The strict doctrine of divine simplicity is enjoying a resurgence of interest and defense. In thi... more The strict doctrine of divine simplicity is enjoying a resurgence of interest and defense. In this paper I challenge this conception of divine simplicity both directly and indirectly. Directly, the doctrine suffers from a modal collapse regarding God's freedom in creation. Indirectly, the doctrine is driven by arguments against composition that are not beyond challenge.
Written for a graduate class--Philosophical Theology--at Biola University (April 2024).
An essay written for an epistemology class for the MA in Philosophy program of Biola University. ... more An essay written for an epistemology class for the MA in Philosophy program of Biola University.
I examine Laurence BonJour's conception of Indirect Representational Realism and note some critical problems for his views, thus opening up the possibility for a form of direct realism.
A paper written for a seminar on Early Modern Philosophy for the MA in Philosophy from Biola Univ... more A paper written for a seminar on Early Modern Philosophy for the MA in Philosophy from Biola University.
David Hume’s essay “On Miracles” continues to garner competing interpretations as to what Hume was arguing. The Traditional Interpretation argues that in Part I of the essay Hume is providing an a priori, “in-principle” argument against the possibility of ever justifying a miracle claim on the basis of human testimony. A Revisionary Interpretation championed by Antony Flew and others calls this Traditional Interpretation into question. This paper examines the case for and against the Traditional Interpretation and finds that the Revisionary Interpretation lacks sufficient evidential basis to overthrow the Traditional Interpretation.
A paper written for a class for Philosophy of Mind for the Biola MA program.
In a series of exch... more A paper written for a class for Philosophy of Mind for the Biola MA program.
In a series of exchanges David K. Johnson has challenged the Argument from Reason as defended by Victor Reppert.1 As part of that challenge, Johnson has alleged that Reppert has "loaded the die" in terms of defining naturalism to necessarily exclude the mental from the "basic level of reality." The purpose of this paper is not to defend the Argument from Reason, but, rather, to critically examine Johnson's conception of naturalism. Johnson's articulation of naturalism is underdeveloped and lacks appropriate specificity thus allowing him to help himself to ontological realities that do not fit well within more developed and robust conceptions of naturalism.
A paper written for a Philosophy of Religion class for the Biola MA program. I examine an objecti... more A paper written for a Philosophy of Religion class for the Biola MA program. I examine an objection by Kevin Diller to Alvin Plantinga's Felix Culpa theodicy.
A paper presented in Dr. Greg Ganssle's 2021 seminar on Friedrich Nietzsche (Talbot School of The... more A paper presented in Dr. Greg Ganssle's 2021 seminar on Friedrich Nietzsche (Talbot School of Theology).This paper examines Friedrich Nietzsche’s views on the nature of logic. Nietzsche’s naturalistic project affects the nature and understanding of logic. Nietzsche’s metaphysical background belief of change and flux influences his conception of how logic should be understood. This conception of logic is found throughout the corpus of Nietzsche’s writing with only slight variation of emphasis. A counter-argument provided by Maudemarie Clark and David Dudrick alleging that Nietzsche changed his view regarding logic in the latter period of his writing is examined. It is shown that Clark and Dudrick’s exegesis of Nietzsche is faulty and that there is textual evidence from the latter writings of Nietzsche to demonstrate continuity of his views on logic with the earlier portions of his writings.
A research paper I did for a class on the problem of evil. I examine the school of Rational Pres... more A research paper I did for a class on the problem of evil. I examine the school of Rational Presuppositionalism and its approach to the problem of evil.
Christian Post February 5 and 6, 2020. I detail a bit of my journey growing up evangelical and th... more Christian Post February 5 and 6, 2020. I detail a bit of my journey growing up evangelical and the intellectual influences that shaped me. I compare and contrast my journey with Humanist Luke Douglas who left the faith for what, I argue, are less than compelling reasons.
A paper written in seminary on the issue of the dating of Daniel. It examines two evangelical au... more A paper written in seminary on the issue of the dating of Daniel. It examines two evangelical authors' interaction on this issue. It also contains some good bibliographic information.
This is a paper from 1991--before the formal beginning of the Intelligent Design movement. The p... more This is a paper from 1991--before the formal beginning of the Intelligent Design movement. The paper does have discussion of some early reviews of Dawkins' book.
On October 27, 2015 I participated in a panel discussion at Glendale Community College (Glendale,... more On October 27, 2015 I participated in a panel discussion at Glendale Community College (Glendale, AZ) entitled "God, Morality, and Evil." The following was my presentation with the attendant footnotes and appendices.
