Epistemic Overreach of Theism and Atheism

In this essay, we were introduced to two influential arguments of theism and atheism, respectively. We saw the ontological argument of Anselm and the problem of evil. Following this, we observed that both these arguments presumed the nature and existence of God to be understandable and expressible through reason and experience. This was shown to be false through Kant’s distinction of phenomena and noumena. Furthermore, Wittgenstein demonstrated the inadequacy of language in expressing metaphysical truths. We briefly explored a non-dualistic philosophy, Advaita Vedanta, which employed an apophatic method to prevent the objectification and misidentification of a noumenal being. Lastly, we reached an epistemically humbling note with the Buddha’s deliberate silence on metaphysical inquiries.