Jamie B. Turner | University of Birmingham (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Jamie B. Turner

Design Discourse in Abrahamic Traditions History, Metaphysics, and Science (Routledge), 2024

The design argument has taken on different formulations among Muslim thinkers. Arguably, most of ... more The design argument has taken on different formulations among Muslim thinkers. Arguably, most of these approaches might be described as Paleyan. In this chapter, however, I seek to develop a non-Paleyan approach toward design discourse by focusing on the thought of the Muslim theologian, Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328 CE). In developing a Taymiyyan model of design-based theistic belief, I argue that this model can resist some of the problems associated with Paleyan approaches. Specifically, it avoids concerns over the soundness or cogency of the Paleyan inference amid Darwinian objections. I argue that this is because on the Taymiyyan model, design-based theistic beliefs are noninferential and concern the ultimate or metaphysical cause of the design in nature, such that they do not rival naturalistic scientific explanations of biological phenomena. Despite three noteworthy objections to the model, I suggest that it offers a plausible way to defend design-based theistic belief.

Religions, 2024

In this article, I consider how the epistemic problem of religious disagreement has been viewed w... more In this article, I consider how the epistemic problem of religious disagreement has been viewed within the Islamic tradition. Specifically, I consider two religious epistemological trends within the tradition: Islamic Rationalism and Islamic Traditionalism. In examining the approaches of both trends toward addressing the epistemic problem, I suggest that neither is wholly adequate. Nonetheless, I argue that both approaches offer insights that might be relevant to building a more adequate response. So, I attempt to combine insights from both by drawing a distinction between inferential and noninferential reflective responsibility. Given this distinction, I argue that it may be possible for a theist to remain steadfast in upholding their tradition-specific theistic belief, without having to hold that belief by way of inference; but nevertheless, having to be sufficiently reflectively responsible in forming their theistic belief noninferentially.

Faith and Philosophy, 2024

The problem of religious disagreement between epistemic peers is a potential threat to the episte... more The problem of religious disagreement between epistemic peers is a potential threat to the epistemic justification of one's theistic belief. In this paper, I develop a response to this problem which draws on the central epistemological thesis of skeptical theism concerning our inability to make proper judgements about God's reasons for permitting evil. I suggest that this thesis may extend over to our judgements about God's reasons for self-revealing, and that when it does so, it can enable theists to remain steadfast amid disagreement with epistemic peers who hold a contrary theistic belief (i.e., atheistic belief). For if we're unable to make proper judgements about God's reasons for self-revealing, then for all we know, God has some reason for not revealing Himself to our apparent epistemic peer. Thus, their epistemic credentials needn't provide reason to reduce one's confidence to such a degree as to no longer uphold one's theistic belief.

1000-Word Philosophy, 2023

An accessible 1000 word introduction to the thesis that belief in God can be reasonable for a per... more An accessible 1000 word introduction to the thesis that belief in God can be reasonable for a person even if they have no good argument for their belief!

Cambridge Handbook of Religious Epistemology, 2023

This chapter aims to lay out a map of the diverse epistemological perspectives within the Islamic... more This chapter aims to lay out a map of the diverse epistemological perspectives within the Islamic theological tradition, in the conceptual framework of contemporary analytic philosophy of religion.

Palgrave Macmillan, 2023

In the contemporary philosophy of religion (PoR) in recent decades, there has been much talk of w... more In the contemporary philosophy of religion (PoR) in recent decades, there has been much talk of what has been coined “the epistemology of religious belief.” Like many topics in PoR, Alvin Plantinga often features prominently in the discussion. Much of Plantingian thought seems to have its roots in the intuitions of the “common-sense philosophy” championed by Thomas Reid (d. 1796 CE). However, some of the ideas that come to contemporary expression in Plantingian thought can be seen as having a much longer history outside of exclusively Christian and European circles. It is the aim of this chapter, to suggest that in fact, the essence of these ideas can be found in the theological epistemology of the Damascene Islamic theologian, Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328 CE).

Routledge, 2023

This chapter aims to draw on the critical threads of those vibrant theological conversations with... more This chapter aims to draw on the critical threads of those vibrant theological conversations within the formative years of Islamic thought in considering the different theological models of the Divine within the broader Islamic tradition under the purview of classical theism as it is understood today in the contemporary philosophy of religion. In doing so, it makes reference to the major strands within the theological (‘ilm al-kalām & atharī scripturalism) and philosophical (falsafa) schools of the Islamic tradition. It aims to consider how these different trends, schools, and thinkers construct a model of God in light of the classical and neo-classical theistic model of God.

