Molinism; named after the sixteenth-century Spanish Jesuit Luis de Molina; re-emerged in the 1970s after it was unwittingly assumed in versions of Alvin Plantinga's Free Will Defense against the Logical Argument from Evil. The Molinist notion of middle knowledge--and especially its main objects; so-called counterfactuals of (creaturely) freedom--have been the subject of vigorous debate in analytical philosophy of religion ever since. Is middle knowledge logically coherent? Is it a benefit or a liability overall for a satisfying account of divine providence? The essays in this collection examine the status; defensibility; and application of Molinism. Friends and foes of Molinism are well represented; and there are some lively exchanges between them. The collection provides a snap-shot of the current state of the Molinism Wars; along with some discussion of where we've been and where we might go in the future. More battles surely lie ahead; the essays and ideas in this collection are likely to have a major impact on future directions. The essays are specially written by a line-up of established and respected philosophers of religion; metaphysicians; and logicians. There is a substantive Introduction and an extensive Bibliography to assist both students and professionals.
#7584112 in Books 2014-10-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.70 x 1.10 x 8.60l; 1.15 #File Name: 0199451826336 pages
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