Believing in Dawkins: The New Spiritual Atheism

Eric Steinhart

Sep 2020 · Springer Nature

Ebook

402

Pages

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About this ebook

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.

About the author

Eric Steinhart received his Ph.D. from the University of Stony Brook, and is Professor of Philosophy at William Paterson University. He obtained his B.Sc. in Computer Science from Penn State. Some of his algorithms have been patented. He is the author of five books, including Your Digital Afterlives and the bestselling textbook More Precisely. He has published over fifty articles in philosophy and in computing, including work on Nietzsche, metaphor, artificial intelligence, transhumanism, metaphysics and religion.

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