European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2022

This article seeks to outline how a Muslim believer can deflect a defeater for Islamic belief put... more This article seeks to outline how a Muslim believer can deflect a defeater for Islamic belief put forward by Erik Baldwin and Tyler McNabb. In doing so, it aims to reject the suggestion that an Islamic religious epistemology is somehow antithetical to a model of Reformed epistemology (RE) which is not fully compatible with Plantingian. Taken together with previous work on Islam and RE, the article not only aims to provide reason to think that Baldwin and McNabb's proposed epistemic defeater for Islamic belief isn't problematic, it also seeks to show how the concerns raised by Baldwin and McNabb over a Plantingian model of RE in Islamic milieu, are no longer tenable.

Religious Studies, 2021

This article aims to draw on the 'Qur'anic Rationalism' of Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328 CE... more This article aims to draw on the 'Qur'anic Rationalism' of Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328 CE) in elucidating an Islamic epistemology of theistic natural signs, in the lens of contemporary philosophy of religion. In articulating what Ibn Taymiyya coins 'God's method of proof through signs (istidlāluhu taʿālā bi'l-āyāt)', it seeks aid in particular from the work of C. Stephen Evans and other contemporary philosophers of religion, in an attempt to understand the relevance and force of this alternative to natural theology within the Islamic tradition. In doing so, it aims to respond to existing criticisms of Ibn Taymiyya's perspective in the literature, and to consider the implications of a Taymiyyan reading of theistic natural signs, on the epistemic function of Qur'anic āyāt as theistic evidence.

Philosophy East and West, 2019

In reference to the philosophical theology of medieval Islamic theologian Ibn Taymiyya, this pape... more In reference to the philosophical theology of medieval Islamic theologian Ibn Taymiyya, this paper outlines a parallel between Taymiyyan thought and Alvin Plantinga’s thesis of ‘Reformed Epistemology’. In critiquing a previous attempt to build an account of ‘Islamic externalism’, the Taymiyyan model offers an account that can be seen as wholly ‘Plantingan’.

Book Reviews by Jamie B. Turner

Design Discourse in Abrahamic Traditions History, Metaphysics, and Science (Routledge), 2024

The design argument has taken on different formulations among Muslim thinkers. Arguably, most of ... more The design argument has taken on different formulations among Muslim thinkers. Arguably, most of these approaches might be described as Paleyan. In this chapter, however, I seek to develop a non-Paleyan approach toward design discourse by focusing on the thought of the Muslim theologian, Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328 CE). In developing a Taymiyyan model of design-based theistic belief, I argue that this model can resist some of the problems associated with Paleyan approaches. Specifically, it avoids concerns over the soundness or cogency of the Paleyan inference amid Darwinian objections. I argue that this is because on the Taymiyyan model, design-based theistic beliefs are noninferential and concern the ultimate or metaphysical cause of the design in nature, such that they do not rival naturalistic scientific explanations of biological phenomena. Despite three noteworthy objections to the model, I suggest that it offers a plausible way to defend design-based theistic belief.

Religions, 2024

In this article, I consider how the epistemic problem of religious disagreement has been viewed w... more In this article, I consider how the epistemic problem of religious disagreement has been viewed within the Islamic tradition. Specifically, I consider two religious epistemological trends within the tradition: Islamic Rationalism and Islamic Traditionalism. In examining the approaches of both trends toward addressing the epistemic problem, I suggest that neither is wholly adequate. Nonetheless, I argue that both approaches offer insights that might be relevant to building a more adequate response. So, I attempt to combine insights from both by drawing a distinction between inferential and noninferential reflective responsibility. Given this distinction, I argue that it may be possible for a theist to remain steadfast in upholding their tradition-specific theistic belief, without having to hold that belief by way of inference; but nevertheless, having to be sufficiently reflectively responsible in forming their theistic belief noninferentially.

