Robert Merrihew Adams

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Robert Merrihew Adams (born September 8, 1937) is an American philosopher known for his work in the philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and ethics. He has made significant contributions to the study of moral philosophy, theological voluntarism, and the problem of evil.

Early Life and Education

Adams was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University in 1959 and his Bachelor of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1962. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in philosophy from Cornell University in 1969.

Academic Career

Adams has held teaching positions at several prestigious institutions. He began his academic career at the University of Michigan, where he taught from 1968 to 1972. He then moved to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was a professor from 1972 to 1993. From 1993 to 2003, he was a professor at Yale University, and from 2004 to 2009, he taught at the University of Oxford.

Philosophical Contributions

Adams is best known for his work in the following areas:

Philosophy of Religion

Adams has written extensively on the existence of God, divine command theory, and the problem of evil. His book Finite and Infinite Goods explores the nature of moral value and its relation to the divine.

Metaphysics

In metaphysics, Adams has contributed to discussions on possible worlds and modal realism. He is known for his defense of actualism, the view that only actual, concrete entities exist.

Ethics

Adams has developed a version of virtue ethics that emphasizes the role of moral exemplars and the importance of moral community. His work often intersects with theological ethics, exploring how religious beliefs can inform moral practice.

Personal Life

Adams is married to Marilyn McCord Adams, who was also a prominent philosopher and theologian. They have collaborated on several projects and have been influential in each other's work.

Selected Works

• Finite and Infinite Goods: A Framework for Ethics (1999)
• The Virtue of Faith and Other Essays in Philosophical Theology (1987)
• A Theory of Virtue: Excellence in Being for the Good (2006)

Related Pages

• Philosophy of religion
• Metaphysics
• Ethics
• Moral philosophy
• Problem of evil
• Divine command theory
• Possible worlds
• Actualism
• Virtue ethics