1932 – 2015
Richard Gale (1932–2015) was an American analytic philosopher at the University of Pittsburgh, known for rigorous critical examination of theistic arguments and the philosophy of religion. He authored influential critiques of the ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments, as well as a major study of William James. His later work, co-authored with Alexander Pruss, defended a revised cosmological argument based on the Principle of Sufficient Reason.
Authored 'On the Nature and Existence of God' (1991), a systematic critical analysis of classical theistic arguments
Co-developed with Alexander Pruss a new modal cosmological argument distinct from the ontological argument
Contributed to philosophy of time with 'The Language of Time' (1968)
Wrote 'The Divided Self of William James' (1999), a major study of pragmatism and religious experience
Distinguished between logical and causal versions of the principle of sufficient reason in modal cosmology