The Credibility of Divine Existence

The Credibility of Divine Existence collects Norman Kemp Smith's key lectures and papers on religious belief and philosophical theology. Published posthumously in 1967, this work represents the culmination of Smith's investigations into the rational foundations for religious faith. The book examines core questions about the existence of God through both historical and analytical philosophical approaches. Smith engages with thinkers like Hume and Kant while developing his own framework for understanding religious knowledge and belief. Through systematic argumentation, Smith addresses the primary challenges to theistic belief in modern philosophy. His analysis covers topics including the limits of human reason, the role of religious experience, and the relationship between faith and evidence. The work stands as a significant contribution to 20th century philosophy of religion, offering a measured exploration of how religious claims can maintain intellectual credibility in an age of scientific materialism.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Norman Kemp Smith's overall work: Readers consistently highlight Kemp Smith's clarity in translating and explaining complex philosophical works. Students and scholars praise his translation of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason for making difficult concepts more approachable. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of challenging philosophical concepts - Detailed footnotes that provide context - Translation stays true to Kant's meaning while being readable in English What readers disliked: - Dense academic language can be challenging for beginners - Some find his commentary sections overly long - Print quality issues in some editions From Goodreads and Amazon: Critique of Pure Reason translation: - Goodreads: 4.3/5 (487 reviews) - Amazon: 4.4/5 (216 reviews) The Philosophy of David Hume: - Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 reviews) - Amazon: 4.2/5 (24 reviews) One PhD student noted: "Kemp Smith's translation strikes the right balance between accuracy and readability." A philosophy professor wrote: "His commentary remains relevant decades later, though the language can be dated."

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🔷 Norman Kemp Smith was a leading authority on Immanuel Kant and David Hume, producing influential translations and commentaries on both philosophers' works. 🔷 The book was published posthumously in 1967, compiled from lectures and notes after Kemp Smith's death in 1958. 🔷 This work explores the philosophical foundations of religious belief, drawing heavily on both Scottish Enlightenment thought and German Idealism. 🔷 As a professor at Princeton and later Edinburgh University, Kemp Smith's teachings on the relationship between faith and reason influenced generations of philosophers and theologians. 🔷 The book's central arguments build upon themes from Kemp Smith's earlier work "Prolegomena to an Idealist Theory of Knowledge," showing the evolution of his thought on epistemology and religious belief.