Edward Feser – författare

The central contention of the “New Atheism” of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens is that there has for several centuries been a war between science and religion, that religion has been steadily losing that war, and that at this point in human history a completely secular scientific account of the world has been worked out in such thorough and convincing detail that there is no longer any reason why a rational and educated person should find the claims of any religion the least bit worthy of attention.But as Edward Feser argues inThe Last Superstition, in fact there is not, and never has been, any war between science and religion at all. There has instead been a conflict between two entirely philosophical conceptions of the natural order: on the one hand, the classical “teleological” vision of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas, on which purpose or goal-directedness is as inherent a feature of the physical world as mass or electric charge; and the modern “mechanical” vision of Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, and Hume, according to which the physical world is comprised of nothing more than purposeless, meaningless particles in motion. As it happens, on the classical teleological picture, the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, and the natural-law conception of morality are rationally unavoidable. Modern atheism and secularism have thus always crucially depended for their rational credentials on the insinuation that the modern, mechanical picture of the world has somehow been established by science. Yet this modern “mechanical” picture has never been established by science, and cannot be, for it is not a scientific theory in the first place but merely a philosophical interpretation of science. Moreover, as Feser shows, the philosophical arguments in its favor given by the early modern philosophers were notable only for being surprisingly weak. The true reasons for its popularity were then, and are now, primarily political: It was a tool by which the intellectual foundations of ecclesiastical authority could be undermined and the way opened toward a new secular and liberal social order oriented toward commerce and technology. So as to further these political ends, it was simply stipulated, by fiat as it were, that no theory inconsistent with the mechanical picture of the world would be allowed to count as “scientific.” As the centuries have worn on and historical memory has dimmed, this act of dogmatic stipulation has falsely come to be remembered as a “discovery.”However, not only is this modern philosophical picture rationally unfounded, it is demonstrably false. For the “mechanical” conception of the natural world, when worked out consistently, absurdly entails that rationality, and indeed the human mind itself, are illusory. The so-called “scientific worldview” championed by the New Atheists thus inevitably undermines its own rational foundations; and into the bargain (and contrary to the moralistic posturing of the New Atheists) it undermines the foundations of any possible morality as well. By contrast, and as The Last Superstition demonstrates, the classical teleological picture of nature can be seen to find powerful confirmation in developments from contemporary philosophy, biology, and physics; moreover, morality and reason itself cannot possibly be made sense of apart from it. The teleological vision of the ancients and medievals is thereby rationally vindicated – and with it the religious worldview they based upon it.

F. A. Hayek (1899-1992) was among the most important economists and political philosophers of the twentieth century. He is widely regarded as the principal intellectual force behind the triumph of global capitalism, an 'anti-Marx' who did more than any other recent thinker to elucidate the theoretical foundations of the free market economy. His account of the role played by market prices in transmitting economic knowledge constituted a devastating critique of the socialist ideal of central economic planning, and his famous book The Road to Serfdom was a prophetic statement of the dangers which socialism posed to a free and open society. He also made significant contributions to fields as diverse as the philosophy of law, the theory of complex systems, and cognitive science. The essays in this volume, by an international team of contributors, provide a critical introduction to all aspects of Hayek's thought.

F. A. Hayek (1899-1992) was among the most important economists and political philosophers of the twentieth century. He is widely regarded as the principal intellectual force behind the triumph of global capitalism, an 'anti-Marx' who did more than any other recent thinker to elucidate the theoretical foundations of the free market economy. His account of the role played by market prices in transmitting economic knowledge constituted a devastating critique of the socialist ideal of central economic planning, and his famous book The Road to Serfdom was a prophetic statement of the dangers which socialism posed to a free and open society. He also made significant contributions to fields as diverse as the philosophy of law, the theory of complex systems, and cognitive science. The essays in this volume, by an international team of contributors, provide a critical introduction to all aspects of Hayek's thought.

F. A. Hayek (1899–1992) was among the most important economists and political philosophers of the twentieth century. He is widely regarded as the principal intellectual force behind the triumph of global capitalism, an ''anti-Marx'' who did more than any other recent thinker to elucidate the theoretical foundations of the free market economy. His account of the role played by market prices in transmitting economic knowledge constituted a devastating critique of the socialist ideal of central economic planning, and his famous book The Road to Serfdom was a prophetic statement of the dangers which socialism posed to a free and open society. He also made significant contributions to fields as diverse as the philosophy of law, the theory of complex systems, and cognitive science. The essays in this volume, by an international team of contributors, provide a critical introduction to all aspects of Hayek''s thought.

F. A. Hayek (1899–1992) was among the most important economists and political philosophers of the twentieth century. He is widely regarded as the principal intellectual force behind the triumph of global capitalism, an ''anti-Marx'' who did more than any other recent thinker to elucidate the theoretical foundations of the free market economy. His account of the role played by market prices in transmitting economic knowledge constituted a devastating critique of the socialist ideal of central economic planning, and his famous book The Road to Serfdom was a prophetic statement of the dangers which socialism posed to a free and open society. He also made significant contributions to fields as diverse as the philosophy of law, the theory of complex systems, and cognitive science. The essays in this volume, by an international team of contributors, provide a critical introduction to all aspects of Hayek''s thought.

Planning Support Methods offers the only practical guide to the key methods of urban and regional planning. The authors apply and critically assess the most important methods for demographic and economic analysis and projection and land suitability analysis, providing an essential resource for practicing planners and planning students alike. For helpful tools from the author including Excel workbooks, visit https://planningsupport.org/tools/.For resources including PowerPoint presentations and supplemental readings, visit https://planningsupport.org/resources/.

Charting the life and thought of this hugely influential medieval thinker.One of the most influential philosophers and theologians in the history of Western thought, St Thomas Aquinas established the foundations for much of modern philosophy of religion, and is infamous for his arguments for the existence of God. In this cogent and multifaceted introduction to the great Saint''s work, Edward Feser argues that you cannot fully understand Aquinas'' philosophy without his theology and vice-versa. Covering his thoughts on the soul, natural law, metaphysics, and the interaction of faith and reason, this will prove a indispensable resource for students, experts or the general reader.

In this lively and entertaining introduction to the philosophy of mind, Edward Feser explores the questions central to the discipline; such as ''do computers think'', and ''what is consciousness''; and gives an account of all the most important and significant attempts that have been made to answer them.

Thought by many to be the quintessential philosopher of the modern age, John Locke’s ideas are the key to understanding society and politics in the West. In this accessible introduction, Edward Feser explores Locke’s works and looks critically at his legacy. In this, the author argues, we find the origins of many of the conflicts that dominate modern politics.

In this lively and entertaining introduction to the philosophy of mind, Edward Feser explores the questions central to the discipline; such as 'do computers think', and 'what is consciousness'; and gives an account of all the most important and significant attempts that have been made to answer them.

The ultimate introduction to the greatest medieval philosopher, Saint Thomas Aquinas“At last. A concise, accessible and compelling introduction to Aquinas’s thought.” Kelly James Clark, Professor of Philosophy, Calvin CollegeThe greatest of the medieval philosophers, Thomas Aquinas sought to reconcile Christian doctrine with the classical philosophy of Aristotle and Plato. As controversial in his time as he is influential today, Aquinas is perhaps best known for his “Five Ways”, a collection of ingenious – but often misunderstood – arguments for the existence of God.In this multifaceted introduction to the renowned thinker, Edward Feser shows how Aquinas’s works are as relevant today as when they were written. Defending his ideas from modern misrepresentation, Feser introduces the great Saint’s views on metaphysics, ethics, psychology, and philosophy of religion. Arguing that Aquinas’s thought avoids many of the pitfalls of contemporary philosophy, this comprehensive volume will captivate both the seasoned “Thomist” and the absolute novice.

Cinco pruebas de la existencia de Dios recoge una exposición y una defensa detallada y actualizada de las cinco pruebas filosóficas más importantes de la historia a favor de la existencia de Dios. Asimismo aporta una respuesta clarividente a las principales objeciones que se han planteado contra ellas.Esta obra de E. Feser constituye además una defensa rigurosa y amplia de la teología natural tradicional. Su objetivo es claro: la existencia de Dios, como han enseñado grandes filósofos del pasado, puede establecerse con certeza por medio de argumentos puramente racionales. De este modo, sirve para refutar tanto el ateísmo como el fideísmo.

El argumento central del "e;Nuevo Ateismo"e; de Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris y Christopher Hitchens es que durante varios siglos ha habido una guerra entre la ciencia y la religion, que la religion ha estado perdiendo constantemente esa guerra, y que en este momento de la historia de la humanidad se ha elaborado un relato cientifico completamente secular del mundo con un detalle tan exhaustivo y convincente que ya no hay ninguna razon por la que una persona racional y educada deba considerar las afirmaciones de cualquier religion como algo digno de atencion. Pero, como sostiene Edward Feser en La ultima supersticion, en realidad no hay, ni ha habido nunca, ninguna guerra entre ciencia y religion. Por el contrario, ha habido un conflicto entre dos concepciones totalmente filosoficas del orden natural. El ateismo y el secularismo modernos han dependido siempre de la insinuacion de que la imagen moderna y mecanica del mundo ha sido establecida por la ciencia. Sin embargo, esta imagen mecanica moderna nunca ha sido establecida por la ciencia, y no puede serlo, ya que no es una teoria cientifica en primer lugar, sino simplemente una interpretacion filosofica de la ciencia. Las verdaderas razones de su popularidad eran entonces, y son ahora, principalmente politicas: era una herramienta mediante la cual se podian socavar los fundamentos intelectuales de la autoridad eclesiastica y abrir el camino hacia un nuevo orden social secular y liberal orientado hacia el comercio y la tecnologia.

"La Teoría Crítica de la Raza no iba a llegar a España, nos decían hace poco… y sin embargo ya la tenemos aquí. Desde los debates televisivos hablando de racismo estructural hasta el ministro de Cultura y su obsesión "descolonizadora", esta ideología que tanto ha calado en los Estados Unidos ha llegado también aquí. Lo mismo que su tópico colofón: la Iglesia católica ha sido cómplice.Pero, ¿qué enseña exactamente la Iglesia católica sobre el racismo? ¿En qué consiste la Teoría Crítica de la Raza, que algunos presentan como sinónimo de antirracismo? En Que todos sean uno en Cristo, Edward Feser explica la indiscutible y coherente condena del racismo por parte de la Iglesia, profundamente arraigada en siglos de enseñanza pontificia y teología escolástica.Feser analiza también, con claridad y rigor, la Teoría Crítica de la Raza, sacando a la luz todas sus falacias y demostrando que es una nueva e insidiosa forma de racismo incompatible con la enseñanza de la Iglesia. Que todos sean uno en Cristo es un libro clave para no caer en la trampa de la última moda ideológica."