God and the Soul

This collection of essays represents Peter Geach's distinctive contribution to philosophical theology, defending theistic positions through rigorous analytical argumentation while challenging both secular philosophy and certain traditional religious formulations. Geach employs the tools of modern logic and philosophy of language to address classical questions about divine attributes, human nature, and religious belief.

The work's central achievement lies in its defense of key theistic doctrines through careful conceptual analysis. Geach argues for the coherence of divine simplicity, omniscience, and providence against modern philosophical objections. His treatment of omniscience proves particularly influential, developing a tenseless theory of divine knowledge that attempts to reconcile God's eternal perspective with temporal human experience. Against process theologians and others who limit divine knowledge to preserve human freedom, Geach maintains that perfect knowledge and genuine freedom remain compatible when properly understood.

Regarding human nature, Geach defends a form of substance dualism while critiquing both materialist reductionism and Cartesian theories of mind. He argues that human souls possess genuine causal powers irreducible to physical processes, yet remain essentially embodied rather than accidentally united to bodies. This position allows him to defend personal immortality while avoiding the conceptual difficulties he identifies in purely spiritualist accounts of human nature.

The essays engage extensively with both historical and contemporary sources. Geach draws heavily on Aquinas while subjecting Thomistic arguments to logical scrutiny, accepting some traditional positions while modifying or rejecting others. He critically examines arguments from Descartes, Spinoza, and Hume, as well as engaging twentieth-century philosophers like Wittgenstein, Anscombe, and Quine. This historical awareness combined with analytical rigor exemplifies Geach's method throughout.

Several essays address practical implications of theistic belief. Geach examines the logic of religious language, arguing against both crude literalism and excessive symbolism. He defends the rationality of petitionary prayer and religious hope while acknowledging the philosophical puzzles they generate. His analysis of divine commands and moral obligation stakes out a moderate position between divine command theory and natural law ethics.

The collection's significance extends beyond its specific arguments to its methodological approach. Geach demonstrates how analytical philosophy can illuminate rather than dissolve traditional religious questions. His work provides a model for philosophically sophisticated theism that neither retreats into fideism nor capitulates to secular philosophical fashion. These essays remain essential reading for understanding how classical theistic commitments can be articulated and defended using contemporary philosophical methods.