Religious Studies· 2026Q1
Atheism, evolution, and meaning
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Atheists can derive a robust sense of meaning from evolutionary principles, challenging the notion that religion is necessary for a fulfilling life.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Atheists can develop a comprehensive understanding of life's meaning without religious belief.
- Evolutionary principles can serve as a foundation for a robust and satisfying sense of meaning.
- Meaning itself is an evolving concept that can be understood through a developmental lens.
- Distinctive meaning-related facts emerge at different stages of human development.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract In this paper, I argue that meaning of the main kinds associated with human life can be described and illuminatingly discussed by atheists who reject all things religious and embrace evolution. Indeed, by considering the different forms evolution can take and with sensitivity to how distinctive meaning-related facts emerge at different stages of macroscale human development and also to the fact that meaning itself evolves, atheists are in a position to show that the evolutionary considerations available to them, rather than an obstacle to a robust and satisfying account of meaning, can be its source.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Religious Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: History and Philosophy of Science
History and Philosophy of ScienceArts and Humanities