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Internal and External Questions about God

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

Robin Le Poidevin
Robin Le Poidevin
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
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Abstract

Characteristic of metaphysics are general questions of existence, such as ‘Are there numbers?’ This kind of question is the target of Carnap's argument for deflationism, to the effect that general existential questions, if taken at face value, are meaningless. This paper considers deflationism in a theological context, and argues that the question ‘Does God exist?’ can appropriately be grouped with the ‘metaphysical’ questions attacked by Carnap. Deflationism thus has the surprising consequence that the correct approach to theism is that of radical theology. The paper attempts to show why Carnap's argument fails, and why, nevertheless, enough remains of it for us to conclude that God cannot be outside time and space.

Type
Research Article
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 485 - 500
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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