Describing Gods
An Investigation of Divine Attributes

This careful examination of properties commonly attributed to God is essential background to any arguments about the existence of God.

Graham Oppy (Author)

9781107087040, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 November 2014

334 pages
23.6 x 15.7 x 2 cm, 0.6 kg

How do religious believers describe God, and what sort of attributes do they attribute to him? These are central topics in the philosophy of religion. In this book Graham Oppy undertakes a careful study of attributes which are commonly ascribed to God, including infinity, perfection, simplicity, eternity, necessity, fundamentality, omnipotence, omniscience, freedom, incorporeality, perfect goodness and perfect beauty. In a series of substantial chapters, he examines divine attributes one by one, and relates them to a larger taxonomy of those attributes. He also examines the difficulties involved in establishing the claim that understandings of divine attributes are inconsistent or incoherent. Intended as a companion to his 2006 book Arguing about Gods, his study engages with a range of the best contemporary work on divine attributes. It will appeal to readers in philosophy of religion.

Preface
1. Preliminaries
2. Infinity
3. Perfection
4. Simplicity
5. Eternity
6. Necessity
7. Fundamentality
8. Omni-attributes
9. Freedom
10. Incorporeality
11. Value
12. Concluding remarks
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Educational: Religious studies [YQR], Theology [HRLB], Philosophy of religion [HRAB], Religion: general [HRA], Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology [HPJ], Phenomenology & Existentialism [HPCF3], Philosophy [HP]