Authors:
- Provides a detailed and accessible examination of the spiritual dimensions of Richard Dawkins' writings
- Expands on Dawkins' work to show how atheists can develop powerful ethical principles and rich systems of symbols and images
- Systematises and completes Dawkins' 'spiritual naturalism' and reveals how it is rooted in Platonism and Stoicism
Buy it now
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Other ways to access
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.
Table of contents (9 chapters)
-
Front Matter
-
Back Matter
About this book
Dawkin's militant atheism is well known; his profound faith less well known
In this book, atheist philosopher Eric Steinhart explores the spiritual dimensions of Richard Dawkins’ books, which are shown to encompass:
· the meaning and purpose of life
· an appreciation of Platonic beauty and truth
· a deep belief in the rationality of the universe
· an aversion to both scientism and nihilism
As an atheist, Dawkins strives to develop a scientific alternative to theism, and while he declares that science is not a religion, he also proclaims it to be a spiritual enterprise. His books are filled with fragmentary sketches of this ‘spiritual atheism’, resembling a great unfinished cathedral. This book systematises and completes Dawkins’ arguments and reveals their deep roots in Stoicism and Platonism.
Expanding on Dawkins’ ideas, Steinhart shows how atheists can develop powerful ethical principles, compelling systems of symbols and images, and meaningful personal and social practices. Believing in Dawkins is a rigorous and potent entreaty for the use of science and reason to support spiritually rich and optimistic ways of thinking and living.
Reviews
Authors and Affiliations
-
Department of Philosophy, William Paterson University, Wayne, USA
Eric Steinhart
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Believing in Dawkins
Book Subtitle: The New Spiritual Atheism
Authors: Eric Steinhart
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43052-8
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-43051-1Published: 16 September 2020
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-43052-8Published: 16 September 2020
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XX, 402
Number of Illustrations: 15 b/w illustrations
Topics: Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Religion, Metaphysics, Ontology, Evolutionary Biology, Cosmology