Analyze the rational grounds for/against belief in the existence of God.

 Present the Fine-Tuning argument for the existence of God. First, explain what “fine-tuning” is, with examples, then present the argument in premise/conclusion form, and finally, explain how the argument is supposed to succeed on the basis of inference to the best explanation. Second, discuss at least one objection to the argument presented in class and/or the text. In your discussion, explain how the objection is supposed to work against the argument and assess the status of the argument in light of that objection. Next, clearly explain the problem of evil. (Don’t just ask questions – explain the problem, preferably in the form of an argument.) Then, discuss at least one direct and one indirect response to (Rowe’s version of) the problem of evil presented in class. (Don’t just state the response; discuss its adequacy as a response to the problem.) At this point in the debate, are there rational grounds for believing God does/does not exist? Distinguish between practical and theoretical rationality, then present “Pascal’s Wager” as a way to advance the discussion. Include in your discussion details about Dominance Reasoning and Maximizing Expected Utility, clearly showing how each might (or might not) apply. Discuss what you consider to be the most important limitation of Pascal’s Wager. Next, what does William James have to say about the debate at this point? Clarify his view, including a discussion of the two values (or two “commandments”) involved in decisions about belief. What is the greatest limitation in James’ view? Finally, present your own view about the rational grounds for/against believing in the existence of God. Feel free to bring in views from other philosophers such as Plantinga here. Expected length: 3.5-5.0 pages or so, typed. As always, your paper will be graded on accuracy and thoroughness – how well it displays your understanding of the issues. For this reason, avoid all use of “outside” sources, and check your writing for grammar, punctuation, etc. For an even better score, use original examples and cogent reasoning in your essay.