Many Christians throughout the centuries have believed that God guides his children by giving spe... more Many Christians throughout the centuries have believed that God guides his children by giving specific and varied kinds of communications. Wayne Grudem effectively captures this reality when he writes:
The strict doctrine of divine simplicity is enjoying a resurgence of interest and defense. In thi... more The strict doctrine of divine simplicity is enjoying a resurgence of interest and defense. In this paper I challenge this conception of divine simplicity both directly and indirectly. Directly, the doctrine suffers from a modal collapse regarding God's freedom in creation. Indirectly, the doctrine is driven by arguments against composition that are not beyond challenge.
Written for a graduate class--Philosophical Theology--at Biola University (April 2024).
An essay written for an epistemology class for the MA in Philosophy program of Biola University. ... more An essay written for an epistemology class for the MA in Philosophy program of Biola University.
I examine Laurence BonJour's conception of Indirect Representational Realism and note some critical problems for his views, thus opening up the possibility for a form of direct realism.
A paper written for a seminar on Early Modern Philosophy for the MA in Philosophy from Biola Univ... more A paper written for a seminar on Early Modern Philosophy for the MA in Philosophy from Biola University.
David Hume’s essay “On Miracles” continues to garner competing interpretations as to what Hume was arguing. The Traditional Interpretation argues that in Part I of the essay Hume is providing an a priori, “in-principle” argument against the possibility of ever justifying a miracle claim on the basis of human testimony. A Revisionary Interpretation championed by Antony Flew and others calls this Traditional Interpretation into question. This paper examines the case for and against the Traditional Interpretation and finds that the Revisionary Interpretation lacks sufficient evidential basis to overthrow the Traditional Interpretation.
A paper written for a class for Philosophy of Mind for the Biola MA program.
In a series of exch... more A paper written for a class for Philosophy of Mind for the Biola MA program.
In a series of exchanges David K. Johnson has challenged the Argument from Reason as defended by Victor Reppert.1 As part of that challenge, Johnson has alleged that Reppert has "loaded the die" in terms of defining naturalism to necessarily exclude the mental from the "basic level of reality." The purpose of this paper is not to defend the Argument from Reason, but, rather, to critically examine Johnson's conception of naturalism. Johnson's articulation of naturalism is underdeveloped and lacks appropriate specificity thus allowing him to help himself to ontological realities that do not fit well within more developed and robust conceptions of naturalism.
A paper written for a Philosophy of Religion class for the Biola MA program. I examine an objecti... more A paper written for a Philosophy of Religion class for the Biola MA program. I examine an objection by Kevin Diller to Alvin Plantinga's Felix Culpa theodicy.
A paper presented in Dr. Greg Ganssle's 2021 seminar on Friedrich Nietzsche (Talbot School of The... more A paper presented in Dr. Greg Ganssle's 2021 seminar on Friedrich Nietzsche (Talbot School of Theology).This paper examines Friedrich Nietzsche’s views on the nature of logic. Nietzsche’s naturalistic project affects the nature and understanding of logic. Nietzsche’s metaphysical background belief of change and flux influences his conception of how logic should be understood. This conception of logic is found throughout the corpus of Nietzsche’s writing with only slight variation of emphasis. A counter-argument provided by Maudemarie Clark and David Dudrick alleging that Nietzsche changed his view regarding logic in the latter period of his writing is examined. It is shown that Clark and Dudrick’s exegesis of Nietzsche is faulty and that there is textual evidence from the latter writings of Nietzsche to demonstrate continuity of his views on logic with the earlier portions of his writings.
A research paper I did for a class on the problem of evil. I examine the school of Rational Pres... more A research paper I did for a class on the problem of evil. I examine the school of Rational Presuppositionalism and its approach to the problem of evil.
Christian Post February 5 and 6, 2020. I detail a bit of my journey growing up evangelical and th... more Christian Post February 5 and 6, 2020. I detail a bit of my journey growing up evangelical and the intellectual influences that shaped me. I compare and contrast my journey with Humanist Luke Douglas who left the faith for what, I argue, are less than compelling reasons.
A paper written in seminary on the issue of the dating of Daniel. It examines two evangelical au... more A paper written in seminary on the issue of the dating of Daniel. It examines two evangelical authors' interaction on this issue. It also contains some good bibliographic information.
This is a paper from 1991--before the formal beginning of the Intelligent Design movement. The p... more This is a paper from 1991--before the formal beginning of the Intelligent Design movement. The paper does have discussion of some early reviews of Dawkins' book.
