The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener

Martin Gardner's The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener represents a distinctive contribution to late twentieth-century philosophical theology through its synthesis of scientific rationalism with religious belief. Gardner, renowned for his mathematical and scientific writings, presents a philosophical autobiography that defends a form of fideistic theism while maintaining rigorous intellectual standards. The work engages with fundamental questions about God's existence, the nature of religious belief, and the relationship between faith and reason.

Gardner's approach combines personal reflection with systematic philosophical analysis, examining why he maintains certain beliefs despite acknowledging their rational undecidability. He argues for what he terms "philosophical theism," a position that accepts God's existence as a matter of faith rather than demonstrable proof. This stance places him in dialogue with both religious fundamentalists, whom he criticizes for their dogmatism, and militant atheists, whom he challenges for their overconfidence in materialism's explanatory completeness.

The work's significance lies in its nuanced treatment of the faith-reason relationship. Gardner explicitly rejects natural theology's attempts to prove God's existence through reason, aligning himself with a Kantian tradition that views such proofs as inherently flawed. Yet he simultaneously argues against atheistic naturalism, suggesting that certain features of human experience—particularly consciousness, free will, and moral intuitions—point beyond purely materialistic explanations. His position resembles William James's will to believe, though Gardner develops it through engagement with contemporary philosophy of science.

Gardner's method involves examining various philosophical positions through both logical analysis and pragmatic considerations. He discusses how beliefs about God affect one's approach to ethics, meaning, and mortality, arguing that theistic belief, while not rationally compelled, remains rationally permissible and existentially valuable. His treatment of immortality and the afterlife exemplifies this approach, acknowledging the absence of empirical evidence while defending hope in personal survival as psychologically beneficial and philosophically coherent.

The work's lasting contribution to the God debate lies in its articulation of a middle position between dogmatic certainty and reductive materialism. Gardner demonstrates how one can maintain religious belief while fully embracing scientific methodology, offering a model for intellectually honest faith in an age of science. His influence extends particularly to discussions of rational fideism and the limits of both scientific and religious knowledge claims.