Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Existential Inertia and Classical Theistic Proofs

  • Book
  • © 2023

Overview

Authors:
  1. Joseph C. Schmid

    1. Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Daniel J. Linford

    1. Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Fills a gap in recent scholarship on proofs of God's existence

  • Represents a unique contribution to metaphysics, philosophy of time, and philosophy of religion

  • Written in a style that is accessible and engaging to a broader audience

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 1-14

  3. Aquinas’s First Way

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 15-46

  4. Stage One of the Aristotelian Proof

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 47-82

  5. Existential Inertia and the Aristotelian Causal Principle

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 83-103

  6. Existential Inertia: Thesis and Taxonomy

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 105-129

  7. The Metaphysics of Existential Inertia

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 131-187

  8. Existential Inertia: Motivations and Defense

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 189-263

  9. Mind the Gap

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 265-296

  10. The Neo-Platonic Proof

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 297-320

  11. The Augustinian Proof and Theistic Conceptualism

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 321-353

  12. The Thomistic and Rationalist Proofs

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 355-364

  13. Conclusion

    • Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford
    Pages 365-373

  14. Back Matter

    Pages 375-378
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

This book critically assesses arguments for the existence of the God of classical theism, develops an innovative account of objects’ persistence, and defends new arguments against classical theism. The authors engage the following classical theistic proofs: Aquinas’s First Way, Aquinas’s De Ente argument, and Feser’s Aristotelian, Neo-Platonic, Augustinian, Thomistic, and Rationalist proofs.  The authors also provide the first systematic treatment of the ‘existential inertia thesis’.  By connecting the thesis to relativity theory and recent developments in the philosophy of physics, and by developing a variety of novel existential-inertia-friendly explanations of persistence, they mount a formidable new case against classical theistic proofs. Finally, they defend new arguments against classical theism based on abstract objects and changing divine knowledge. The text appeals to students, researchers, and others interested in classical theistic proofs, the existence and nature of God, and the ultimate explanations of persistence, change, and contingency.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

    Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford

About the authors

Joseph Schmid has published numerous articles in international peer-reviewed journals on metaphysics and philosophy of religion and has authored The Majesty of Reason: A Short Guide to Critical Thinking in Philosophy.

Daniel Linford received his PhD in philosophy from Purdue University and has published in a wide variety of top philosophy journals on philosophy of religion, philosophy of time, philosophy of physics, and metaphysics.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Existential Inertia and Classical Theistic Proofs

  • Authors: Joseph C. Schmid, Daniel J. Linford

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19313-2

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-031-19312-5Published: 30 November 2022

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-031-19315-6Published: 01 December 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-031-19313-2Published: 29 November 2022

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVI, 378

  • Topics: Philosophy of Religion, Metaphysics

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation