally, over the past several decades. As part of its ongoing research project on religion as intrinsic to human experience, the Religious Freedom Project hosted a standing seminar addressing this topic with noted philosopher Alvin Plantinga on January 7. A panel of distinguished philosophers engaged with Plantinga's paper on the basic nature of belief in God and the rationality of theism and with a response by respected philosopher Ernest Sosa. The panel subsequently delved into these issues and assessed their impact on broader questions involving the philosophical underpinnings of religious freedom.

Alvin Plantinga is the John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. Before coming to Notre Dame in 1982, he taught at Calvin College from 1963 to 1982. A widely regarded philosopher of religion, he is credited with helping revive Christian philosophy. Acclaimed for his work on metaphysics, the problem of evil, and the epistemology of religious belief, he has written or edited numerous books, including Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism (2011), Science and Religion (2010, with Daniel Dennett), and Knowledge of God (2008, with Michael Tooley). Other major works include God and Other Minds (1967), The Nature of Necessity (1974), Faith and Rationality: Reason and Belief in God (1983, ed. with Nicholas Wolterstorff), and a major trilogy on "Warrant" which argues, among many other things, that belief in God is "properly basic." Plantinga received his A.B. from Calvin College and Ph.D. from Yale University.

[godonlyone]

There is no need for Plantinga or any other human being to attempt to "demonstrate" the reality that God's unique qualities and activities are factual, because God has already made this reality known to all human beings.

[ericpowell]

If you're going to knit during a discussion then just go home.

[TheGizmoskate]

Plantinga has given up on trying to demonstrate that a theistic God exists. His entire career has been to show that belief in such a being is 'rational'.

What does this kind of shift suggest?