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Is supernatural belief unreliably formed?

Authors :
Hans Van Eyghen
Epistemology and Metaphysics
CLUE+
Source :
van Eyghen, H M R A 2019, ' Is Supernatural Belief Unreliably Formed? ', International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, vol. 85, no. 2, pp. 1-24 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11153-018-9671-4, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 85(2), 1-24. Springer Netherlands
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2018.

Abstract

I criticize 5 arguments for the conclusion that religious belief is unreliably formed and hence epistemically tainted. The arguments draw on scientific evidence from Cognitive Science of Religion. They differ considerably as to why the evidence points to unreliability. Two arguments conclude to unreliability because religious belief is shaped by evolutionary pressures; another argument states that the mechanism responsible for religious belief produces many false god-beliefs; a similar argument claims that the mechanism produces incompatible god-beliefs; and a final argument states that the mechanism is offtrack. I argue that the arguments fail to make the case for unreliability or that the unreliability can be overcome.

Details

ISSN :
15728684 and 00207047
Volume :
85
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal for Philosophy of Religion
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....3ddc27c3a8d7b2cc36dadf15b6f5d4b9
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11153-018-9671-4