A Serious Academic Text

This is a not a popular-level book; it’s a serious academic text. I honestly wasn’t expecting such a robust and in-depth explication of philosophical issues, especially with respect to philosophy of mind and epistemology. Anyone who completes this book will have the equivalent of an introductory university course under their belt.

JP Moreland really shines in the many chapters on philosophy of mind, personal identity and dualism. His love of this topic really shows in the number of pages dedicated to defending a dualist view.

William Lane Craig supplies most of the theology toward the end of the book. Most of the content of his teaching class (Defenders) makes an appearance here, with some additional content. His treatment of the problem of evil, particularism, and the atonement are second to none, and worth the price of the book alone.

Somewhat disappointing was the relatively light overview of natural theology and the arguments for God (Kalam, Contingency, Teleological etc.). These are not the most detailed examinations and do not include many of the current objections being raised against them. I would suggest looking to Craig’s other books (particularly on the Kalam) for more in-depth analysis.

The chapters on Epistemology were top-notch and really represent the current dialogue among epistemologists. There’s a good explanation given of the history of the discipline, and then a detailed survey of the current debate. There’s an entire chapter devoted to skepticism, however I felt that Empiricism was neglected and only gets a brief mention later on in the book. Plantinga’s reformed epistemology receives a good amount of attention and critical analysis (they don’t just gush over it, it is subjected to intense scrutiny).

The basics of logic and thought are enough to bring anyone up to speed. Some readers with a history of logic or philosophy may gloss over them.

Overall, it’s an essential text for any aspiring apologist or philosopher who wants a solid education in the issues facing theism. It’s not an all-encompassing encyclopedia of philosophy, but it’s far better and more in depth than it has any right to be!

I will be purchasing a paper copy now that I’m finished the listen.

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