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Book cover of Why? The Purpose of the Universe

Why? The Purpose of the Universe

Goff
Philip Goff

21
Coup de coeur
Coup de coeur (Philosophy), by Ciaran

Philip Goff's Why? argues that there is a purpose underlying and directing the development of the universe and all that exists within it (although Goff dismantles arguments for an all powerful God). Why? achieves the considerable feat of discussing a complex and difficult subject while being accessible and easy to read - he's an amicable narrator - and, at the same time, offering more in depth material for those who want it. You may not be convinced, you may not understand everything, you may understand but completely disagree, but as an introduction to cutting edge philosophy Why? is a fantastic read.

Why are we here? What's the point of existence? On the 'big questions' of meaning and purpose, Western thought has been dominated by the dichotomy of traditional religion and secular atheism. In this pioneering work, Philip Goff argues that it is time to move on from both God and atheism. Through an exploration of contemporary cosmology and cutting-edge philosophical research on consciousness, Goff argues for cosmic purpose: the idea that the universe is directed towards certain goals, such as the emergence of life.In contrast to religious thinkers, Goff argues that the traditional God is a bad explanation of cosmic purpose. Instead, he explores a range of alternative possibilities for accounting for cosmic purpose, from the speculation that we live in a computer simulation to the hypothesis that the universe itself is a conscious mind. Goff scrutinizes these options with analytical rigour, laying the foundations for a new paradigm of philosophical enquiry into the middle ground between God and atheism. Ultimately, Goff outlines a way of living in hope that cosmic purpose is still unfolding, involving political engagement and a non-literalist interpretation of traditional religion.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Binding: Hardback
Publication date: 09 Nov 2023
Dimensions: 145 x 224 x 25 mm
ISBN: 9780198883760