Consciousness and the Mind of God

by Charles Taliaferro

Overview

Contemporary materialist accounts of consciousness and subjectivity challenge how we think of ourselves and of ultimate reality. This book defends a nonmaterialistic view of persons and subjectivity and the intelligibility of thinking of God as a nonphysical, spiritual reality. It endeavors to articulate in a related way the integral relationship between ourselves and our material bodies and between God and the cosmos. Different versions of materialism are assessed, as are alternative, post-dualist concepts of God.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521673464
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/30/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.54(h) x 0.91(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Consciousness; 2. The material world; 3. Persons and bodies; 4. God and the world; 5. The omnipresence of God; 6. Integrative theism; Conclusion; Select bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"This work should attract wide attention. Its extensive learning and careful formulations of arguments advances a position often not taken seriously enough, plus it offers ways to save the central dogmas of Christian incarnation and supports a new way of understanding the Trinity. Highly recommended." The Reader's Review

"He has lucidly and thoroughly explored the issues within the mind/body-God/world analogy. For anyone wishing to investigate the analogy and needing a strong, obvious case for it, this is an excellent book." Choice

"...a delight to read—clear, elegant, and compelling... this is a vitally important book." The Expository Times

"At present, leadership in the philosophy of mind is largely, if not exclusively, in the hands of naturalists and materialists. There is need and, I believe, also a genuine opportunity for serious, constructive work by Christian philosophers in this vital field of philosophyu. An excellent (and extremely readable) book on the subject is Charles Taliaferro's Consciousness and the Mind of God." William Hasker, Books and Culture

"...an interesting and significant contribution to philosophical anthropology, philosophical theology and Christian apologetics....a first-rate piece of work. It is clearly argued, succinctly written, takes full measure of recent discussions of the topics raised and considers important counter-arguments to the positions taken....both engaging and accessible to anyone who thinks about human nature and God." Christian Scholar's Review

"On balance, this is a highly suggestive book discussing some of the most challenging questions put to the Christian understanding of personhood and the doctrine of God in today's world." Arthur Vogel, Anglican Theological Review

"What we have here, then, is a serious constructive project in philosophical theology. It is carried through with energy, care, and precision; it shows acquaintance with the best recent work in philosophy of mind (and its close materialist cousin, cognitive science), and in philosophical theology; and it is marked throughout by a care for and attention ro the strictly philosophical (principally ontological and metaphysical) import of traditional Christian claims about the matters with which it deals. These are considerable virtues. Taliaferro's work provides more evidence that the most interesting work in philosophical theology today is being done by those with philosophical rather than theological training....this is a very important book that deserves close and careful reading by philosophers and theologians and that ought to provoke much discussion." Paul Griffiths, Journal of Religion

"...demonstrates remarkable boldness....The scope of this book is staggering....this is a well-written and engaging book. Taliaferro has a good grasp of the literature and is engaging the right opponents. He also keeps the reader interested with a brisk pace and frequent subject changes." Thomas D. Senor, Canadian Philosophical Review

"His goal is twofold: First, to catalogue the arguments of the various proponents of such scientific materialism...I would say that Taliaferro admirably achieves his first goal. I do not know of any similar catalogue of the various contemporary arguments of scientific materialism." Commonweal

From the Publisher