Deep Dive

A collection of 1068 posts

atheism

Ex-Muslims Debut #AwesomeWithoutAllah Billboards

This is from the American Humanist Association: Today, Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA) launched billboards to support former Muslims in Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston. Sporting the message “Godless, Fearless, Ex-Muslim”, the billboards highlight the astounding growth of atheists from Muslim backgrounds. After several rounds of rejections, changes, and even one

art

The Task Of The Revolutionist Creator

This is a guest piece from Douglas Balmain (who has previously contributed a piece). This is slightly leftfield but no less interesting. Check it out - thanks hugely to him for contributing (let me know if anyone else wishes to): The Task Of The Revolutionist Creator Combating The Censorship Of

Aquinas

Hsiao’s Perverted Faculty Argument and Moral Oughts

The Perverted Faculty Argument (PFA) is a strand of Thomistic (Thomas Aquinas) thinking that is intertwined with Natural Law Theory (NLT)  of which I have been blogging lately. I was challenged by Vincent Torley recently to, if I was going to attack the PFA (as I have done here and

conceptualism

Hsiao’s Perverted Faculty Argument: Doesn’t Even Get off the Ground

The Perverted Faculty Argument (PFA) is a strand of Thomistic (Thomas Aquinas) thinking that is intertwined with Natural Law Theory (NLT)  of which I have been blogging lately. I was challenged by Vincent Torley recently to, if I was going to attack the PFA (as I have done here and

Ficino

Some Thoughts on Hsiao's Perverted Faculty Argument

The Perverted Faculty Argument (PFA) is a strand of Thomistic (Thomas Aquinas) thinking that is intertwined with Natural Law Theory (NLT)  of which I have been blogging lately. I was challenged by Vincent Torley recently to, if I was going to attack the PFA (as I have done here and

Aquinas

Quote of the Day: Sheila C. on Gastric Bypasses and Lesbianism

I have recently been posting quite a bit on Natural Law Theory due to the fact I am presently editing a book on the subject by another author. Natural Law Theory, in a nutshell: NLT states that behaviours that are rationally chosen by an agent that do not fit the

consequentialism

Natural Law Theory and Frustrating Sexual Ends

Natural Law Theory, in a nutshell: NLT states that behaviours that are rationally chosen by an agent that do not fit the remit of the final cause of the agent or part of the agent (i.e., a body part) are morally bad. In the same way a kettle that

consequentialism

More on Natural Law Theory and the Enjoyment of Sex

Yesterday, I posted on the subject of Natural Law Theory (NLT) in the context of the enjoyment of sex. NLT states that behaviours that are rationally chosen by an agent that do not fit the remit of the final cause of the agent or part of the agent (i.e.

Philosophy of Religion

Natural Law Theory and the Enjoyment of Sex

I am presently editing a book with the working title “The Unnecessary Science” that is a robust critique of Thomism, Natural Law and Christian thinkers such as Edward Feser. I (and fellow contributor Ficino) have written a number of times about Natural Law Theory (NLT) - see "Related Posts&

consequentialism

Not Seeing OmniGod through Philosophy and Logic: Heaven & Consequentialism

Introductory spiel: One of my more recent books, Not Seeing God: Atheism in the 21st Century (UK), has a plethora of gems in it for the reader and a smorgasbord of variety. It was a labour of love and was particularly rewarding due to the fact that so many great

morality

What Being a Good Person Means Is Harder To Define than You Might Think

I have talked several times before about the Netflix show, The Good Place. It's a great show that popularises philosophy and packages it for the mass market. This can only be a good thing, in my eyes. As the show comes to an end, the shows creator talks

gun control

The Recent Shootings and God

If you read this at any point forward in American time, there will have been a recent shooting, sadly enough, so the title will be perpetually relevant. The recent mass shooting atrocities, like any evil or suffering, need to be understood by religious people in the context of their god.

conceptual nominalism

Knowing Your Rights, Locke and Other Rights Problems - Take 2!

