The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God 1st Edition

by J. L. Mackie (Author)

27 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0198246824

ISBN-10: 019824682X

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About the Author

J. L. Mackie is at University College, Oxford.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (January 13, 1983)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 019824682X
ISBN-13: 978-0198246824
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.9 x 5.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 27 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #16 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts > Theism
- #1103 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Religious Studies
- #2468 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History

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Giannuzzo

The Right Way to Do It

October 26, 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I don't agree with Mr. Mackie's ultimate conclusion, but that is not the point of my review. Mackie has addressed the question in the proper fashion. He shows proper respect for the arguments of those with whom he differs and he lets the case stand or fall on its ultimate merits. Were I an atheist this book would be my model for argument. Compared to Mackie the recent works of Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins seem to be the work of crackpots. "The village atheists screaming at the village idiots" to parphrase Chesterton. I can actually envision having a rational debate with Mackie on the topic. I only hope that I would be able to hold my own. He quite cogently for his point of view and even though its not mine

any person of faith and any non believer who is interested in the concept of God from a philosophical point of view will be enriched by reading this work.

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José

recommendation

September 6, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The purchase was very simple, and they had the available book, the times and delivery of the product was made under the engaged conditions. I recommend this company for their quality and responsibility. I recommend this company for their quality and responsibility.

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Born to Lose

Interesting lecture for a believer

August 21, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Two stars are not to disencourage anyone to read the book, but due to philosophical understanding of reason the author supports. Very documented book, although Mackie's prose leaves something to be desired (slow and full of repetitions).

All major proofs are reviewed and the author struggles with himself to offer and objective account of both sides: theistic arguments vs. the atheists ones. This is important because already from the first pages Mackie shows his cards saying his own view is atheistic. In my opinion this is very honest from his side and does not devaluate the book. Indeed, Mackie makes an effort for achieving objectivity and I think he gets it.

My own view is theistic, but I confess Mackie convinced me with his arguments about the lack of rationality of religion, and especially of the Christian one. But I have two objections to Mackie:
1- What he depicts as rationality excludes by definition all kind of higher values and aspirations. He restricts it almost to physical or psychical things (what Popper would call world 1 and world 2). His view of rationality seems to be that of Popper, Albert and W. James. This is, at least, very dangerous, as the three of them have their own view of rationality and, in some important points, they endorse heavy differences.

2- He dismisses faith completely. In his view, faith is irrational and is a kind of hidden and wrong mental argument. But in my opinion faith exist positively as something different of rational patterns, although also includes some rationality.

3- Mackie understands rationality as what Kant would label as theorical reason. Doing so, he has a very narrow view of it. For Mackie rationality is what science is able to explicit through empirical tests. Nothing more. What happens with other experiences like the artistic, the ordinary, the religious one? Are not they as original to human existence as the scientific one? Yes, but as they do not endorse the rigid method of scientific knowledge, they are considered as not rational.

4- Certainly, religious experience is not the same as the scientific one, but does it mean is irrational? I think it can be said that is as rational as possible, as it is with all human experience. It would be desirable we could get the full certainty we often have in scientific experience, but to suppose this is the end of all human experience, is something naive. I say so because science and the rationality attached to it are far from evidence and consensus.

5- Mackie never offers a deep discussion about the kind of rationality he attaches.

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Philo

This is truly a well-written piece of work. It ...

January 31, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is truly a well-written piece of work. It addresses the classical theistic arguments in depth, and with some effort even a lay person can follow them. As an atheist, I have read many critiques of the cosmological, ontological, teleological, moral and argument from evil; however, they appear superficial in light of reading an entire chapter on the ontological argument alone. This volume examines critically various forms of each argument, from classical to modern treatments of each. On a topic so momentous as whether God exists or not, if you are truly going to decide it using reason, you should find this book a welcome addition to your library.

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Philonous

A stupendous and rigorous literature of Atheism

December 9, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is one of the most admirable literature of philosophy of religion that J.L. Mackie has contributed before his death at 1981. Fortunately, it was published posthumously in 1982 for future readers to examine Mackie's critique against Theism. What makes this critical book so impressive and excellent is Mackie's astute, comprehensive, and sophisticated critiques, along with his fair-minded attempts to understand the Theistic arguments, against theistic arguments; Mackie's analysis on the stregnths of theistic arguments shows that he is capable of being intelelctually fair-minded and practices the pinciple of charity, but his critique on the weaknesses of those arguments also demonstrates his impressive ability to pinpoint the vital weaknesses in those arguments with deadly precision and insight that could make anyone doubt those rebust arguments for theism. What obviously attracts me to this book was the simple fact that Mackie's rigorous and analytical critique against Theism is in contrast unquestionably superior to any arguments made by other atheists such as the New Atheists. While the New Atheist will simply ridicule theism, Mackie takes Theism so seriously that he uses the most of his intellectual resources to show why Theism is such an ironically miraclous claim. Instead of wasting your time reading "God Delusion", "Letters to the Christian Nation", "God is not great", or any of that new Atheist nonesense that is only good for simple-minded Atheists who want an easy argument against obviously horrible formulated arguments for Theism, it is a MUST to read this book to find yourself reading critiques against the more rebust (or more interesting or eccentric) arguments for the existence of God made by Plantinga, Swineburne, and others. It is also highly recommended because Mackie also tries to examine the marginal arguments for Theism made by Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, William James, and Pascal.

While it is true that Mackie does not cover many other arguments, he does cover many of the notable and rebust arguments that Theism has made, and unlike other cheap Atheist books he doesn't select the more vulnerable arguments, but rather he tackles the well-respected arguments that was made during his time before his unfortunate demise. While his critiques may not necessarily be unprecedented, his thorough rigor and clarity makes this the epitome of critical integrity as an Atheistic literature, such that it deserves to be read...otherwise I feel as though potential readers of philosophy (including Theism vs. Atheism topics that are a rage thesedays on the internet and popular books) will sorely miss out. This is how much I respect this book.

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