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Necessary Existence
Necessary Existence breaks ground on one of the deepest questions anyone ever why is there anything? The classic answer is in terms of a necessary foundation. Yet, why think that is the correct answer? Pruss and Rasmussen present an original defense of the hypothesis that there is a concrete necessary being capable of providing a foundation for the existence of things. They offer six main arguments, divided into six chapters. The first argument is anup-to-date presentation and assessment of a traditional causal-based argument from contingency. The next five arguments are new "possibility-based" arguments that make use of twentieth-century advances in modal logic. The arguments present possible pathways to an intriguing and far-reaching conclusion. Thefinal chapter answers the most challenging objections to the existence of necessary things.
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2018
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413 people want to read
About the author
Alexander R. Pruss
7 books30 followersCanadian philosopher, mathematician. Pruss's philosophical thought reflects Christian orthodoxy. He is a Roman Catholic and a member of the Society of Christian Philosophers.
Pruss defends the principle of sufficient reason (PSR), claiming that it is self-evident, and arguing that the rejection of PSR creates problems in epistemology, modality, ethics, and even evolutionary theory.
Pruss is a critic of David Lewis's "extreme modal realism," and instead gives "a combined account" of Leibnizian and Aristotelian modality, which integrates the "this-worldly capacities" of the Aristotelian view and Leibniz's account of possible worlds as thoughts in the mind of God.
Pruss defends the principle of sufficient reason (PSR), claiming that it is self-evident, and arguing that the rejection of PSR creates problems in epistemology, modality, ethics, and even evolutionary theory.
Pruss is a critic of David Lewis's "extreme modal realism," and instead gives "a combined account" of Leibnizian and Aristotelian modality, which integrates the "this-worldly capacities" of the Aristotelian view and Leibniz's account of possible worlds as thoughts in the mind of God.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 30, 2020
This is definitely one of the best books I've ever read. The difficulty level though for getting through this masterpiece is middle intermediate (mostly intermediate with some advanced philosophical jargon). Although I really think getting through this book is absolutely worth it.
There are quite a few arguments given for the existence of a necessary being. The first argument reasons on the basis of explanation to a necessary being. The second argument works from the possibility of beginning and causation for contingent things which, after justification, follows through S5 to a necessary being. The arguments that follow pick up the (to some) unconvincing threads left by the two arguments, that is, they are more modest so as to be more acceptable. They too lead to the conclusion that there is a necessary being. I can't express how satisfying it is to read a work that is so thoughtful and yields such a thoroughly justified single conclusion by a number of different means. There are many objections to the existence of a necessary being and these are thoroughly discussed and refuted.
What I found interesting in this book also was the exploration of possibility-based arguments that utilise the advances made in modal logic. You don't really need an airtight case for a necessary being, all you need is to increase the probability. From the higher probability it follows modally that a necessary being exists (this is putting it simply). The book also does a good job of explaining and justifying S5 modality that satisfied some of the questions I had about it.
To my mind, any reasonable person should be utterly convinced of the existence of a necessary being by this book alone. I found the first two arguments utterly undeniable for any reasonable person. But then I was treated to additional arguments which tighten the case. The end of the book also throws out a whole bunch of arguments for further inquiry. I will definitely re-read this book again in the future and take a lot more notes so I can absorb, all the more, its contents.
UPDATE: After some additional reflection, there is something this book does leave out. It takes additional philosophical analysis to get something like God from the conclusion that a necessary thing exists. Although you’d think the link is obvious, there are some philosophers - such as Graham Oppy - who (correct me if I’m wrong) believe in a necessary thing but not God. I found Rasmussen’s work on this matter to be enlightening.
There are quite a few arguments given for the existence of a necessary being. The first argument reasons on the basis of explanation to a necessary being. The second argument works from the possibility of beginning and causation for contingent things which, after justification, follows through S5 to a necessary being. The arguments that follow pick up the (to some) unconvincing threads left by the two arguments, that is, they are more modest so as to be more acceptable. They too lead to the conclusion that there is a necessary being. I can't express how satisfying it is to read a work that is so thoughtful and yields such a thoroughly justified single conclusion by a number of different means. There are many objections to the existence of a necessary being and these are thoroughly discussed and refuted.
What I found interesting in this book also was the exploration of possibility-based arguments that utilise the advances made in modal logic. You don't really need an airtight case for a necessary being, all you need is to increase the probability. From the higher probability it follows modally that a necessary being exists (this is putting it simply). The book also does a good job of explaining and justifying S5 modality that satisfied some of the questions I had about it.
To my mind, any reasonable person should be utterly convinced of the existence of a necessary being by this book alone. I found the first two arguments utterly undeniable for any reasonable person. But then I was treated to additional arguments which tighten the case. The end of the book also throws out a whole bunch of arguments for further inquiry. I will definitely re-read this book again in the future and take a lot more notes so I can absorb, all the more, its contents.
UPDATE: After some additional reflection, there is something this book does leave out. It takes additional philosophical analysis to get something like God from the conclusion that a necessary thing exists. Although you’d think the link is obvious, there are some philosophers - such as Graham Oppy - who (correct me if I’m wrong) believe in a necessary thing but not God. I found Rasmussen’s work on this matter to be enlightening.
November 26, 2018
I have numerous difficulties and serious disagreements with some of the claims and some of the responses that are offered both on the side of the modality and more specifically in the strength of the replies offered to objections within the book. Having said that I have to say that it's a really good read. Very interesting and informative especially considering that virtually all the material is of contemporary importance and part of its current analytical attraction. Nicely done.
February 17, 2023
This book was fine, nothing amazing. I especially enjoyed the first few chapters.
April 15, 2024
Makes a good case for a necessary being, though some of the arguments try to swindle you a bit with confusing formal logic to make up for a not very convincing argument.
October 3, 2024
Challenging but rewarding
Pruss and Rasmussen argue for the existence of a necessary being from several different angles- from the conceivability to the possibility (and hence actual existence) of an explanation of contingent reality and thus a necessary being, from the contingency of individual things to the contingency of the set of contingent things, from the existence of necessary abstract objects, etc.
This book has a wealth of information about the best thinking on necessary existence to date.
Pruss and Rasmussen argue for the existence of a necessary being from several different angles- from the conceivability to the possibility (and hence actual existence) of an explanation of contingent reality and thus a necessary being, from the contingency of individual things to the contingency of the set of contingent things, from the existence of necessary abstract objects, etc.
This book has a wealth of information about the best thinking on necessary existence to date.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews