H. J Mccloskey Essay
INTRODUCTION
Australian Philosopher and atheist, H.J. McCloskey published an article titled “On Being an Atheist” in 1968. In this article he offers arguments and what he refers to as “proofs” that a theists’ beliefs in an omnipotent, omniscient God should be disregarded. McCloskey bases his article on the Cosmological argument, the Teleological argument, on the problem of evil and ends his writing discussing why he claims that being an atheist offers more comfort than a theist has from a belief in God. This response will argue the truth and validity of the claims that McCloskey attempts to disprove in his article and will offer an argument to disprove that atheism is comforting.
PROOFS AND THE BEST EXPLANATION APPROACH In McCloskey’s article he uses arguments that …show more content…
For him and other atheists like him it may be. Comfort is a feeling or emotion and he may be comfortable living freely and not having to abide by a moral code. McCloskey says, “Atheism adopted by a thoughtful and sensitive person, leads to a spirit of self-reliance, with a self-respect with demands that we comfort and help those who need such support, and to a furthering and supporting of all measures which will reduce or moderate the blows of fate.” However, in his comfort that he seeks from friends and family members there can be not eternity, no promise of a life after death. Refuting an atheistic claim that atheists live more comfortably and happier William Craig says the only way, “is by either making up some purpose---which amounts to self-delusion...or by not carrying their view to its logical conclusion.” Although one may seek and find comfort from friends and family in a time of sadness it is up to the ones that are sought after to offer to provide that comfort. The same with God. You must first seek him and believe in him in order to accept the comfort that he
Australian Philosopher and atheist, H.J. McCloskey published an article titled “On Being an Atheist” in 1968. In this article he offers arguments and what he refers to as “proofs” that a theists’ beliefs in an omnipotent, omniscient God should be disregarded. McCloskey bases his article on the Cosmological argument, the Teleological argument, on the problem of evil and ends his writing discussing why he claims that being an atheist offers more comfort than a theist has from a belief in God. This response will argue the truth and validity of the claims that McCloskey attempts to disprove in his article and will offer an argument to disprove that atheism is comforting.
PROOFS AND THE BEST EXPLANATION APPROACH In McCloskey’s article he uses arguments that …show more content…
For him and other atheists like him it may be. Comfort is a feeling or emotion and he may be comfortable living freely and not having to abide by a moral code. McCloskey says, “Atheism adopted by a thoughtful and sensitive person, leads to a spirit of self-reliance, with a self-respect with demands that we comfort and help those who need such support, and to a furthering and supporting of all measures which will reduce or moderate the blows of fate.” However, in his comfort that he seeks from friends and family members there can be not eternity, no promise of a life after death. Refuting an atheistic claim that atheists live more comfortably and happier William Craig says the only way, “is by either making up some purpose---which amounts to self-delusion...or by not carrying their view to its logical conclusion.” Although one may seek and find comfort from friends and family in a time of sadness it is up to the ones that are sought after to offer to provide that comfort. The same with God. You must first seek him and believe in him in order to accept the comfort that he