Finite and Infinite

This monograph represents a significant contribution to mid-twentieth century philosophical theology, offering a sustained defense of theistic metaphysics through rational argument. Farrer develops a sophisticated philosophical framework that seeks to demonstrate the logical necessity of an infinite God as the ground of finite existence. Writing in the context of logical positivism's challenge to religious language and metaphysics, he constructs a careful philosophical argument that moves from the analysis of finite beings to the affirmation of infinite being.

The work proceeds through a rigorous examination of the nature of finitude, arguing that finite entities cannot account for their own existence or intelligibility. Farrer contends that the very concept of limitation presupposes an unlimited reality against which limits are defined. He develops this insight through detailed philosophical analysis, drawing on both scholastic philosophy and contemporary philosophical discussions while maintaining critical distance from both traditions. His method combines metaphysical speculation with logical rigor, seeking to show that atheistic or agnostic positions ultimately prove philosophically incoherent.

Central to Farrer's argument is his treatment of the relationship between divine infinity and human knowledge. He argues that while human reason operates within finite categories, it necessarily points beyond itself to infinite being. This does not represent a leap of faith but rather a rational requirement. He engages critically with various forms of philosophical naturalism and empiricism, arguing that they fail to account adequately for the conditions of their own possibility. His critique extends to certain forms of religious philosophy that he views as insufficiently attentive to the demands of rational coherence.

The monograph's significance lies in its attempt to rehabilitate rational theology at a time when such projects faced widespread skepticism. Farrer demonstrates that theistic metaphysics need not retreat into fideism or mysticism but can engage philosophical criticism on its own terms. His influence extends particularly through Anglican philosophical theology, where his combination of philosophical sophistication and theological commitment provided a model for subsequent thinkers. The work remains notable for its technical precision and its refusal to simplify either philosophical problems or theological claims. While some critics have challenged his starting assumptions about finitude and his conception of rational necessity, the work stands as a formidable example of natural theology in the modern period.