Erik J. Wielenberg, God and the Reach of Reason: C.S. Lewis, David Hume, and Bertrand Russell (Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008), Pp. x + 243. $21.99.
Erik J. Wielenberg (Professor of philosophy at DePauw University) puts three intellectual giants, Lewis, Hume, and Russell, in conversation with one another on various important questions, including the existence of God, suffering, morality, reason, joy, miracles, and faith. This book is the end product of a course that Wielenberg taught in 2002 to first-year students at DePauw University.
Of course, C.S. Lewis is one of the most beloved Christian apologists of the twentieth century, whereas David Hume and Bertrand Russell are among Christianity’s most important critics. Surprisingly, Wielenberg contends that although there are certain irreconcilable differences in the philosophies of these three men, there are also areas of agreement. Indeed, if the measure of a philosopher is their ability to face death without fear, Lewis, Hume, and Russell are philosophers par excellence, according to the author. Each thinker, according to Wielenberg, faced death with a comprehensive view regarding the nature of human beings and their place in nature (3). However, these views were virtually dipolar of one another. Indeed, Lewis advocated a fairly traditional view of Christianity, whereas Hume and Russell both rejected the notion of a personal, loving God, admitting at best instead a distant and remote deity, uninvolved with daily affairs. Lewis viewed our earthly lives as a small fraction of our total existence, whereas Hume and Russell saw our earthly lives as the sum of our existence.
However, there is some continuity between these three, as Lewis was, for a great portion of his life, disposed toward the viewpoints of both Hume and Russell, prior to his conversion to and embrace of Christianity. Moreover, each of the three philosophers offered extensive arguments for their worldviews, as well as criticisms of the competing worldviews. Within this text one will find in chapter one the challenge to belief in God due to the existence – and prevalence – of suffering. Therein, Wielenberg interacts with Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, as well as Lewis’ The Problem of Pain. In this chapter, Wielenberg argues that while Lewis’ response to the problem of suffering may be incomplete, it is nonetheless novel and has a wide application.
Chapter two focuses upon Lewis’ three main arguments for the existence of God. Like Descartes, Lewis contends that we can best understand God by understanding ourselves. Lewis argues that humans have knowledge of objective moral truths, can reason, and have a desire for deeper meaning, which nothing upon the earth can satisfy. Within this chapter, Hume and Russell are represented as opponents to Lewis’ theistic arguments. However, Wielenberg argues within this chapter that modern evolutionary psychology could be used to resist Lewis’ arguments. Hume is once again used in dialogue with Lewis in chapter three. In this proverbial dialogue, the issue of testimony for miracles is addressed. As is well known, Hume argues that no testimony is veritable enough to overturn the preponderance of evidence against its veracity. However, Wielenberg argues that Lewis exposes a significant flaw in Hume’s argument.
Chapter four includes more exposition than the previous three chapters in this text, and highlights some agreements between the three philosophers. One of the more important agreements between the philosophers, notes Wielenberg, is that they each have a commitment to follow the evidence wherever it leads. Moreover, they each reject the argument for the existence of God from the apparent design of the universe. Lewis receives the majority of attention within this book, with Hume receiving more than Russell. Whereas Lewis indeed receives the majority of attention, Wielenberg nonetheless thinks that Lewis’ arguments for Christianity ultimately fail.
I contend that this text is a worthy follow-up to Wielenberg’s first title, Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe (Cambridge University Press, 2005). In sum, this latest title, Wielenberg explores key arguments for and against the Christian God using a virtual conversation among C.S. Lewis, Bertrand Russell, and David Hume. This book is intended for anyone who desires to think seriously about the notion of (a) God. I recommend this text for undergraduate and graduate students of philosophy without reservation.
Bradford McCall
Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Curious readers will find penetrating insights in the reasoned dialogue of these three great thinkers.