Abstract

RIVERA-NOVOA, Ángel. Pragmatism and Evolution: Is It Rational to Be Theist and Naturalist?. Tópicos (México) [online]. 2019, n.57, pp.175-206. ISSN 0188-6649.  https://doi.org/10.21555/top.v0i57.1044.

This paper aims to show that: 1) theory of evolution is ontologically neutral inside the debate about metaphysical naturalism and theism; and 2) that it is consistent to hold simultaneously methodological naturalism and theism. In order to achieve this, I shall first examine Plantinga’s argument that tries to show that there is consistency between theism and evolution, but, on the contrary, there is inconsistency between the theory of evolution and (methodological and metaphysical) naturalism. I accept the first part of this argument, but I reject the second part. I defend that Plantiga’s argument is valid if and only if it is supposed a theory of truth by correspondence. Finally, I shall argue that if such notion is replaced by James’s pragmatist conception of truth, it is possible to conclude 1 and 2.

Keywords : Alvin Plantinga; William James; theory of evolution; metaphysical naturalism; methodological naturalism; theism; pragmatism; truth.