Skeptical Theism and Cognitive limitations of Humanity

Journal of Philosophical Investigations 14 (30):122-141 (2020)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

“Parent analogy” is one of the important arguments that was suggested by Stephen Wykstra, one of the prominent philosopher of Skeptical Theism. By formulating this argument, Wykstra shows that like infant who doesn’t understand reasons of her parent who permit suffering for her, Human being also cannot understand reasons of God who permits suffering. According to this we cannot infer from not seeing the reasons of God to there is no reason for God. Therefore, evidential argument from evil fails. Bruce Russell, William Rowe and Trent Dougherty challenge “parent analogy”. They offer “loving parent analogy” instead. “Loving parent” never leave their child alone in suffering or at least they make clear that there is reason. In their view, if theism is true, it`s expecting that this world be a transparent one and we can understand God`s reasons. In this article we show that parent analogy confront limitations which shows that it can be used neither for Skeptical Theism nor against it. But we show that there are other ways to justify cognitive limitations of human being. For example Alston instead of appeal to parent analogy, offer other analogies and enumerate at least six limitations for human beings. Accordingly, we can say that the claim of cognitive limitation form the view of Skeptical Theism is justified.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,475

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Reconsidering the parent analogy: unfinished business for skeptical theists.Trent Dougherty - 2012 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 72 (1):17-25.
The parent–child analogy and the limits of skeptical theism.Erik J. Wielenberg - 2015 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 78 (3):301-314.
The parent analogy: a reassessment.Jonathan Curtis Rutledge - 2017 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 82 (1):5-14.
Positive skeptical theism and the problem of divine deception.John M. DePoe - 2017 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 82 (1):89-99.
Skeptical theism.Justin P. McBrayer - 2010 - Philosophy Compass 5 (7):611-623.
Does Skeptical Theism Lead to Moral Skepticism?Jeff Jordan - 2006 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 72 (2):403 - 417.
All too skeptical theism.William Hasker - 2010 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 68 (1-3):15-29.
The Pandora’s box objection to skeptical theism.Stephen Law - 2015 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 78 (3):285-299.
Skeptical Theism.Timothy Perrine & Stephen Wykstra - 2017 - In Chad V. Meister & Paul K. Moser (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to the Problem of Evil. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 85-107.
Are skeptical theists really skeptics? Sometimes yes and sometimes no.Justin P. McBrayer - 2012 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 72 (1):3-16.
Skeptical theism and the problem of moral aporia.Mark Piper - 2007 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 62 (2):65 - 79.
Confirmation theory and the core of CORNEA.Paul Draper - 2014 - In Justin McBrayer Trent Dougherty (ed.), Skeptical Theism: New Essays. Oxford University Press. pp. 132-141.

Analytics

Added to PP
2020-05-13

Downloads
19 (#791,735)

6 months
6 (#510,434)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism.William L. Rowe - 1979 - American Philosophical Quarterly 16 (4):335 - 341.
19 The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism.William Rowe - 1979 - In Eleonore Stump & Michael J. Murray (eds.), Philosophy of Religion: The Big Questions. Blackwell. pp. 6--157.
Introduction to Logic.Irving M. Copi - 1956 - Philosophy of Science 23 (3):267-268.
Introduction to Logic.Irving M. Copi - 1954 - Revue de Métaphysique et de Morale 59 (3):344-345.

View all 17 references / Add more references