Reviews for Rethinking Human Nature: A Christian Materialist Alternative to the Soul

The average rating for Rethinking Human Nature: A Christian Materialist Alternative to the Soul based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-09-30 00:00:00 John Holloman Interesting read, but Corcoran's perspective on how materialism works, and his constitution view is interesting, but to me feels uncompelling. He bills it as a "middle way" but it feels like he just simply attempts to have his cake and eat it too. He does, however, do a good job of laying out objections to our normal understanding of dualism and the relationship between body and soul, in spite of a bit of patronizing. More curious is his intense hoop-jumping regarding the resurrection that, while interesting, posits a fission theory that honestly just feels like a cop-out. As far as materialists go, I find Trenton Merrick's argument for the extinction and recreation view far more convincing. (If you're going to go materialist just be consistent...) Still a interesting read, if like all books on this subject matter it bogs down in density and unsolvable paradoxes.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-02-11 00:00:00 Todd Ooooooo Very good book explaing the Christian materialist position in a way that does not assume much of the reader in terms of prior knowledge. Corcoran first offers some problems with dualism (in Cartesian and Thomistic forms). He then offers some problems with anthropological materialisms that assume that we are identical to our bodies. He then sets forth his view, arguing that we are not identical to our bodies (as the statue of David is not identical to the slab of marbel that constitutes him) but we are constitued by our bodies, and are so essentially. Next, he argues that a materialst view of human persons can take a strong moral stance on questions of abortion and euthenasia. Corcoran then discusses how his position fits in with the doctrine of the resurrection, finally summing everything up and briefly addressing some favorite dualist verses.