World Without Design

The Ontological Consequences of Naturalism

Michael C. Rea (, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame)

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English

Oxford University Press
01 September 2002

Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology; Philosophy of religion; Philosophy of science

Philosophical naturalism, according to which philosophy is continuous with the natural sciences, has dominated the Western academy for well over a century; but Michael Rea claims that it is without rational foundation, and that the costs of embracing it are surprisingly high.

The first part of World Without Design aims to provide a fair and historically informed characterization of naturalism. Rea then argues compellingly to the surprising conclusion that naturalists are committed to rejecting realism about material objects, materialism, and perhaps realism about other minds. This conclusion is striking, largely because naturalism is often simply identified with materialism, and the remaining two theses are ones that naturalists very typically want to endorse. Rea goes on to examine two alternative research programs: intuitionism and supernaturalism, and argues for the conclusion that intuitionism, under certain circumstances, is self-defeating. World Without Design offers a provocative challenge to philosophical orthodoxy. It will make uncomfortable reading for many philosophers.

By: Michael C. Rea ( Associate Professor of Philosophy University of Notre Dame)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 223mm, Width: 145mm, Spine: 19mm
Weight: 458g
ISBN: 9780199247608
ISBN 10: 0199247609
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 01 September 2002
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1: Introduction 1 Naturalism2: Pillars of the Tradition 3: Naturalism Characterized 2 Ontology4: The Discovery Problem 5: Proper Function 6: Pragmatic Arguments 7: What Price Anti-Realism? 3 Alternatives8: Intuitionism 9: Supernaturalism References, Index

Michael C. Rea is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.

Reviews for World Without Design: The Ontological Consequences of Naturalism

... wide-ranging ... however we react to Rea's arguments, they do us the service of forcing us to reflect anew on the epistemology of metaphysics. Australasian Journal of Philosophy The first part of Rea's book is an informed and useful history of naturalism as a philosophical movement ... full of interesting points. Times Literary Supplement ... succinct and penetrating ... Thoroughly researched and richly argued, World Without Design will prove valuable to anyone interested in the naturalistic tradition. Troy Cross, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Rea's is a dense and closely argued book, illustrating the convergence of philosophy of religion and sophisticated metaphysics and representativeof the best of Christian philosophy today. Philosophia Christi