On October 27, 2015 I participated in a panel discussion at Glendale Community College (Glendale,... more On October 27, 2015 I participated in a panel discussion at Glendale Community College (Glendale, AZ) entitled "God, Morality, and Evil." The following was my presentation with the attendant footnotes and appendices.
Many Christians throughout the centuries have believed that God guides his children by giving spe... more Many Christians throughout the centuries have believed that God guides his children by giving specific and varied kinds of communications. Wayne Grudem effectively captures this reality when he writes:
After a brief introduction to the specific kind of "satanism" I am writing about I discuss why ev... more After a brief introduction to the specific kind of "satanism" I am writing about I discuss why evangelicals have often misunderstood satanism. I then provide a philosophical critique of an ethical tension within The Satanic Bible.
My notes from the Glendale Community College "God & Truth" panel discussion on February 28, 2023-... more My notes from the Glendale Community College "God & Truth" panel discussion on February 28, 2023---"Science & Religion: The Continuing Dialogue--Conflict, Competition, or Compatibility?"
Notes from my presentation at Glendale Community College’s “God & Truth VI:
Is There Meaning in t... more Notes from my presentation at Glendale Community College’s “God & Truth VI: Is There Meaning in the World? Religion or Secular Humanism: That is the Question?” (October 23, 2018)
Notes from my presentation at Glendale Community College's (AZ) "Critical Dialogues" panel discus... more Notes from my presentation at Glendale Community College's (AZ) "Critical Dialogues" panel discussion (2/27/18) on "Gender & Sexuality: Current Controversies and the Common Good."
Notes from my presentation at the Glendale Community College (AZ) panel discussion "God & Truth V... more Notes from my presentation at the Glendale Community College (AZ) panel discussion "God & Truth V: God, Morality, and the Euthyphro Challenge."
Notes from my presentation at the Glendale Community College (AZ) discussion "God and Truth IV: G... more Notes from my presentation at the Glendale Community College (AZ) discussion "God and Truth IV: God and the Meaning of Life" (October 18, 2016)
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Papers by Richard Klaus
Written for a graduate class--Philosophical Theology--at Biola University (April 2024).
I examine Laurence BonJour's conception of Indirect Representational Realism and note some critical problems for his views, thus opening up the possibility for a form of direct realism.
David Hume’s essay “On Miracles” continues to garner competing interpretations as to what Hume was arguing. The Traditional Interpretation argues that in Part I of the essay Hume is providing an a priori, “in-principle” argument against the possibility of ever justifying a miracle claim on the basis of human testimony. A Revisionary Interpretation championed by Antony Flew and others calls this Traditional Interpretation into question. This paper examines the case for and against the Traditional Interpretation and finds that the Revisionary Interpretation lacks sufficient evidential basis to overthrow the Traditional Interpretation.
In a series of exchanges David K. Johnson has challenged the Argument from Reason as defended by Victor Reppert.1 As part of that challenge, Johnson has alleged that Reppert has "loaded the die" in terms of defining naturalism to necessarily exclude the mental from the "basic level of reality." The purpose of this paper is not to defend the Argument from Reason, but, rather, to critically examine Johnson's conception of naturalism. Johnson's articulation of naturalism is underdeveloped and lacks appropriate specificity thus allowing him to help himself to ontological realities that do not fit well within more developed and robust conceptions of naturalism.
Written for a graduate class--Philosophical Theology--at Biola University (April 2024).
I examine Laurence BonJour's conception of Indirect Representational Realism and note some critical problems for his views, thus opening up the possibility for a form of direct realism.
David Hume’s essay “On Miracles” continues to garner competing interpretations as to what Hume was arguing. The Traditional Interpretation argues that in Part I of the essay Hume is providing an a priori, “in-principle” argument against the possibility of ever justifying a miracle claim on the basis of human testimony. A Revisionary Interpretation championed by Antony Flew and others calls this Traditional Interpretation into question. This paper examines the case for and against the Traditional Interpretation and finds that the Revisionary Interpretation lacks sufficient evidential basis to overthrow the Traditional Interpretation.
In a series of exchanges David K. Johnson has challenged the Argument from Reason as defended by Victor Reppert.1 As part of that challenge, Johnson has alleged that Reppert has "loaded the die" in terms of defining naturalism to necessarily exclude the mental from the "basic level of reality." The purpose of this paper is not to defend the Argument from Reason, but, rather, to critically examine Johnson's conception of naturalism. Johnson's articulation of naturalism is underdeveloped and lacks appropriate specificity thus allowing him to help himself to ontological realities that do not fit well within more developed and robust conceptions of naturalism.
Is There Meaning in the World? Religion or Secular Humanism: That is the Question?” (October 23, 2018)