Richard G. Swinburne est Professeur Émérite de Philosophie à l'Université d'Oxford. Depuis 50 ans, il est un défenseur influent de la théologie naturelle, c'est-à-dire des arguments philosophiques en faveur de l'existence de Dieu. Ses contributions philosophiques se situent principalement dans la philosophie de la religion et la philosophie des sciences. Son travail précoce en philosophie de la religion, une trilogie de livres, a suscité d'importantes discussions.
Richard Swinburne presents a powerful case for substance dualism and libertarian free will. He argues that pure mental and physical events are distinct, and defends an account of agent causation in which the soul can act independently of bodily causes. We are responsible for our actions, and the findings of neuroscience cannot prove otherwise.
The book explores the concept of divine revelation within Christianity, questioning the authenticity of its claims to revealed truths. It differentiates between literal and metaphorical interpretations of the Bible, providing a critical analysis of its historical narratives. The updated edition includes a new chapter that scrutinizes traditional Christian views on personal morality issues such as divorce, homosexuality, and abortion, assessing their validity as revealed truths.
The revised second edition delves into the philosophical inquiry surrounding the coherence of the concept of God. Swinburne addresses significant developments in the debate over the past four decades, refining his perspectives on key attributes of God. This text offers an updated analysis that engages with contemporary discussions, making it a vital resource for those interested in the philosophy of religion.
The debate over Jesus' bodily resurrection is central to Christian studies. Richard Swinburne shifts the focus from explicit New Testament statements to exploring how the nature of God and Jesus' life influence the likelihood of the Resurrection. This broader perspective offers valuable insights, appealing to both scholars and those interested in religious philosophy and doctrine.
Richard Swinburne argues compellingly that if there is a God, then the main doctrines which the Christian Church teaches about God are very probably true. In particular, he shows that there is strong philosophical support for the belief that Jesus, while remaining God, acquired a human nature and lived on earth for thirty years as a human being.
The examination of religious faith is central to this philosophical theology work, where Richard Swinburne delves into the coherence of theism and the existence of God. He explores the purposes of practicing religion and posits that faith hinges on the belief that a specific creed justifies the attainment of these purposes. This second edition retains the original structure and conclusions but has been significantly revised to engage more closely with classical theologians and contemporary perspectives.
This is a revised and updated version of Swinburne's controversial treatment of the eternal philosophical problem of the relation between mind and body. He argues that we can only make sense of the interaction between the mental and the physical in terms of the soul, and that there is no scientific explanation of the evolution of the soul.
Exploring the challenging question of suffering in relation to a loving God, the author argues that divine intention centers on human growth through choice and love. By allowing suffering, God provides opportunities for individuals to develop their character and help one another. This thought-provoking work concludes a four-volume philosophical analysis of Christian doctrine, emphasizing the necessity of suffering as part of the human experience and the journey toward moral and spiritual development.
What are humans? What makes us who we are? Many think that we are just complicated machines, or animals that are different from machines only by being conscious. In Are We Bodies or Souls? Richard Swinburne comes to the defence of the soul and presents new philosophical arguments that are supported by modern neuroscience. When scientific advances enable neuroscientists to transplant a part of brain into a new body, he reasons, no matter how much we can find out about their brain activity or conscious experiences we will never know whether the resulting person is the same as before or somebody entirely new. Swinburne thus argues that we are immaterial souls sustained in existence by our brains. Sensations, thoughts, and intentions are conscious events in our souls that cause events in our brains. While scientists might discover some of the laws of nature that determine conscious events and brain events, each person's soul is an individual thing and this is what ultimately makes us who we are.
Is There a God? offers a powerful response to modern doubts about the existence of God. It may seem today that the answers to all fundamental questions lie in the province of science but Richard Swinburne, one of the most distinguished philosophers of religion of our day, argues that on the contrary, science provides good grounds for belief in God.