Just came back from church, got KFC for lunch and now I’m watching this, it’s a good day.

We are here to prove the existence of God but first, how do you feel about public Wi-Fi?

Ed Feser went toe to toe in a debate with Graham Oppy, widely considered to be the World’s Leading Atheist Philosopher, on the topic of arguments for the existence of God, specifically the arguments he’s a proponent of, namely the scholastic metaphysical arguments. And Feser absolutely won that debate, (with all due respect to Oppy), which not only shows his intelligence, but also the strength of natural theological arguments (arguments for the existence of God). Respects to him.

Thank you do much Ben, if you hadn't brought this philosopher onto the show, I would never have heard of him and therefore his amazing arguements for God, this seemingly simple video has just changed the whole course of my religious,spiritual, and philosophical life. Thank you

Ben at a funeral... Uncle Larry was a great man and a great father and we’ll get to that in a second, but first.. let’s talk about your impending death.

wow, how did I not know about this guy until now?! what a great guest. one of the best explanation for the existence of God I've ever heard. great thinker. best sunday special so far!

"Feser will prove the existence of God to us just after these messages..."

Fantastic interview. Professor Feser is a brilliant thinker and author. Well done Mr Shapiro.

Wow as an open minded Atheist I cannot but help sway over to the side of agnosticism after listening to talks about these truly fascinating and great content.

Well, this timely interview just blew my mind and re-defined some goals in my life. Time to read Edward Feser!

Just watched 4yrs after it’s post. This is absolutely explosive! I’m getting my hands on everything Dr. Feser has ever written.

I took his class at Pasadena City College. :) I am setting this Feser to fun!! lol

Get this man in the same room as Peterson.

Feser is brilliant. And Ben did a great job with this interview: he really holds his own, and articulates well a number of the go-to moves that atheists make. Would love to get another conversation between these two!

It was my first sunday special and i was definitely not disappointed! Edward Feser is a really intelligent guy! He modulated and added much more to the thoughts I had recently, thank you!

Great to see a Thomist on here!

Knowing Dr. Edward Feser for a short while was a highlight.of my career. In addition to being brilliant, he is also ethical and humble. I had such a crush on him.

Love the different guests. Ed Feser is so knowledgeable.

Who else would rejoice if Ben recognized his messiah ✝

Mr Feser! Such a smart chap. This made my Sunday; thank you.

I've listened to this conversation about six times -- the more I learn. Think this Sunday Special is the most special imo

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." --Paul's letter to the church in Rome, chapter 1, verses 18-20

Yes! Finally, a brilliant but humble intellectual! No one likes to hear the sound of their own voice more than an atheist intellectual who lacks the humility to realize how little they actually know, even in terms of what is knowable, and whose arguments against the existence of God are tedious, illogical and pointless, being of no real value or benefit to humanity. Edward Feser is the perfect antidote. Great episode!

Excellent guest and topic Ben. Although I prefer less about the argument exist vs. non-exist, and more about the spiritual side of concious contact with our Creator, I found Edwards comments reaffirming to my faith. Thank you! P.S. Yes, JBP and this guy would be great on a panel.

The Thomists in the audience go crazy.

After finding this interview (and several Feser lectures) disappointing, I decided to just bite the bullet and read a few of his books, including his "Five Proofs" which prompted this interview. Feser's "Five Proofs" book is actually *very* good, far better than his lectures and interviews. Honestly. Night and day. I still consider myself agnostic, but I'm glad I took the risk of wasting money. It ended up being money well spent. Feser's Last Superstition has some good arguments and funny moments, but overall was polemical to the point of backfiring. His intro level book on Aquinas is good, but really, his "Five Proofs" is probably his best book. I'm waiting on his most recent "Scholastic Metaphysics." Seriously, get a copy of his "Five Proofs." On the atheist side, I recommend the works of Graham Oppy, Mackie, and Sean Carroll.

He explains it well. This reminds me of one of the six philosophical courses I took in college; the Philosophy of Human Nature.

These Sunday shows have been awesome Ben. Thanks to you, your guests and crew👍👏👏👏👏👏

Feser rules. Now have an Orthodox intellectual on.

This is one of the best podcasts I have heard from Ben. Thank very much.

These Sunday Specials just keep getting better! This week is brilliant, now one of my top favorites.

Prof Feser is simply brilliant and so easy to understand. He proves the existence of God. Most of mankind overwhelmingly believes in God. Its sanity ; what makes sanity possible.

I have to listen this 3 times at least.

I can't say enough about Edward Feser and Ben Shapiro. I have followed both of these men for a while now and both have changed my life in large and definite ways. Thank you to both of you. God is working through you both to direct the world to be a better version of its properly ordered self.

