Pat Flynn is joined by Dr. Stephen Napier (professor at Villanova University) to discuss a variety of topics, including a particularly interesting (and provocative) argument aimed at showing the rational incompatibility of modern evolutionary theory, on the one hand, and metaphysical naturalism, on the other. This is commonly known as the evolutionary argument against naturalism, developed prominently by Alvin Plantinga (see below for more). After that, Pat and Dr. Napier exchange ideas on the problem of evil and divine hiddenness.
The Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism
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Mentioned Resources and Quotes
Where the Conflict Really Lies, by Alvin Plantinga
Plantinga’s article on the Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism
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“Boiled down to essentials, a nervous system enables the organism to succeed in…feeding, fleeing, fighting, and reproducing. The principle chore of nervous systems is to get the body parts where they should be in order that the organism may survive. . . . Improvements in sensorimotor control confer an evolutionary advantage: a fancier style of representing [the world] is advantageous so long as it is geared to the organism’s way of life and enhances the organism’s chances of survival. Truth, whatever that is, definitely takes the hindmost.” – Patricia Churchland
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“There is superficial conflict but deep concord between science and religion, in particular theistic religion, and superficial concord but deep conflict between science and [ontological] naturalism.” – Alvin Plantinga
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