Mind and Deity

Abstract

PROF. LAIRD gives us here the second half of his recent Gifford Lectures (the first half having already been published under the title “Theism and Cosmology”). “Theism and Cosmology” was exclusively concerned with the two types of theistic proof “which appeal more directly to the scientific mind”, the “cosmological argument” for a “great first cause”, and the argument from design. The centre of interest in the present volume is different; we are concerned with the “ontological proof”, which if valid would show that God's existence cannot be denied without flagrant self–contradiction, and the various forms of the “moral argument”. The consideration of the latter leads to much interesting discussion of the sense in which omnipotence, benevolence, personality can be ascribed to God, and of the possibility of “pantheism”. The conclusion of the whole matter reached in the final paragraphs is that while none of the theistic “proofs” is convincing or even highly plausible, theism is a tenable, though not demonstrably true, metaphysical theory of the universe which is more plausible than most of the possible alternatives. The verdict is the Scots “not proven” (which, by the way, commonly means that the jury knows pretty well what to think of the case). This finding will not satisfy all philosophical theists, though it should not perturb those of them who are Christians, familiar with the thought of faith as a venture, an assent of the mind to what is not forced on it by demonstration. Mind and Deity Being the Second Series of a Course of Gifford Lectures on the General Subject of Metaphysics and Theism given in the University of Glasgow in 1940. By Dr. John Laird. Pp. 322. (London: George Allen and Unwin, Ltd., 1941.) 10s. 6d. net.