Proofs of God in Early Modern Europe: An Anthology

by Lloyd Strickland

Proofs of God in Early Modern Europe offers a fascinating window into early modern efforts to prove God’s existence. Assembled here are twenty-two key texts, many translated into English for the first time, which illustrate the variety of arguments that philosophers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries offered for God. These selections feature traditional proofs―such as various ontological, cosmological, and design arguments―but also introduce more exotic proofs, such as the argument from eternal truths, the argument from universal aseity, and the argument ex consensu gentium . Drawn from the work of eighteen philosophers, this book includes both canonical figures (such as Descartes, Spinoza, Newton, Leibniz, Locke, and Berkeley) and noncanonical thinkers (such as Norris, Fontenelle, Voltaire, Wolff, Du Châtelet, and Maupertuis) and noncanonical thinkers (such as Norris, Fontenelle, Voltaire, Wolff, Du Châtelet, and Maupertuis). Lloyd Strickland provides fresh translations of all selections not originally written in English and updates the spelling and grammar of those that were. Each selection is prefaced by a lengthy headnote, giving a biographical account of its author, an analysis of the main argument(s), and important details about the historical context. Strickland’s introductory essay provides further context, focusing on the various reasons that led so many thinkers of early modernity to develop proofs of God’s existence. Proofs of God is perfect for both students and scholars of early modern philosophy and philosophy of religion.

325 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2018

About the author

Lloyd Strickland teaches philosophy at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, having previously taught philosophy at Lancaster University, and the University of Central Lancashire.

Reviews

[Kizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that goes through various types of proofs for the existence of God in the early modern period.