'God' as a Theoretical Term
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15691/0718-5448Vol7Iss2a455Keywords:
Natural Theology, Theoretical Terms, Reference Theories, Religious Language, Metatheology.Abstract
This paper suggests revisiting some classic challenges regarding the meaningfulness and reference of religious propositions and explore the possibility of addressing these challenges under the assumption that 'God' is a theoretical term, i.e., a term denoting an entity that cannot be directly observed but that nevertheless is able to fulfill an explanatory role within theories that give an account of the world that is available for our experience. Considering some distinctive features of theoretical terms may shed new light in various debates in contemporary philosophy of religion, particularly because it provides a novel framework for understanding the nature and functions of natural theology.
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