DAVID BERLINSKI!!! We need him on here. 👍

WOW! This is a great, and I would argue an indispensable, episode and KZfaq video every human searching for the truth must watch. This man (Dr. Feser) should be interviewed by every media outlet and yet they are obsessed about celebrities lifestyle and superficial contentious politics as humans became more superficial and lost in their lives

not one atheist in the comment section understands the arguments raised by Feser.

An advice to all my theist comrades, as you can see the atheists in this comment section are still clinging to an empiricist/scientficist (I do NOT mean scientfical, I'm talking about scientism here, not science) epistemology. Having a debate on the existance of God is pointless if you and your friend can't agree on epistemology. So start the conversation by having a debate on epistemology first, then procced with the arguments.

"like an endless stream of IOU's with no money" what a brilliant and perfect metaphor. Man. Blown away by how perfect and relatable and absurd that is. Funnily it gets me thinking of finance which is essentially exactly that, a series of IOU's, but finance is backed by labor which though tangible only has a value because of the market and even though its affected by the market, labor is independent of money. Not in the same realm. The reason being that labor has infinite potential value due to the potential for invention and labor to act it out in creation. So the endless chain of IOU's of real money is grounded solidly in hard work as it should. What a perfect metaphor for god, whom like labor is the solid ground for our metaphysical currency.

I highly recommend Dr. Edward Feser's Book, "Five Proofs for the Existence of God." It's not a particular easy read but his arguments are solid. Academic and or former Atheist "Apologists" if you will, are particularly interesting IMO.

Edward Feser = Golden state warriors. Sam Harris = Cleveland Cavaliers.

Let's get somewhat of a petition going to get Navy SEAL veteran Jocko Willink on the Sunday Special. his podcast is amazing and id love to hear Ben talk with him

I wait all week for these Sunday specials. So damn good. Keep up the good work Ben.

Ive recently got into religion for various reasons... have to say this guy really is a inspiration. Just ordered his book too, cant wait to read it. I always felt religion was right but never knew how to express it correctly its interesting knowing Dr Feser was an atheist really shows he strives for truth and not biases. Thanks Ben and Dr Feser you guys rock. Also if you ever read this would be good to see Dr. Feser in conversation with some new atheists in youtube that are gaining as they are effecting the youth so to get newer generation names convinced into religious belief would help the faith alot since they have an strong impact. Would be good to see Dr Feser debate "cosmicskeptic/alex o'conner" and perhaps in conversation with Bishop Barron aswell as Jordan Peterson AND Hugh Ross. Anyways thanks for the awesome discussion!

It’s September! That means it’s Ben Shapiro’s wife is a doctor awareness month. Help spread the word!

Dr. Feser is brilliant at explaining more challenging philosophical concepts to the layman. I have read a number of his books. Ultimately, atheism is an incoherent position. This obviously doesn't necessarily mean religion in general or a religion in particular is true. But the entire idea of atheism being a more rational position than a theistic one is entirely dismantled in this explanation, starting at around 12:30 where Dr. Feser effectively points out that its proponents would rather accept the incoherent position of a special pleading fallacy of brute fact when it comes to a foundational explanation to being as such.

17 episodes in and looking back at the guest list so far, it feels like the Sunday Special is in a class of its own. The level of discourse and the variety viewpoints are just top notch.

A meeting of two intellectuals,God bless them both.

I’m a big fan of Dr. Feser and have used some of his material in my own work. Been following him for years. He has an amazing blog and I very much loved The Last Superstition (though it’s a bit too polemical for most people’s tastes I think, which is why I’m happy he wrote five proofs). His book Aquinas was also a great intro to the reality of hylomorphism and other foundational concepts of Western thought, for anyone looking to learn more. Also, one time he made a joke where he said “set your Fesers to FUN!” Which was just awful enough to win me over. Keep up the good work Dr. Feser!

Absolutely agree. This is the same conclusions I came to before I read what many of the philosophers wrote about so many years ago and as I studied into the subject over the decades I found no reasonable argument against it. I think the young me knew it was true before the evidence was shown to me. I'm glad to see these proofs being discussed in such a large platform. Thank you Ben.

First time I see this man. I will now start to find more stuff by him. He is great

In my opinion this is by far the most interesting guest that you have had on your show. Please invite him back often. Thanks

Such a good video! I never could grasp Aristotle before but the way it was explained made it click in my head.

good guest.

Thx Ben for having this eminent catholic theologian as your guest

Philosopher Edward Feser did an excellent job!!! Thank you. I agree with how he expressed philosophy and religion has Aristotle and Plato roots and into our thought process to explain consciousness and so forth. I disagree when he says Judaism was founded on Greek philosophers. Many Jewish thinkers did begin to incorporate Greek philosophy in an attempt to answer some of their mysteries. Truth is Judaism is not founded on western thought. God called out Abraham to reveal Himself so that through Israel the world can get to know Him as He is not as philosophy imagined. Many things in Greek philosophy's definition of God are not how God revealed himself to and through Israel and more clearly in Jesus Christ. Great Job professor Feser in establishing the best argument I ever heard in the reality of the existence of God.