Faith and Philosophy, 2024

The problem of religious disagreement between epistemic peers is a potential threat to the episte... more The problem of religious disagreement between epistemic peers is a potential threat to the epistemic justification of one's theistic belief. In this paper, I develop a response to this problem which draws on the central epistemological thesis of skeptical theism concerning our inability to make proper judgements about God's reasons for permitting evil. I suggest that this thesis may extend over to our judgements about God's reasons for self-revealing, and that when it does so, it can enable theists to remain steadfast amid disagreement with epistemic peers who hold a contrary theistic belief (i.e., atheistic belief). For if we're unable to make proper judgements about God's reasons for self-revealing, then for all we know, God has some reason for not revealing Himself to our apparent epistemic peer. Thus, their epistemic credentials needn't provide reason to reduce one's confidence to such a degree as to no longer uphold one's theistic belief.

1000-Word Philosophy, 2023

An accessible 1000 word introduction to the thesis that belief in God can be reasonable for a per... more An accessible 1000 word introduction to the thesis that belief in God can be reasonable for a person even if they have no good argument for their belief!

Cambridge Handbook of Religious Epistemology, 2023

This chapter aims to lay out a map of the diverse epistemological perspectives within the Islamic... more This chapter aims to lay out a map of the diverse epistemological perspectives within the Islamic theological tradition, in the conceptual framework of contemporary analytic philosophy of religion.

Palgrave Macmillan, 2023

In the contemporary philosophy of religion (PoR) in recent decades, there has been much talk of w... more In the contemporary philosophy of religion (PoR) in recent decades, there has been much talk of what has been coined “the epistemology of religious belief.” Like many topics in PoR, Alvin Plantinga often features prominently in the discussion. Much of Plantingian thought seems to have its roots in the intuitions of the “common-sense philosophy” championed by Thomas Reid (d. 1796 CE). However, some of the ideas that come to contemporary expression in Plantingian thought can be seen as having a much longer history outside of exclusively Christian and European circles. It is the aim of this chapter, to suggest that in fact, the essence of these ideas can be found in the theological epistemology of the Damascene Islamic theologian, Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328 CE).

Routledge, 2023

This chapter aims to draw on the critical threads of those vibrant theological conversations with... more This chapter aims to draw on the critical threads of those vibrant theological conversations within the formative years of Islamic thought in considering the different theological models of the Divine within the broader Islamic tradition under the purview of classical theism as it is understood today in the contemporary philosophy of religion. In doing so, it makes reference to the major strands within the theological (‘ilm al-kalām & atharī scripturalism) and philosophical (falsafa) schools of the Islamic tradition. It aims to consider how these different trends, schools, and thinkers construct a model of God in light of the classical and neo-classical theistic model of God.

European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2022

This article seeks to outline how a Muslim believer can deflect a defeater for Islamic belief put... more This article seeks to outline how a Muslim believer can deflect a defeater for Islamic belief put forward by Erik Baldwin and Tyler McNabb. In doing so, it aims to reject the suggestion that an Islamic religious epistemology is somehow antithetical to a model of Reformed epistemology (RE) which is not fully compatible with Plantingian. Taken together with previous work on Islam and RE, the article not only aims to provide reason to think that Baldwin and McNabb's proposed epistemic defeater for Islamic belief isn't problematic, it also seeks to show how the concerns raised by Baldwin and McNabb over a Plantingian model of RE in Islamic milieu, are no longer tenable.

Religious Studies, 2021

This article aims to draw on the 'Qur'anic Rationalism' of Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328 CE... more This article aims to draw on the 'Qur'anic Rationalism' of Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328 CE) in elucidating an Islamic epistemology of theistic natural signs, in the lens of contemporary philosophy of religion. In articulating what Ibn Taymiyya coins 'God's method of proof through signs (istidlāluhu taʿālā bi'l-āyāt)', it seeks aid in particular from the work of C. Stephen Evans and other contemporary philosophers of religion, in an attempt to understand the relevance and force of this alternative to natural theology within the Islamic tradition. In doing so, it aims to respond to existing criticisms of Ibn Taymiyya's perspective in the literature, and to consider the implications of a Taymiyyan reading of theistic natural signs, on the epistemic function of Qur'anic āyāt as theistic evidence.

Philosophy East and West, 2019

In reference to the philosophical theology of medieval Islamic theologian Ibn Taymiyya, this pape... more In reference to the philosophical theology of medieval Islamic theologian Ibn Taymiyya, this paper outlines a parallel between Taymiyyan thought and Alvin Plantinga’s thesis of ‘Reformed Epistemology’. In critiquing a previous attempt to build an account of ‘Islamic externalism’, the Taymiyyan model offers an account that can be seen as wholly ‘Plantingan’.