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Prometheus Books
Ontological Argument from Descartes to Hegel, The (JHP Books)
Ontological Argument from Descartes to Hegel, The (JHP Books)
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"Harrelson's book is an incisive and illuminating account of the complex fortunes of the ontological argument in modern philosophy. Harrelson knows the literature thoroughly and marshals it elegantly. The book should be indispensable for specialists in the philosophy of religion and in the period that it covers. It is so clearly written that it could be used by well-equipped undergraduates, as well."
-Robert M. Wallace, PhD, Author of Hegel's Philosophy of Reality and Freedom and God (Cambridge University Press, 2005)
"This is an excellent book and the only one of its kind in English on one of the most enduring and fascinating arguments in the history of philosophy. The work begins with a rich and provocative discussion of Descartes' famous version of the ontological argument and objections raised by his contemporaries and then looks to later developments in Malebranche, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hegel and others as attempts to wrestle with and, ultimately, answer these objections. The book is impressive in its historical sweep, but even more noteworthy is the effort to place the ontological argument within the framework of each thinker's philosophical project. As Harrelson says of Descartes, 'The ontological argument ultimately becomes the conclusion of an entire philosophical system.' Harrelson argues that from within this framework the ontological argument is 'unassailable,' showing how the most famous objections, such as the claim that existence is not a predicate, miss their target. His lucid writing style makes for a lively and compelling read."
-Lawrence Nolan, PhD, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Marquette University
The ontological argument for the existence of God has been a constant in the philosophy of religion since its first formulation by Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century. In the 17th century, it was revived by René Descartes, and ever since has been a subject of dispute and much debate among philosophers. Descartes formulated it as follows:
"Premise 1: That which we clearly understand to belong to the true and immutable nature, or essence, or form of something, can be truly asserted of that thing.
"Premise 2: But once we have made a sufficiently careful investigation into what God is, we clearly and distinctly understand that existence belongs to his true and immutable nature.
Conclusion: Hence we can now truly assert of God that he does exits"
In this interesting history of the argument, philosopher Kevin J. Harrelson shows that the defense of the ontological argument is more consistent and persuasive than has frequently been supposed. In addition to correcting many common misunderstandings about the argument, the author highlights what appears to be an irremovable tension between the conclusion and the explanation of the proof. Both the common objections to the argument and its historical development in early modern philosophy are explained in light of this tension.
Kevin J. Harrelson is an assistant professor of philosophy at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He has taught humanities at Kentucky, and philosophy at the University of North Dakota. His research areas are in early modern philosophy, German Idealism, and the philosophy of religion. His current research projects focus on religious belief and the justification thereof in the early modern period. He has published numerous biographical articles in the Dictionary of Eighteenth-Century German Philosophers.
-Robert M. Wallace, PhD, Author of Hegel's Philosophy of Reality and Freedom and God (Cambridge University Press, 2005)
"This is an excellent book and the only one of its kind in English on one of the most enduring and fascinating arguments in the history of philosophy. The work begins with a rich and provocative discussion of Descartes' famous version of the ontological argument and objections raised by his contemporaries and then looks to later developments in Malebranche, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hegel and others as attempts to wrestle with and, ultimately, answer these objections. The book is impressive in its historical sweep, but even more noteworthy is the effort to place the ontological argument within the framework of each thinker's philosophical project. As Harrelson says of Descartes, 'The ontological argument ultimately becomes the conclusion of an entire philosophical system.' Harrelson argues that from within this framework the ontological argument is 'unassailable,' showing how the most famous objections, such as the claim that existence is not a predicate, miss their target. His lucid writing style makes for a lively and compelling read."
-Lawrence Nolan, PhD, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Marquette University
The ontological argument for the existence of God has been a constant in the philosophy of religion since its first formulation by Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century. In the 17th century, it was revived by René Descartes, and ever since has been a subject of dispute and much debate among philosophers. Descartes formulated it as follows:
"Premise 1: That which we clearly understand to belong to the true and immutable nature, or essence, or form of something, can be truly asserted of that thing.
"Premise 2: But once we have made a sufficiently careful investigation into what God is, we clearly and distinctly understand that existence belongs to his true and immutable nature.
Conclusion: Hence we can now truly assert of God that he does exits"
In this interesting history of the argument, philosopher Kevin J. Harrelson shows that the defense of the ontological argument is more consistent and persuasive than has frequently been supposed. In addition to correcting many common misunderstandings about the argument, the author highlights what appears to be an irremovable tension between the conclusion and the explanation of the proof. Both the common objections to the argument and its historical development in early modern philosophy are explained in light of this tension.
Kevin J. Harrelson is an assistant professor of philosophy at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He has taught humanities at Kentucky, and philosophy at the University of North Dakota. His research areas are in early modern philosophy, German Idealism, and the philosophy of religion. His current research projects focus on religious belief and the justification thereof in the early modern period. He has published numerous biographical articles in the Dictionary of Eighteenth-Century German Philosophers.
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