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If the physical constants, initial conditions, or laws of nature in
our universe had been even slightly different, then the evolution
of life would have been impossible. This observation has led many
philosophers and scientists to ask the natural next question: why
is our universe so "fine-tuned" for life? The debates around this
question are wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary, complicated,
technical, and (at times) heated. This study is a comprehensive
investigation of these debates and the many metaphysical and
epistemological questions raised by cosmological fine-tuning.
Waller's study reaches two significant and controversial
conclusions. First, he concludes that the criticisms directed at
the "multiverse hypothesis" by theists and at the "theistic
hypothesis" by naturalists are largely unsuccessful. Neither of
these options can plausibly be excluded. Choosing between them
seems to turn on primitive (and so hard to justify) metaphysical
intuitions. Second, in order to break the philosophical deadlock,
Waller moves the debate from the level of universes to the level of
possible worlds. Arguing that possible worlds are also "fine-tuned"
in an important and interesting sense, Waller concludes that the
only plausible explanation for the fine-tuning of the actual world
is to posit the existence of some kind of "God-like-thing."
If the physical constants, initial conditions, or laws of nature in
our universe had been even slightly different, then the evolution
of life would have been impossible. This observation has led many
philosophers and scientists to ask the natural next question: why
is our universe so "fine-tuned" for life? The debates around this
question are wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary, complicated,
technical, and (at times) heated. This study is a comprehensive
investigation of these debates and the many metaphysical and
epistemological questions raised by cosmological fine-tuning.
Waller's study reaches two significant and controversial
conclusions. First, he concludes that the criticisms directed at
the "multiverse hypothesis" by theists and at the "theistic
hypothesis" by naturalists are largely unsuccessful. Neither of
these options can plausibly be excluded. Choosing between them
seems to turn on primitive (and so hard to justify) metaphysical
intuitions. Second, in order to break the philosophical deadlock,
Waller moves the debate from the level of universes to the level of
possible worlds. Arguing that possible worlds are also "fine-tuned"
in an important and interesting sense, Waller concludes that the
only plausible explanation for the fine-tuning of the actual world
is to posit the existence of some kind of "God-like-thing."
Baruch Spinoza is one of the most influential and controversial
political philosophers of the early modern period. Though
best-known for his contributions to metaphysics, Spinoza's
Theological-Political Treatise (1670) and his unfinished Political
Treatise (1677) were widely debated and helped to shape the
political writings of philosophers as diverse as Rousseau, Kant,
Marx, Nietzsche, and (although he publicly denied it) even Locke.
In addition to its enormous historical importance, Spinoza's
political philosophy is also strikingly contemporary in its
advocacy of toleration of unpopular religious and political views
and his concern with stabilizing religiously diverse democratic
societies. The first Guidebook to Spinoza's political writings, The
Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Spinoza on Politics covers the
following key points: Spinoza's life and the background to his
philosophy the key themes and arguments of the
Theological-Political-Treatise and Political Treatise the
continuing importance of Spinoza's work to philosophy. This book is
an ideal starting point for anyone new to Spinoza and essential
reading for students of political philosophy and
seventeenth-century philosophy.
Baruch Spinoza is one of the most influential and controversial
political philosophers of the early modern period. Though
best-known for his contributions to metaphysics, Spinoza's
Theological-Political Treatise (1670) and his unfinished Political
Treatise (1677) were widely debated and helped to shape the
political writings of philosophers as diverse as Rousseau, Kant,
Marx, Nietzsche, and (although he publicly denied it) even Locke.
In addition to its enormous historical importance, Spinoza's
political philosophy is also strikingly contemporary in its
advocacy of toleration of unpopular religious and political views
and his concern with stabilizing religiously diverse democratic
societies. The first Guidebook to Spinoza's political writings, The
Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Spinoza on Politics covers the
following key points: Spinoza's life and the background to his
philosophy the key themes and arguments of the
Theological-Political-Treatise and Political Treatise the
continuing importance of Spinoza's work to philosophy. This book is
an ideal starting point for anyone new to Spinoza and essential
reading for students of political philosophy and
seventeenth-century philosophy.
This book concerns the nature of time and ordinary cases of
persistence in Spinoza. The author argues for three major
interpretive claims. First, that Spinoza is committed to an
eternalist theory of time whereby all things (whether they seem to
be past, present, or future) are equally real. Second, that a
mode's conatus or essence is a self-maintaining activity (not an
inertial force or disposition.) Third, that modes persist through
time in Spinoza's metaphysics by having temporal parts (that is,
different parts at different times.) If the author is correct, then
a significant reinterpretation of Spinoza's modal metaphysics is
required. The book also puts Spinoza into dialogue with some recent
work in analytic metaphysics.
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