New Developments in the Cognitive Science of Religion

Description

It is widely thought that the cognitive science of religion (CSR) may have a bearing on the epistemic status of religious beliefs and on other topics in philosophy of religion. Epistemologists have used theories from CSR to argue both for and against the rationality of religious beliefs, or they have claimed that CSR is neutral vis-à-vis the epistemic status of religious belief. However, since CSR is a rapidly evolving discipline, a great deal of earlier research on the topic has become dated. Furthermore, most of the debate on the epistemic consequences of CSR has not taken into account insights from the philosophy of science, such as explanatory pluralism and explanatory levels. This volume overcomes these deficiencies. This volume brings together new philosophical reflection on CSR. It examines the influence of CSR theories on the epistemic status of religious beliefs; it discusses its impact on philosophy of religion; and it offers new insights for CSR. The book addresses the question of whether or not the plurality of theories in CSR makes epistemic conclusions about religious belief unwarranted. It also explores the impact of CSR on other topics in philosophy of religion like the cognitive consequences of sin and naturalism. Finally, the book investigates what the main theories in CSR aim to explain, and addresses the strengths and weaknesses of CSR. Front Matter ....Pages i-vii The Cognitive Science of Religion, Philosophy and Theology: A Survey of the Issues (Hans van Eyghen, Rik Peels, Gijsbert van den Brink)....Pages 1-14 Explanatory Limits in the Cognitive Science of Religion: Theoretical Matrix and Evidence Levels (Lluis Oviedo)....Pages 15-34 What Does the Cognitive Science of Religion Explain? (Claire White)....Pages 35-49 Pro-Science Rhetoric or a Research Program? – Naturalism(s) in the Cognitive-Evolutionary Study of Religion (Aku Visala)....Pages 51-69 Demystifying Religious Belief (Robert Nola)....Pages 71-92 Adaptationist Accounts Can Tell Us More About Religion Than Cognitive Accounts Can (Konrad Szocik)....Pages 93-108 Why Do Believers Believe Silly Things? Costly Signaling and the Function of Denialism (John S. Wilkins)....Pages 109-129 Minimal Intellectualism and Gods as Intuitive Regress-Blockers (Paolo Mantovani)....Pages 131-156 The Epistemology of Genealogies (Justin P. McBrayer)....Pages 157-169 An Evidential Argument for Theism from the Cognitive Science of Religion (Matthew Braddock)....Pages 171-198 Cognitive Science of Religion and the Cognitive Consequences of Sin (Rik Peels, Hans van Eyghen, Gijsbert van den Brink)....Pages 199-214 Back Matter ....Pages 215-220