The Non-Existence of God

Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz on the concept of the world-view and the rationality of religious beliefs

“…Reformed Epistemology is a minority view, whereas most of contemporary epistemologists and philosophers are ready to interpret religion and religious experience in a naturalistic way, coherent with the scientific method (Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett). Perhaps Ajdukiewicz would have easily agreed with some contemporary atheists who argue that mystical experience is simply impossible because its object is a transcendent entity (Everitt 2004). The argument has it that even if a transcendent entity (God) exists, it is beyond our capacity to experience such a being.…”

“…The very project of Reformed Epistemology has met strong criticism. Interestingly, it is criticized also from positions quite similar to those Ajdukiewicz held some seventy years ago (Everitt 2004). Reformed Epistemology is a minority view, whereas most of contemporary epistemologists and philosophers are ready to interpret religion and religious experience in a naturalistic way, coherent with the scientific method (Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett).…”

The Fine-Tuning Argument: Exploring the Improbability of Our Existence

“…(Kenny 1969, p. 116). Everitt (2004) distinguishes between the Argument to Design and the Argument from Order, respectively, both of which may still be found in modern Christian apologists such as Swinburne (2004), Küng (2005), and Collins (2009), rebutted by e.g., Everitt (2004) and Philipse (2012). It is clear from his writings (such as the General Scholium in Principia) that Isaac Newton supported the Argument from Design, followed by Bentley (1692).…”

“…In the absence of such information, it would be natural to assume that any (real, positive as appropriate) value may be assumed, but in that case mathematical probabilistic reasoning (which is necessary for the FTA in order to say that the current values are 'unlikely') turns out to be impossible (McGrew et al 2001;Colyvan et al 2005;Koperski 2005). 23 But also if a large but finite number of values (per constant or initial condition) needs be taken into account, it is hard to assign any kind of probability to any of the alternative values; even the assumption that each values is equally likely seems totally arbitrary (Everitt 2004;Norton 2010).…”

“…Note that a fine-tuning intelligent Creator is still a long shot from the Christian God whom Swinburne (2004), Küng (2005), and Collins (2009) Design remains a vulnerable idea. 26 For the sake of argument we do not question the coherence of the idea of an intelligent Creator as such, although such a spirit seems chimerical (Everitt 2004;Philipse 2012). …”