RA013: Quentin Smith on Natural Evils and Immaterial Minds

A few weeks back I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Quentin Smith. We sat down not far from the Western Michigan University Campus where he was professor of philosophy from 1993 until he retired in 2015. Dr. Smith received his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Antioch College and his PhD in philosophy from Boston College. He has written and published over 140 articles and has written and co-written several books including one with William Lane Craig titled Theism, Atheism, and Big Bang Cosmology. While brief, the interview covers a wide variety of subjects from Smith’s 1986 book on The Felt Meanings of the World to his contributions to the problem of evil focusing on Evil Natural Laws as well as his thoughts on some contemporary arguments for God.

[MBarberfanlife]

I think the problem of animal suffering really brings the problem of evil to new heights. In other words, the traditional responses to the problem of evil won't work when we are talking about animals. So, I really think this ought to really make theists think beyond traditional responses that were already seemingly dubious or superficial.

[andrewwells]

Nice. I was wondering what happened to him, it almost seemed as though he disappeared into nowhere after 2008. I'm glad he sounds okay.

[MBarberfanlife]

The argument from consciousness and argument from fine-tuning understate the evidence (i.e. the fallacy of understated evidence).

Draper (and Lowder) makes this point really well.

[jamescaputo]

Kudos to this interviewer. Brilliantly articulate with a wonderful, engaging spirit. He tightened up the guest's ideas in a way that wasn't condescending and ultimately clarified what was being communicated.

[o.n.]

A late reply I know, but do you happen to know how Smith is doing right now, and if he is doing any philosophy at the moment? Like Andrew below, I wonder what happened to him (if anything).

[Nader]

the interviewer was offering weak questions