The Lutterworth Press: Life, the Universe, and Everything

	Life, the Universe, and Everything An Aristotelian Philosophy for a Scientific Age By Ric Machuga A fascinating and accessible introduction to the central questions of philosophy, and a spirited defense of the relevance of Aristotelian and Thomist philosophy to the modern world. ISBN: 9780718840563 Specifications: 314pp, eBook, PDF format Publication: May 2012 Stock: Available to download
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About this Book

Has modern science made philosophy obsolete? Do we have free will? Why should we be moral? What is the relation between faith and reason?

Ric Machuga adopts a holistic approach to these perennial questions – no philosophical idea, no matter how small, can live alone. Ideas always gain their force, power, and life from their surroundings – their 'ecosystem'. The ecosystem of ideas defended in this book comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and his medieval interpreter, Thomas Aquinas. The ongoing relevance of their philosophical thought to twenty-first century issues is opened up in this fascinating study.

Life, the Universe, and Everything is the product of thirty years of teaching introductory courses in philosophy. Assuming no prior background, it only requires of readers an enquiring mind and a willingness to think carefully. It is an ideal guide to the big questions that we all face.

Contents

Preface

1. What Is a Good Argument?
2. Has Science Made Philosophy Obsolete?
3. What Is a "Scientific" Proof?
4. What Is Truth?
5. What Is Real?
6. How Do We Know?
7. What Does It Mean to Be Human?
8. Why Should We Care About Morality?
9. Are Humans Really Free?
10. Does God Exist?
11. How Can a Good God Allow Evil?
12. Why Should We Believe in God?

Bibliography
Index

Extracts

Preface » (PDF, 66 KB)
Chapter 4: What is Truth? » (PDF, 164 KB)

About the Author

Ric Machuga has taught philosophy and in the Honor Program at Butte College for thirty years. He is the author of In Defense of the Soul (2002) and numerous pieces for Books and Culture.

Reviews and Comments

"This is a clearly written, wonderfully engaging account of Aristotelianism for our contemporary world. It is, in short, a defense of 'first philosophy', the idea that philosophy and philosophical reflection is the starting point of, and that which illuminates and clarifies, all that we believe that we know in the other disciplines in the university, especially the hard sciences. I applaud Professor Machuga for this outstanding book."
Francis J. Beckwith, Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, Baylor University