She also replicates at the end the very same appendix that made cass fictional book a bestseller. As a macarthur geniusgrant recipient, rebecca newberger goldstein has described herself as setting out to write philosophically motivated novels. Jan, 2010 to my mind, 36 arguments for the existence of god is both postreligion and postatheism. The characters in 36 arguments for the existence of god explore the great moral issues.
Goldstein is not impressed by dogma from either side but instead explores the world of meaning in the middle, balancing her work between the scientism of the ivory tower and the numinous experience of the pearly gates. In defending the faith, however, it is useful to present a way of proving the existence of god that. Overcomplicated yet dazzling, sparked by frequent flashes of nonchalant brilliance, 36 arguments for the existence of god affirms ms. Jan 31, 2010 yet, in the philosophernovelist rebecca newberger goldsteins latest work of fiction, 36 arguments for the existence of god, the rotund and orotund jonas elijah klapper, the extreme. This clever story of an academic who becomes a celebrity for his humane embrace of atheism. A work of fiction, and nonfiction studies of kurt godel and baruch spinoza. I stress that, above all, 36 arguments is a story and not a. Apr 28, 2018 36 arguments for the existence of god thus offers the same engaging cocktail of philosophy, roman a clef fun, and scholarly soap opera that marked her earlier books, especially the bestselling.
Transcript for 36 arguments for the existence of god this transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. Jan 19, 2010 steven pinker interviews rebecca newberger goldstein, author of 36 arguments for the existence of god. Rebecca newberger goldstein received her doctorate in philosophy from princeton university. More than likely there will be many readers intimidated by the title alone of rebecca newberger goldsteins novel, 36 arguments for the existence of god. The cosmological argument for the existence of god by w. The world shifted, catching lots of smart people off guard, churning up issues that you had thought had settled forever beneath the earths crust. Its still january, but 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca newberger goldstein is without a doubt the funniest work of existential philosophy youll read all year.
Dec 01, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god, by rebecca newberger goldstein pantheon, 416 pp. A work of fiction is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and intellectually. Hes been dubbed the atheist with a soul, and his sudden celebrity has upended his life. The unbelievable truth 36 arguments for the existence of god a. The arguments also turn up as an appendix to goldsteins novel, which contains 36 chapters, all with titles of arguments for the existence of god. World events are being shaped by fervent believers at home and abroad, while a new atheism is asserting itself in the public sphere. In the appendix, 36 arguments for the existence of god are presented in order to be refuted. The characters in 36 arguments for the existence of god explore the great moral issues of our day in a novel that is deeply moving and a joy to read. There are some differences that reveal rifts so deep that dialogue breaks down. It builds to a public debate over god s existence that isnt going to make anyone forget dostoyevskys grand inquisitor and concludes with the titular 36 arguments that seltzers book refutes, filled with such hairsplitting redundancy that one suspects his was one of those bestsellers bought in great numbers by people who never. To deny that god exists is to conceive of a being that exists in reality and in the understanding, and then deny its existence contradiction. Steven pinker interviews rebecca newberger goldstein, author of 36 arguments for the existence of god. Mar 23, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca goldstein.
In 36 arguments for the existence of god, rebecca newberger goldstein explores the rapture and torments of religious experience in all its variety. The main character in 36 arguments for the existence of god is fortytwoyear old cass seltzer, who has managed to jump on the new atheisttide along with authors like sam harris, daniel dennett, richard dawkins, and christopher hitchens and is now enjoying quite a ride. Goldstein talks about the creation of her novels central characters, as well the tension she. Rebecca goldstein is a philosopher and novelist, who in her career has weaved phi losophy with fiction writing, supposedly to convey the rather dry and. Feb 01, 2011 36 arguments for the existence of god a work of fiction is a brilliant and entertaining novel. The arguments for believing in god s existence, along with rebuttals for each oneostensibly casss bestselling bookare presented in an appendix. What is this stuff, you ask one another, says the narrator in rebecca newberger goldsteins new novel 36 arguments for the existence of god. Rebecca newberger goldsteins 36 arguments about god the. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Her awardwinning books include the novels the mindbody problem, properties of light, 36 arguments for the existence of god. Strong resistance to gods existence rebecca newberger. Arguments for the existence of god flashcards quizlet.
