Logic of the Heart, The: Augustine, Pascal, and the Rationality of Faith - Softcover

Peters, James R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801035996 ISBN 13: 9780801035999

Publisher: Baker Academic, 2009

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

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.

From the Back Cover

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

Edition details

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801035996
• ISBN 13: 9780801035999
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304