Beyond Theism and Atheism

Axiarchism and Ananthropocentric Purposivism

Bibliographic Data

ID4079879
AuthorsTim Mulgan (0000-0002-9368-1524, University of Auckland, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume12
Issue6
Publication date2017-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy Compass (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1747-9991 • E-ISSN: 1747-9991
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/phc3.12420
OpenAlexW2622547614
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited24

Two familiar worldviews dominate Western philosophy: materialist atheism and Abrahamic theism. One exciting development in recent philosophy of religion is the exploration of alternatives to both theism and atheism. This paper explores two alternatives: axiarchism and ananthropocentrism. Drawing on the long tradition of Platonism, axiarchists such as John Leslie, Derek Parfit and Nicholas Rescher posit adirectlink between goodness and existence. The goodness of a possible worldiswhat makes it actual. Ananthropocentric Purposivism (AP) holds that the universe has a purpose and that humans are irrelevant to that purpose. If there is a God, then God cares about what matters, but we do not matter to God

Atheism · Epistemology · Materialism · Platonism · Theism · Philosophical Ethics and Theory · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices · Theology and Philosophy of Evil

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