The Logic of the Heart sets forth a case for the rationality of the Christian faith. As such, it is a unique exercise in philosophical apologetics and an ambitious project to restore passionate reason to Christianity. To accomplish his aim, philosopher James Peters carefully analyzes the thought of Augustine and Blaise Pascal. Even more interesting, he employs the writings of skeptic David Hume as a backdrop to this analysis to show the importance of harmonizing the head and the heart in matters of faith. Peters ultimately finds the balance between the Enlightenment's overemphasis on human autonomy and reason alone and postmodernism's espousal of the creation of reality and interpretive freedom. It is the proper use of reason--guided by the human heart--that truly locates and embeds humans in the world and helps them to live wisely.  
  
"With a clarity seldom achieved, Peters draws on the work of unlikely allies--Hume, Pascal, and Augustine--in defense of the rationality of Christian convictions. Interestingly enough, it turns out our faith depends for its reasons on the love of God. This is an important book that hopefully will be widely read."--__Stanley Hauerwas__, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke University Divinity School  
  
"Peters's Logic of the Heart is the 'missing link' in contemporary discussions of epistemology, and as such, it stands to make a significant contribution to the literature in philosophy of religion, and religious epistemology in particular, while also introducing students to key figures in the history of philosophy."--__James K. A. Smith__, associate professor of philosophy, Calvin College; author, Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? "Right from the start it became instantly clear to me that The Logic of the Heart's argument is timely, unique, and structurally ingenious. Frankly, Peters's reading of Hume from his constructive Augustinian-Pascalian position is flat-out brilliant."--__Creston Davis__, assistant professor of religion, Rollins College; coeditor, Theology and the Political

__James R. Peters__ (PhD, Northwestern University) has taught at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, since 1984. He currently serves as chair of the philosophy department as well as professor of philosophy.

Philosopher James R. Peters defends the reasonableness of the Christian faith in The Logic of the Heart. He paves a middle road between the Enlightenment's worship of reason and postmodernism's emphasis on freedom and self-rule. He delves into the thought of theologian St. Augustine and philosopher-mathematician Blaise Pascal and engages the skeptic David Hume, who argued against the possibility of miracles. Throughout this process, Peters provides an alternative to postmodern thought as well as the widespread New Atheism. This work is appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in philosophy of religion and historical theology. Since Peters writes in nontechnical language, readers interested in the relationship between faith and reason will also benefit from The Logic of the Heart.

Drawing from the thought of Augustine, Pascal, and Hume, Peters provides a clear philosophical defense of the rationality of Christian faith in a postmodern world.

Introduction: Augustine, Pascal, and Hume on the "Embeddedness" of Reason  
1\. Augustine, Pascal, and Hume for the Postmodern World?   
2\. Hume's Skepticism and the Wisdom of the Heart  
3\. Pascal, Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Heart  
4\. A Dialectical Defense of Pascal's Paradox Argument: Pascal versus Radical Postmodernism  
Index

The Logic of the Heart is an eBook by James R. Peters, exploring the Christian faith's reasonableness. It engages key philosophers and theologians, suitable for students and general readers.

\["For students and seekers of faith and reason", "Addresses doubts about Christian belief and miracles", "You will strengthen your understanding of faith's logic"\]

This eBook explores the balance of faith and reason in Christianity.

Peters, James R.

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Epigraph

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Augustine, Pascal, and Hume on the “Embeddedness” of Reason

1. Augustine, Pascal, and Hume for the Postmodern World?

Skeptics of Modernity: Embedded Rationality versus Rational Autonomy

Embedded Reason in Augustine, Pascal, and Plantinga

Augustine, Pascal, and Hume as Socratic Apologists: Human Wisdom as Passionate Self-Knowledge

Hume, Pascal, and the Humility of Reason

2. Hume’s Skepticism and the Wisdom of the Heart

Hume's Epistemological Refutation of Theism

Three Answers from the Enquiry

Hume's Attack on and Misunderstanding of Miracles

Hume's Psychological Refutation of Theism

Hume versus Augustine (and Pascal): Opposing Rationalities in Conflict

Conclusion

3. Pascal, Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Heart

Pascal and the Rationality of Faith

Pascal's Dialectical Defense of Faith

Pascal's Teleological Apologetics

Pascal: Faith Is Rational but Beyond Reason

Pascal's Wager: Unmasking Skeptical Neutrality

Pascal versus Fideism: Faith Is Not Contrary to Reason

Pascal and Hume, Pascal and Aristotle: Conclusions

4. A Dialectical Defense of Pascal’s Paradox Argument: Pascal versus Radical Postmodernism

The Radical Postmodern Challenge to Pascal's Paradox Argument

Radical Postmodernism's Fourfold Hermeneutics of Unmasking

Postmodernism as "Hypermodernism"

Bibliography

Index

Notes

Philosopher James R. Peters defends the reasonableness of the Christian faith inThe Logic of the Heart. He paves a middle road between the Enlightenment's worship of reason and postmodernism's emphasis on freedom and self-rule. He delves into the thought of theologian St. Augustine and philosopher-mathematician Blaise Pascal and engages the skeptic David Hume, who argued against the possibility of miracles. Throughout this process, Peters provides an alternative to postmodern thought as well as the widespread New Atheism. This work is appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in philosophy of religion and historical theology. Since Peters writes in nontechnical language, readers interested in the relationship between faith and reason will also benefit fromThe Logic of the Heart.

Drawing from the thought of Augustine and Pascal, this book provides a non-technical philosophical defense of the rationality of Christian faith in a postmodern world.

James R. Peters (PhD, Northwestern University) has taught at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, since 1984. He currently serves as chair of the philosophy department as well as professor of philosophy.

The Good Book Stall

‘Pascal’s account of reason and faith is essentially Augustinian.’ (P20) This is a reassuring starting point, since one might ask what the two had in common. This is even more pressing in the case of David Hume who forms the third part of the triad dealt with in this book, (although he is not mentioned in the title). The object of the book is to argue that the Christian faith is rational, and that it is rational to hold Christian beliefs. Rationality is not everything however and Peters makes the case for the heart, love, being a decisive factor in both understanding and loving for the Christian.

The Logic of the Heart

The Logic of the Heart [eBook]

Navigation Bar

Header Default

Download the Christian360 App to read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks bought at Christian360

The Logic of the Heart [eBook]

Description

Need support?

Customer reviews

Download the App

Download the App