The rights debates raging on a number of recent comment threads have been pretty embarrassing for many of the people (gun advocates) taking part because they have simply not engaged with the conversation at the level it should have been. In fact, these haven't been "rights debates&

Deep Dive

Quote of the Day: Martin Zeichner on all sorts

Here is a comment from Martin Zeichner here at ATP: Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start. The first two words of the title of this post are:Philosophy 101 I have had the bad (or good, depending on how you look at

conceptual nominalism

KNOWING Your Rights, Locke and Other Rights Problems

The rights debates raging on a number of recent comment threads have been pretty embarrassing for many of the people (gun advocates) taking part because they have simply not engaged with the conversation at the level it should have been. This is a philosophical blog, at heart, and the articles

AHA

Atheists Cheer Resolution to Combat International Blasphemy Laws

This is from the American Humanist Association: Leaders at the American Humanist Association (AHA) celebrated the re-introduction of H.Res. 512, developed to combat international religious discrimination. The AHA’s legislative advocacy team was proud to work with Representatives Raskin (D-MD) and Meadows (R-NC) to introduce the resolution, which encourages

prayer

Federal Court Bans School-Sponsored Graduation Prayers in South Carolina School District

This is from the American Humanist Association: The U.S. District Court of South Carolina ruled in favor of the American Humanist Association (AHA) in its longstanding lawsuit against Greenville County School District over school-sponsored prayers, Christian hymns, and the use of religious venues at public school graduations. The order,

Deep Dive

Trial By Trolley

This is a very cool idea and a game I am very interested in supporting. Check out the video that should explain all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWVudLc-1f8 And here an example scenario, or two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAcWNO5W2Zo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

atheism

UK: Atheism and Islam on the Rise; Christianity Suffers 'Dramatic Decline'

This is nothing unusual and fits in with the trends I have often reported here. Atheism and Islam look to be increasing in the UK, and Christianity is taking a beating. As The Telegraph reports: hristian belief has halved in Britain in 35 years with just one in three people

Adam and Eve

Not Seeing OmniGod through Philosophy and Logic: Adam & Eve

Introductory spiel: One of my more recent books, Not Seeing God: Atheism in the 21st Century (UK), has a plethora of gems in it for the reader and a smorgasbord of variety. It was a labour of love and was particularly rewarding due to the fact that so many great

creation

Not Seeing OmniGod through Philosophy and Logic: Creating Imperfectly

Introductory spiel: One of my more recent books, Not Seeing God: Atheism in the 21st Century (UK), has a plethora of gems in it for the reader and a smorgasbord of variety. It was a labour of love and was particularly rewarding due to the fact that so many great

Deep Dive

‘In No God We Trust’: Atheist Group Gets Heat over Banners

Every now and again, religious people take the bait. My, they don't like it when atheism gets a bit of publicity. Of course, it's fine when it's religion. No, it's fine when it's Christianity. Fort Worth, recently, has struggled to

alt-right

On Left and Right Politics: Andy Ngo and Marie Colvin

I know that this was the subject of my last piece and I apologise if I’m going to bore you. However, this is something I’ve been brooding upon to the last couple of days. I have seen a number of friends and colleagues posting and writing about this

moral responsibility

Analysing Antifa Attacking a Right-Wing Journalist

One of the big pieces of news that rocked the internet this weekend was concerning an anti-far counter-protest in Portland, Oregon on where a right wing-journalist, Andy Ngo, was attacked and injured and had some camera equipment stolen. The right-wing media are going ballistic about this incident in a way

atheism

Lebanon's Nonreligious

I recently posted excerpts from a BBC article detailing the deconversion of many people in Turkey. Now the BBC has produced a similarly-themed video concerning the deconversion of those in Lebanon. Good luck to these brave people. If any of them see this, I would love them to contribute a