I read Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy many years ago, but hastily, I should say, and I allowed my impressions of it to all but fade over time. Grad school has recently given me the chance to return to this text and to do so with the injunction to read it carefully. I can say now … Continue reading Reflections on The Consolation of Philosophy
Polytheism
Dumsday on Polytheism: Part II
Dumsday makes a lot of engaging, interesting, and provocative points throughout his work, but this final post will focus on two of his points in particular: (iii) inferring plurality from transcendence, and (iv) mapping the abstract to what's on the ground. Of these, the first will take far more of our time. I. Inferring plurality … Continue reading Dumsday on Polytheism: Part II
Dumsday on Polytheism: Part I
In this first post, I want to reflect on two of the points Dumsday makes: (i) how might polytheists appropriate arguments for Bare Theism, or prevent monotheists from doing so? and (ii) how are henads different from bare particulars? I. Appropriating arguments for Bare Theism Dumsday notes that while thinkers like Greer and myself have … Continue reading Dumsday on Polytheism: Part I
Dumsday on Polytheism: Introduction
Travis Dumsday recently published 'Alternative Conceptions of the Spiritual: Polytheism, Animism, and More in Contemporary Philosophy of Religion' with Bloomsbury Academic. This is a much needed, and much appreciated work that seeks to bring to the fore and engage with various substantive but neglected philosophical alternatives to prevailing paradigms like Christian theism or Naturalism. He … Continue reading Dumsday on Polytheism: Introduction
Growing through the Sidewalk
Hello dear reader, it's been some time. I was not sure what would come of this place, but I'm very glad to find it still here.I want to share something with you if you'll humor me. I'm told it is not that uncommon of a story, but it is now mine to tell. It's about … Continue reading Growing through the Sidewalk
The one where a polytheist takes on the Razor
Philosophy is in the business of looking for arguments. Why do we think something is true or false? What reasons are there, really? The philosophical process tends to end when and only for as long as the mind is satisfied. But that doesn't mean there aren't more arguments to be given on behalf of a … Continue reading The one where a polytheist takes on the Razor
On Paganism as a Robust Alternative
Part of my project is presenting a substantive, robust religious alternative to today's leading positions. I call this alternative 'paganism'. Here I have in mind the oldest, most widespread religious orientation on the planet; the truly global and default position. It is a view of the world on which it truly is enchanted: full of … Continue reading On Paganism as a Robust Alternative
How Simple is Polytheism? Brief Thoughts
There have basically been two objections to polytheism over the years: one, that it is impossible, and the other, that it is too complicated. I. Impossible! The impossibility objections traditionally come from more classical quarters, as the very idea of there being two or more Gods has seemed contradictory in light of a more metaphysical … Continue reading How Simple is Polytheism? Brief Thoughts
Monotheism and the Question Begged
The idea of monotheism can be put in different ways, and sometimes other ideas can be mistaken for monotheism. A more abstract approach, for example, would not necessarily say there is only one God, but only that there is no more than one God. This way of putting things is amenable to those who think … Continue reading Monotheism and the Question Begged
A Curious Concession
"The rapid spread of Polytheism, especially during the period stretching from Abraham to Christ, calls for an explanation. Since reason is able to produce the strongest argument against the intrinsic possibility of Polytheism, the enormous propagation of this error can not be sufficiently explained by attributing to it the weakness of human intellect after the … Continue reading A Curious Concession
The Analytic Pagan 