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God and Abstract Objects

The Coherence of Theism: Aseity

  • Book
  • © 2017

Overview

Authors:
  1. William Lane Craig

    1. Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, La Mirada, USA

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  • Contains the most wide-ranging discussion in the literature of Platonism and its challenge to divine aseity

  • Encourages theists to explore largely ignored anti-realist options concerning abstract objects

  • Is the fruit of a life-long research programme on the coherence of theism

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. The Problematic

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Introduction

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 3-32

    3. Theology Proper and Abstract Objects

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 33-75

    4. The Indispensability Argument for Platonism

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 77-118

  3. Realist Solutions

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 119-119
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    2. Absolute Creationism

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 121-163

    3. Non-platonic Realism

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 165-213

  4. Anti-realist Solutions

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 215-215
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    2. Alternative Logics and Semantics

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 217-237

    3. Fictionalism

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 239-282

    4. Ultima Facie Interpretive Strategies

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 283-326

    5. Pretense Theory

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 327-371

    6. Neo-Meinongianism

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 373-420

    7. Neutralism

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 421-480

  5. Conclusion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 481-481
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    2. Concluding Reflections

      • William Lane Craig
      Pages 483-488

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 489-540
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Keywords

About this book

This book is an exploration and defense of the coherence of classical theism’s doctrine of divine aseity in the face of the challenge posed by Platonism with respect to abstract objects. A synoptic work in analytic philosophy of religion, the book engages discussions in philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of language, metaphysics, and metaontology. It addresses absolute creationism, non-Platonic realism, fictionalism, neutralism, and alternative logics and semantics, among other topics. The book offers a helpful taxonomy of the wide range of options available to the classical theist for dealing with the challenge of Platonism. It probes in detail the diverse views on the reality of abstract objects and their compatibility with classical theism. It contains a most thorough discussion, rooted in careful exegesis, of the biblical and patristic basis of the doctrine of divine aseity. Finally, it challenges the influential Quinean metaontological theses concerning the way in which we make ontological commitments.

Reviews

“God and Abstract Objects (G&AO), William Lane Craig codifies over a dozen years of research and reflection on the threat that realist views of abstract objects pose to divine aseity. … G&AO intended for a non-specialist audience. It is directed primarily to philosophers and theologians, … .” (C.A. McIntosh, Philosophy in Review, Vol. 39 (2), May, 2019)



“In God and Abstract Objects, Craig sets about defusing the tension by exploring the options for accounting for mathematical practice and its role in our lives … . He does this by means of an impressive synoptic overview of the contemporary philosophy of mathematics, examining positions that might offer the theistic philosopher a way to preserve the doctrine of aseity. …The detailed engagement with positions in the philosophy of mathematics is to be found in God and Abstract Objects… .” (Simon Hewitt, Philosophia Mathematica, August, 2018)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, La Mirada, USA

    William Lane Craig

About the author

William Lane Craig is Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Houston Baptist University. A Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, he delivered the Cadbury Lectures at the University of Birmingham in 2015. He has authored or edited over 40 books and over 150 articles in philosophical and theological journals. Research interests include metaphysics, philosophy of time, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of mathematics.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: God and Abstract Objects

  • Book Subtitle: The Coherence of Theism: Aseity

  • Authors: William Lane Craig

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55384-9

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

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

  • Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing AG 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-55383-2Published: 18 September 2017

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-85646-9Published: 10 August 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-55384-9Published: 05 September 2017

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XV, 540

  • Number of Illustrations: 6 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Philosophy of Religion, Christian Theology, Mathematical Logic and Foundations, Metaphysics

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