Philosophy
A Christian Introduction
About
Two experienced educators offer an up-to-date introduction to philosophy from a Christian perspective that covers the four major areas of philosophical thought: epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and ethics. Written from an analytic perspective, the book introduces key concepts and issues within the main areas of philosophical inquiry in a comprehensive yet accessible way, inviting readers on a quest for goodness, truth, and beauty that ultimately points to Jesus as the source of all.
Contents
1. Introduction to Philosophy
Part 1: Epistemology
2. Truth and Knowledge
3. Justification and Reformed Epistemology
4. Skepticism, Certainty, and Virtue Epistemology
5. Faith, Reason, and Modern Science
6. Natural Revelation and Natural Theology
Part 2: Metaphysics
7. The Nature of Reality
8. Properties and Universals
9. Particulars
10. Freedom and Determinism
11. Minds, Bodies, and Human Persons
Part 3: Philosophy of Religion
12. The Existence of God
13. Evil and the Hiddenness of God
14. Divine Interaction: Miracles and Prayer
15. The Possibility of Life after Death
Part 4: Ethics
16. Metaethics
17. Normative Ethics
Glossary of Terms
Indexes
Endorsements
"Dew and Gould's Philosophy: A Christian Introduction is a stunning success. Thoroughly researched and interacting with the best thinkers on the topics within the book's purview, Dew and Gould have given us a work that can be trusted in its treatment of these topics. Moreover, the selection of subject matter is excellent for an introductory text. But the real contribution of this book is the clarity and accessibility of its content. This is my first choice for anyone who wants a readable, solid introduction to Christian philosophy."
J. P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University; author of Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology
"If you're a Christian student studying philosophy, this is the book you've been waiting for. If you're a professor teaching philosophy in a Christian university, college, or seminary, this is the book you'll want to assign. Beautifully organized and clearly written, Dew and Gould have produced an informative, inspiring introduction to philosophy that is at once uncompromisingly philosophical and unapologetically Christian."
Richard Brian Davis, professor and chair of philosophy, Tyndale University
"Well informed and up to date, this is a highly accessible introduction to the core ideas and latest developments in epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and ethics. Especially valuable is Dew and Gould's even-handed treatment of the current controversies on nominalism versus realism, physicalism versus dualism, and naturalism versus theism in metaethics."
Angus Menuge, professor of philosophy, Concordia University Wisconsin
"Philosophy: A Christian Introduction serves as a timely clarion call to contemporary evangelicals to recapture the vital role philosophy has played throughout the Christian tradition. Drawing on a deep well of experience teaching philosophy in Christian college and seminary contexts, Dew and Gould are well positioned to construct a comprehensive and up-to-date introductory guide to the core areas of philosophy in the analytic tradition. Seeing philosophy as the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom for the sake of flourishing, Dew and Gould wisely avoid two common yet overly restrictive views of the nature of philosophy among evangelical Christians today. They avoid ascribing mere instrumental value to philosophy as an aid in the task of evangelism and cultural witness while also managing to sidestep the equally pernicious error that Christian philosophers can properly pursue their craft without reference to the cultivation of moral and intellectual virtue. The book offers a compelling retrieval of a classical Christian vision of the philosophical life as the pursuit of the true, the good, and the beautiful; a must read for a new generation of Christian philosophers!"
Ross D. Inman, associate professor of philosophy, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Authors
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James K. Dew Jr.
James K. Dew Jr. (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; PhD, University of Birmingham) is president and professor of philosophy at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He previously taught at Southeastern...
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Palm Beach Atlantic University Paul M. Gould
Paul M. Gould (PhD, Purdue University) is associate professor of philosophy and director of the philosophy of religion master's program at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the founder and president of the Two Tasks...
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Reviews
"Exceptionally well organized and presented. . . . Very highly recommended for community, college, university, and seminary library collections."
Midwest Book Review