Abstract

During the past few years a number of stimulating and philosophically tough papers dealing with God and the problem of other minds have been published by Plantinga. Now one can clearly grasp the full outlines of his argument. He carefully examines natural theology, especially the proofs for the existence of God, and finds these "proofs" unsatisfactory. He then considers a number of the recent versions of arguments designed to show us that it is impossible or unlikely that God exists and finds these unsatisfactory. A final section explores the analogies between natural theology and the "problem of other minds." And Plantinga's provocative conclusion is "that belief in other minds and belief in God are in the same epistemological boat; hence if either is rational, so is the other. But obviously the former is rational; so, therefore, is the latter." What distinguishes this book from similar investigations, and sets it apart, is the thoroughness and analytical rigor of Plantinga's argument. It is a model of the application of analytical tools to traditional philosophic problems. Anyone seriously interested in the problems treated will surely benefit from an encounter with Plantinga.--R. J. B.