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Series:   Elements in the Problems of God

The Problem of God in Thomas Reid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2025

James Foster
James Foster
Affiliation:
University of Sioux Falls

Summary

Thomas Reid was a theist and a philosopher; yet the exact relationship between philosophy and theology in his works is unclear and disputed. The aim of this book is to clarify this relationship along three lines by exploring the status, function, and detachability of theism with respect to Reid's philosophy. Regarding the first I argue that belief in the existence of God is, for Reid, a non-inferential first principle. Regarding the second I argue that theism plays at least six different roles in Reid's philosophy. And, regarding the third, I argue that, despite this, theism is largely detachable from Reid's concept of human rationality and philosophy. What emerges is a picture of the relationship between philosophy and theology in which both inquiries are motivated by natural human curiosity, and both are founded on principles of common sense.
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Keywords

Thomas Reidnatural theologyepistemologydesign argumentscommon sense
Type
Element
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Series: Elements in the Problems of God
Online ISBN: 9781009270564
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 06 February 2025

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The Problem of God in Thomas Reid
  • James Foster, University of Sioux Falls
  • Online ISBN: 9781009270564
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The Problem of God in Thomas Reid
  • James Foster, University of Sioux Falls
  • Online ISBN: 9781009270564
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The Problem of God in Thomas Reid
  • James Foster, University of Sioux Falls
  • Online ISBN: 9781009270564
Available formats
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