Abstract
This chapter provides a deconstruction of the ontological position of atheism about God’s inexistence. The author first offers an analytical consideration of the multiplicity of meanings that the negative term “atheism” can be accorded depending on the particular interpretation of the concept of God we may consider. The chapter argues that such diversity notwithstanding, two major versions of atheism can be distinguished: one that proceeds to deny God’s existence (existential atheism) and another that negates the very conceptual consistence of the idea of God (essential atheism). Finally, the point is made that the view of God as an infinite and necessary being is most compellingly denied by the essential version than by its existential counterpart.
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Ongay de Felipe, Í. (2020). New (and Old) Atheism(s) Reconsidered. In: Wróbel, S., Skonieczny, K. (eds) Atheism Revisited. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34368-2_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34368-2_11
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