Episode 63 Dr. Herman Philipse JUN 17, 2012

A Professor of Philosophy at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Dr. Philipse studied law at that school before turning his attention to philosophy. After studying philosophy at Leiden, Oxford, Paris and Cologne, he ultimately received his PhD at the University of Leiden. He is the author of numerous books and journal articles covering metaphysics, the philosophy of logic, epistemology, and religion. As he tells us in this interview, he became concerned at the intrusion of religion into civic law in the Netherlands, something that motivated him to start writing popular pieces for newspapers defending secularism and atheism while appearing on current events television there. His yet to be translated Atheïstisch Manifest/De onredelijkheid van religie (English: Atheist Manifesto and the unreasonableness of religion) is by all accounts a powerhouse defense of atheism and a book Ayaan Hirsi Ali credits in part for her realization that atheism made the most sense. He joins us to discuss his newest book, God in the Age of Science?: A Critique of Religious Reason. We asked Dr. Philipse to talk about the dilemmas faced by theists who wish to claim that their faith doesn’t require justification on evidential and rational grounds and those that believe that their faith does require such a thing, and the further dilemmas that result from this commitment. It’s a fascinating discussion, packed with compelling bits on a book that is sure to be counted as among the best in the Philosophy of Religion for years to come. Join us!