Feser is articulate and engrossing to listen to.

Please try to get Ravi Zacharias. He is a great thinker.

Very grateful for the religious discussions. Thank you

Thank you, Brother Arthur Vaughn, for instilling Christianity in me when I was just a baby. Now I have the Lord for life. NEVER have I denied or even questioned your Holiness. Thank you, Jesus Christ for Brother Vaughn. It feels so wonderful to know that 'lil ole me' is much smarter than these 'so called' LEARNED professors in all these prestigious schools. And more fortunate too, to have the Lord Jesus in my head always.

Great show! I also really like Feser and highly recommend his book!

It’s pretty cool to see Professor Feser in my school, knowing that he’s talked to Ben Shapiro before😂😂 brah I actually have been in his class for 10 minuets

His book is excellent. very articulate and he lays it out and responds to objections. He also explains how you get to Gods attributes with the arguments/proofs. Very good read.

The fact of the matter is that Aristotelian or scolastic metaphysics has never been successfully debunked and remains the only coherent philosophical model that explains the problems found within quantum physics

Feser > Peterson

"let's talk about your death" i run

Heard his 3 minute comments on atheism. Saved me an hour. Thanks Ben!!

He called the leftist tears tumbler a "cup". Blasphemy! Lmaoooo

Please have Dr. Timothy Keller from Making Sense of God on. He’s just as great.

By the way, this too was absolutely brillant, THANKS SO MUCH!

Edward Feser's argument outlined: Argument for the existence of Purely Actual Being (or a ‘purely actual actualizer’): 1. Change is a real feature of the world. 2. But change is the actualization of a potential. 3. So, the actualization of potential is a real feature of the world. 4. No potential can be actualized unless something already actual actualizes it (the principle of causality). 5. So, any change is caused by something already actual. 6. The occurrence of any change C presupposes some thing or substance S which changes. 7. The existence of S at any given moment itself presupposes the concurrent actualization of S’s potential for existence. 8. So, any substance S has at any moment some actualizer A of its existence. 9. A’s own existence at the moment it actualizes S itself presupposes either (a) the concurrent actualization of its own potential for existence or (b) A’s being purely actual. 10. If A’s existence at the moment it actualizes S presupposes the concurrent actualization of its own potential for existence, then there exists a regress of concurrent actualizers that is either infinite or terminates in a purely actual actualizer. 11. But such a regress of concurrent actualizers would constitute a hierarchical causal series, and such a series cannot regress infinitely. 12. So, either A itself is a purely actual actualizer or there is a purely actual actualizer which terminates the regress that begins �ctuwith the actualization of A. 13. So, the occurrence of C and thus the existence of S at any given moment presupposes the existence of a purely actual actualizer. 14. So, there is a purely actual actualizer. Argument for the Uniqueness of Purely Actual Being: 15. In order for there to be more than one purely actual actualizer, there would have to be some differentiating feature that one such actualizer has that the others lack. 16. But there could be such a differentiating feature only if a purely actual actualizer had some unactualized potential, which, being purely actual, it does not have. 17. So, there can be no such differentiating feature, and thus no way for there to be more than one purely actual actualizer. 18. So, there is only one purely actual actualizer. Arguments for the Immutability and Eternality of Purely Actual Being: 19. In order for this purely actual actualizer to be capable of change, it would have to have potentials capable of actualization. 20. But being purely actual, it lacks any such potentials. 21. So, it is immutable or incapable of change. 22. If this purely actual actualizer existed in time, then it would be capable of change, which it is not. 23. So, this purely actual actualizer is eternal, existing outside of time. Arguments for the Immateriality and Incorporeality of Purely Actual Being: 24. If the purely actual actualizer were material, then it would be changeable and exist in time, which it does not. 25. So, the purely actual actualizer is immaterial. 26. If the purely actual actualizer were corporeal, then it would be material, which it is not. 27. So, the purely actual actualizer is incorporeal. Argument for the Metaphysical Perfection and Goodness of Purely Actual Being: 28. If the purely actual actualizer were imperfect in any way, it would have some unactualized potential, which, being purely actual, it does not have. 29. So, the purely actual actualizer is perfect. 30. For something to be less than fully good is for it to have a privation-that is, to fail to actualize some feature proper to it. 31. A purely actual actualizer, being purely actual, can have no such privation. 32. So, the purely actual actualizer is fully good. Argument for the Omnipotence of Purely Actual Being: 33. To have power entails being able to actualize potentials. 34. Any potential that is actualized is either actualized by the purely actual actualizer or by a series of actualizers which terminates in the purely actual actualizer. 35. So, all power derives from the purely actual actualizer. 36. But to be that from which all power derives is to be omnipotent. 37. So, the purely actual actualizer is omnipotent. Argument for the Omniscience of Purely Actual Being: 38. Whatever is in an effect is in its cause in some way, whether formally, virtually, or eminently (the principle of proportionate causality). 39. The purely actual actualizer is the cause of all things. 40. So, the forms or patterns manifest in all the things it causes must in some way be in the purely actual actualizer. 41. These forms or patterns can exist either in the concrete way in which they exist in individual particular things, or in the abstract way in which they exist in the thoughts of an intellect. 42. They cannot exist in the purely actual actualizer in the same way they exist in individual particular things. 43. So, they must exist in the purely actual actualizer in the abstract way in which they exist in the thoughts of an intellect. 44. So, the purely actual actualizer has intellect or intelligence. 45. Since it is the forms or patterns of all things that are in the thoughts of this intellect, there is nothing that is outside the range of those thoughts. 46. For there to be nothing outside the range of something’s thoughts is for that thing to be ominiscient. 47. So, the purely actual actualizer is omniscient. Final Conclusion: 48. So, there exists a purely actual cause of the existence of things, which is one, immutable, eternal, immaterial, incorporeal, perfect, fully good, omnipotent, intelligent, and omniscient. 49. But for there to be such a cause of things is just what it is for God to exist. 50. So, God exists.

