Science, God and Ockham’s razor

Philosophical Studies 174 (5):1145-1161 (2017)
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Abstract

In discussions about the existence of God, it is sometimes claimed that the progress of science has removed the need for God. This paper uses a Bayesian analysis of Ockham’s razor to formulate and evaluate this argument, which is referred to as the science explains away God argument. Four different strategies for responding to this argument are presented and evaluated. It is argued that one of these strategies highlights how difficult it is to show that the conditions for applying Ockham’s razor are satisfied and hence why SEAGA is very unlikely to succeed.

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Author's Profile

David H. Glass
University of Ulster

Citations of this work

Be Careful What You Grant.Lydia McGrew - forthcoming - Philosophia:1-23.

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References found in this work

Summa Theologica.Thomasn D. Aquinas - 1273 - Hayes Barton Press. Edited by Steven M. Cahn.
Darwin's Dangerous Idea.Daniel Dennett - 1994 - Behavior and Philosophy 24 (2):169-174.
The Existence of God.Richard Swinburne - 1979 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press UK.
Summa Theologica (1273).Thomas Aquinas - 1947 - New York: Benziger Bros..

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