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44The maximin rule argument for Rawls's principles of justiceAustralasian Journal of Philosophy 63 (1). 1985.John Rawls, in A Theory of Justice, sometimes asserts each of the two premises of the following argument, and also the conclusion: (1) The parties in the original position would adopt the maximin rule. (2) The maximin rule, when applied to the task pof the parties in the original position, enjoins the choice of Rawls's two principles of justice in preference to the lother listed alternative. (3) Therefore the parties would choose Rawls's two principles. In this paper I argue against premise…Read more
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42Hume on miracles and contrary religionsSophia 14 (1). 1975.This paper addresses a line of argument in Hume's Enquiry, Section X Part 2 -- specifically, on pp.121-222 of Selby-Bigge's edition. In September 2021 I read it for the first time in several decades, and realized that the argument is seriously flawed. Although I cannot recommend that anyone else read it in its current state, perhaps by the end of 2021 I'll be in a position upload a revised version of the paper to this site.
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38God and Infinite Hierarchies of Creatable WorldsFaith and Philosophy 23 (4): 460-476. 2006.This paper has been superseded by chapter 3 of my book "God, the Best, and Evil" (OUP 2008). The chapter concerns God's choices in cases in which God has infinitely many better and better options.
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34Review of Brian Leftow, God and Necessity: Oxford University Press: Oxford 2012, ISBN 978-0-19-926335-6, hb, x + 575 pp (review)Sophia 54 (2): 227-229. 2015.The review is a summary of the main thrust of Leftow's rich and very interesting theistic account of alethic possibility and necessity.
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32Some internal theodicies and the objection from alternative goodsInternational Journal for Philosophy of Religion 34 (1). 1993.
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27Can God replace the actual world by a better one?Philosophical Papers 20 (3): 183-192. 1991.This paper has been superseded by Chapter 5 (especially section 5.4) of my book "God, the Best, and Evil" (OUP 2008). The chapter, like the journal article, is concerned with objections to the existence of God that are based on the apparent improvability of the world, yet are independent of the problem of evil.
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19Colin Howson Objecting to God (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011). Pp. xi+ 220.£ 17.99 (Pbk). ISBN 978 0 521 18665 0 (review)Religious Studies 48 (3): 415-419. 2012.
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18The Classical and Maximin Versions of the Two-Envelope ParadoxAustralasian Journal of Logic 2 30-43. 2004.The Two-Envelope Paradox is classically presented as a problem in decision theory that turns on the use of probabilities in calculating expected utilities. I formulate a Maximin Version of the paradox, one that is decision-theoretic but omits considerations of probability. I investigate the source of the error in this new argument, and apply the insights thereby gained to the analysis of the classical version.
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17Miracles and rival systems of religionSophia 24 (1). 1985.This paper concerns some claims by Hume in the Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Section X Part II -- specifically, what he says on pp.121-122 of Selby-Bigge's edition. Today (in September 2021) I have re-read the paper for the first time in decades. I cannot recommend that anyone else now read it: my argument was seriously defective. I still think, however, that its conclusion is correct, and accordingly may eventually write a new paper on the topic.
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17Reply to Chrzan’s commentsSophia 34 (1): 74-78. 1995.This paper is the second of two in which I address Keith Chrzan's criticisms of what Alvin Plantinga says, in Chapter 9 Section 11 of The Nature of Necessity, about probabilistic arguments from evil. l clarify the issues and defend Plantinga and myself from Chrzan's criticisms.
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10Guest Editor’s IntroductionBusiness and Professional Ethics Journal 21 (3-4): 2-4. 2002.This is a short statement about the Australiian Association for Professional and Applied Ethics, and the association's conference at which the papers in the journal were published.
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8Finite and Infinite Goods: A Framework for EthicsPhilosophia Christi 3 (1): 284-286. 2001.This is a review of Robert Merrihew Adams's book Finite and Infinite Goods (Oxford UP 1999), which provides an impressive theistic axiological and ethical theory.
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7Government and Faith-Based Organisations in a Pluralist SocietyAustralian Journal of Professional and Applied Ethics 7 (1): 72-77. 2005.Religious outlooks are combinations of theological, moral and political principles, individuated in a medium-grained way. Distinguish between religious outlooks that are friendly to the fundamental political principles characteristic of liberal democracy, and those that are hostile to, or knowingly subversive of, them. I claim that (1) in some respects, but not all, governments are justified in discriminating against 'hostile' religious outlooks, but (2) governments should not intentionally favo…Read more
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WATTS, G. S.: "The Revolution of Ideas" (review)Australasian Journal of Philosophy 62 (n/a): 318. 1984.
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Richard SwinburneIn Graham Robert Oppy & Nick Trakakis (eds.), Medieval Philosophy of Religion: The History of Western Philosophy of Religion, Volume 2, Oxford University Press. pp. 5. 2009.In tyhis book chapterI provides concise overviews of Richard Swinburne's views on topics in natural theology and also in distinctively Christian philosophical theology; changes in his views are identified. I explain Swinburne's positive, cumulative case for the existence of God, and his discussion of objections to God based on evil, and then move on to outline his views on A tonement, Revelation, the Trinity, and the Incarnation. I then sketch his case for the truth of Christianity, and and his…Read more
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Review of "The Miracle of Theism" by J.L. Mackie (review)Australasian Journal of Philosophy 62 (n/a): 195. 1984.
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Unrestricted Actualization and Divine ProvidenceOxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion 9 195-212. 2019.Michael Almeida, in his book "Freedom, God, and Worlds" (OUP 2012) argues that (C) Necessarily, God has available an infallible method, Unrestricted Actualization, by which God can bring about whatever undetermined events God chooses, except those which it is metaphysically or accidentally necessary that God does not bring about. I argue that we have no reason to believe either of the two premises of Almeida's main argument for (C).
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SMART, J. J. C.: "Ethics, Persuasion and Truth" (review)Australasian Journal of Philosophy 65 (n/a): 491. 1987.
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MORRIS, T. V.: "The Logic of God Incarnate" (review)Australasian Journal of Philosophy 65 (n/a): 372. 1987.
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BONJOUR, L.: "The Structure of Empirical Knowledge" (review)Australasian Journal of Philosophy 65 (n/a): 218. 1987.
Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Areas of Specialization
Metaphysics |
Philosophy of Religion |
Areas of Interest
Metaphysics |
Philosophy of Religion |