Was so excited to hear that Freser would be on the show! Highly reccomend his book too, very interesting and convincing.

Please have Ravi Zacharias on soon!

I was waiting for this!!!

He’s a highly intelligent guy, and a very DEEP Thinker!

David Bentley Hart would be a great guest as well.

I freaking love the Sunday specials, any guest is great

Excellent conversation. Very intellectually stimulating. Thank you

Ben you have to have him involved in your group. He is too clear and good. So good.

Feser is the Greatest Catholic philosopher, on par with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, of the twenty first century.

Him and JBP vs Sam and Dawkins..someone please make it happen

I’m still an atheist, but great show as per usual Ben.

as a non-english native speaker. This conversation was pretty heavy lol. Two super fast speakers,

very very smart person

Wow, a Ben Shapiro video favoring the existence of God that hasn't been trashed by the oh-so Intellectual atheists sitting on high chairs in Ivory towers, overlooking the common-folk, and watching Dickie Dawkins.

The part of the conversation where they talk about deriving all our information from god, verses using our information to come to the conclusion of god was a distinction I never made before hearing this. Interesting. I became an atheist around the age of 14. The force behind that shift was a realization that things may never seem the way they are. I was a North American kid. I use to believe in Santa Clause as a child. I thought he literally lived in the North Pole, with literal elves making toys. I think believe it so vividly because my parents were always very honest with me, so I just took their word on it like most things. Then I realized that the only reason I believed what I did (that there’s a human-like being that created everything and watches over us) was because my parents said so. It was that realization that changed everything. Now, after watching this video, I’ve realized that most people have an unsophisticated idea of god & atheism. Now I’m puzzled again. Why are certain ideas so difficult to grasp *sometimes for some people.* I could not show my friends this video without saying a word and expect them to derive anything from it. If maybe if I said, “you have to be a genius to understand it”, then they would pay attention. Lol. It’s probably the same reason why some things bore me. You know that feeling of being bored by something? I think I use to get bored by things that I believed will reduce my personal security & well being. I’d have to try to convince them that the information contained in this video could make their lives infinitely better.

Extraordinary talk. I just stumbled onto this and glad that I have. Thank you both.

Ed came from paying bills to making mills

Internet Troll Atheists Mobilization in 3...2...1

I’m listening to this great podcast, City of Truth on SoundCloud, that really lays out how you canreason God at every step. Takes Fesser to the next level. I’ll link it below.

sunday is indeed special with sunday special!

Bring on Scott Adams! :)

lol 5 minutes in, he tries the strategy "people who disagree with me are teen agers who know nothing." Not a lot of mystery where this will lead.

paused about 9 minutes in..... im going to re watch this when im not high as a kite XD

I read a whole book by this guy (Aristotles Revenge) before I even realised he was a Christian. I was writing a book about metaphysics, aiming to defend materialism by “naturalising” metaphysics, and I read almost every book on metaphysics I could get my hands on. Feser’s book was the most challenging to my worldview.

I never want to hear the word "unpack" again. Otherwise great.

How long into the interview till Ben brings up his wife’s a doctor? Anyone know?

Some have said that atheism isn't actually on the rise, more people are now comfortable expressing it, unlike in the past..

Super interesting. I'm glad I found this.

uncle ed coming strong !