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1115The evil-god challengeReligious Studies 46 (3). 2010.This paper develops a challenge to theism. The challenge is to explain why the hypothesis that there exists an omnipotent, omniscient and all-good god should be considered significantly more reasonable than the hypothesis that there exists an omnipotent, omniscient and all-evil god. Theists typically dismiss the evil-god hypothesis out of hand because of the problem of good–there is surely too much good in the world for it to be the creation of such a being. But then why doesn't the problem of e…Read more
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41other thinkers on any topic broadly related either to philosophy or to the development of thinking skills. It is anticipated that most contributors..
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115Plantinga's belief-cum-desire argument refutedReligious Studies 47 (2): 245-256. 2011.In Warrant and Proper Function, Alvin Plantinga develops an argument designed to show that naturalism is self-defeating. One component of this larger argument is what I call Plantinga's belief-cum-desire argument, which is intended to establish something more specific: that if the content of our beliefs does causally effect behaviour (that is to say, semantic content is not epiphenomenal), and if naturalism and current evolutionary doctrine are correct, then the probability that we possess relia…Read more
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109Thinking tools: The fallacy of affirming the consequent: Law Thinking toolsThink 3 (7): 31-32. 2004.Thinking Tools is a regular feature that introduces pointers on thinking clearly and rigorously.
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326Five private language argumentsInternational Journal of Philosophical Studies 12 (2): 159-176. 2004.This paper distinguishes five key interpretations of the argument presented by Wittgenstein in Philosophical Investigations I, §258. I also argue that on none of these five interpretations is the argument cogent. The paper is primarily concerned with the most popular interpretation of the argument: that which that makes it rest upon the principle that one can be said to follow a rule only if there exists a 'useable criterion of successful performance' (Pears) or 'operational standard of correctn…Read more
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116Thinking tools. Fallacy: Division: Law thinking tools • folioThink 8 (21): 83-83. 2009.Thinking tools is a regular feature that offers tips and pointers on thinking clearly and rigorously.
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149Thinking tools: The genetic fallacyThink 5 (13): 23-24. 2006.Thinking Tools is a regular feature that introduces tips and pointers on thinking clearly and rigorously
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197Thinking tools: Suppressed evidence: Law thinking toolsThink 7 (20): 105-105. 2008.Thinking tools is a regular feature that offers tips and pointers on thinking clearly and rigorously.
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99Thinking tools 3: Flying saucers and open minds: Law Thinking toolsThink 1 (3): 65-68. 2003.Thinking Tools is a regular feature that introduces pointers on thinking clearly and rigorously. Here I tell a cautionary tale about flying saucers and take a brief look at the virtues of ‘open-mindedness’.
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1091: Celebrity Endorsements and a Salesperson's Trick: Law Thinking toolsThink 1 (1): 77-79. 2002.Thinking Tools is a regular feature that introduces tips and pointers on thinking clearly and rigorously. Here we get to grips with two everyday reasoning errors.
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90Just knowingThe Philosophers' Magazine 56 (56): 51-57. 2012.I remain entirely unconvinced that anyone who claims to “just know” that the dead walk among us, or that God exists, knows any such thing. Not only do I think the rest of us have good grounds for doubting their experience, I don’t believe it’s reasonable for them to take their own experience at face value either.
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107What's wrong with gay sex?Think 2 (5): 53-68. 2003.Mr Jarvis, a Christian, was asleep in bed, dreaming of the Last Judgement. In his dream, Jarvis found himself seated next to God in a great cloud-swept hall. God had just finished handing down judgement on the drunkards, who were slowly shuffling out of the exit to the left. Angels were now ushering a group of nervous-looking men through the entrance to the right. As the men were assembled before Him, God began to speak
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75Thinking tools: The gambler's fallacy: Law Thinking toolsThink 2 (5): 51-52. 2003.Thinking Tools is a regular feature that introduces pointers on thinking clearly and rigorously. Here we get to grips with an everyday reasoning error: the gambler's fallacy.