A work of fiction and nonfiction studies of kurt godel and baruch spinoza. Cass seltzer, a professor of psychology whose book, the varieties of religious illusion, has become a surprise best seller. Reading guide for 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca goldstein discussion guide for book clubs. If you have holds on the shelf, they will be held until we reopen. There are many arguments that can he presented to prove the existence of god. Mar 20, 2010 w ith atheism fashionable and religious fundamentalism on the rise, 36 arguments for the existence of god gently mocks the delusions of both. All wcpl locations are closed through april 30, 2020. Apr 09, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca goldstein. Reading guide for 36 arguments for the existence of god by. To have the concept of god means that you understand god. The argument from the paucity of benign mutations d. Dinner party hostesses used to be warned to steer the conversation away from politics and religion. A work of fiction by rebecca goldstein god is in the detail melissa katsoulis when rebecca goldstein, the american philosophernovelist who looks like rapunzel but thinks like wittgenstein, was awarded the prestigious macarthur award commonly known as the genius.
To my mind, 36 arguments for the existence of god is both postreligion and postatheism. Something shifted, something so immense you could call it the world. Yet, in the philosophernovelist rebecca newberger goldsteins latest work of fiction, 36 arguments for the existence of god, the rotund and orotund jonas elijah klapper, the extreme. Strong resistance to gods existence rebecca newberger goldstein print rebecca newberger goldstein, author of 36 arguments for the existence of god. Thoughtful, witty, and i cannot stress enough really entertaining, 36 arguments is part campus comedy, part romantic farce, part philosophical treatise. Dec 18, 2009 45 you wouldnt know it from the title, but rebecca goldsteins 36 arguments for the existence of god is a novel.
She trivializes the cosmological argument and also the even more dubious a priori ontological arguments and the refutations are more often than not silly. True, it carries a 52 page appendix, also titled 36 arguments for the existence of god, which lists 36 arguments, many of which you may have seen in your intro to philosophy class, then outlines and argues against each. Her brilliant sixth novel, 36 arguments for the existence of god, intelligently approaches one of lifes big questions from the perspective of a psychology professor looking to all the world like he has the answers, yet comically unable to. Jan 21, 2010 overcomplicated yet dazzling, sparked by frequent flashes of nonchalant brilliance, 36 arguments for the existence of god affirms ms.
Rebecca goldstein is a philosopher who has written. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and intellectually captivating, it is a luminous and intoxicating novel. Rebecca goldstein on 36 arguments for the existence of god. W ith atheism fashionable and religious fundamentalism on the rise, 36 arguments for the existence of god gently mocks the delusions of both. Request pdf on jul 1, 2011, ulf persson and others published 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca newberger goldstein find, read and cite. Feb 11, 2010 rebecca newberger goldstein is the author of the novel, mind body problem. The existence of god is a subject of debate in the philosophy of religion and popular culture a wide variety of arguments for and against the existence of god can be categorized as metaphysical, logical, empirical, or subjective. Goldsteins rare ability to explore the quotidian and. It builds to a public debate over gods existence that isnt going to make anyone forget dostoyevskys grand inquisitor and concludes with the titular 36 arguments that seltzers book refutes, filled with such hairsplitting redundancy that one suspects his was one of those bestsellers bought in great numbers by people who never. I stress that, above all, 36 arguments is a story and not a disguised tutorial on the existence vel non of god. By turns hilarious, moving and devilishly clever, goldsteins novel is an exhilarating romance of heart and mind.
So the 36 arguments are a novel, the appendix to that novel, and the appendix to a nonfiction book within the fiction. In the foreground is the novel itself, a satire of academic life, complete with competition, backbiting, and egomaniacal, charismatic professors. Rebecca goldstein author of 36 arguments for the existence. During this time you will not be able to place new holds on physical materials. A work of fiction vintage contemporaries rebecca newberger goldstein on.
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