An Introduction to Philosophy
Description
Designed for students in Christian colleges and seminaries, An Introduction to Philosophy surveys the four main areas of philosophy - logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics - in an accessible and engaging manner. Yet, it also covers important topics sometimes left unaddressed in introductions, including:
- why philosophy matters in our day
- critical thinking and intellectual virtue
- a brief history of philosophy
- philosophical hermeneutics
- the relationship between philosophy, faith, and worldview
- religious epistemology
- bioethics, sexual ethics, other types of ethics
- a Christian philosophy of life
Grounded in the Christian intellectual tradition, each chapter in An Introduction to Philosophy includes student-friendly features such as chapter summaries, explanatory sidebars, reflection questions, vocabulary words and definitions, and suggestions for further reading. Professors and students will find it to be a broad and useful overview, perfect for undergraduate and seminary students alike.
About the Authors
Steven B. Sherman (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is associate professor of philosophy at Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ). Steve has taught philosophy, apologetics, ethics, theology, hermeneutics, and world religion courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He and Lynn enjoy being desert dwellers and bi-coastal travelers, regularly visiting family, friends, and national parks.
Richard A. Holland, Jr. (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is currently serving as assistant professor of philosophy at Grand Canyon University. Since 2008, Rich has taught various courses including philosophy of religion, ethics, epistemology, and Christian apologetics at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels, at both public and private universities. He and his family live in Goodyear, Arizona.
Gary S. Osmundsen (PhD, University of Oklahoma) is a professor of philosophy at Grand Canyon University. Since 2008, he has taught various undergraduate courses in philosophy—specifically, logic, introduction to philosophy, critical reasoning, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. He and his wife Julie live in Phoenix, Arizona with their four children.
Peter J. Rasor II is presently the Senior Pastor of Lilburn Christian Church in Lilburn, GA, and teaches philosophy adjunctly at Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) and Bethel University (Mishawaka, IN). He previously served as assistant professor of philosophy at Grand Canyon University (2015-2023). He is co-author of Controversy of the Ages (2017) and author of the fantasy novel The Plague of Kosmon: Rise of the Seer. He holds a ThM in theology and PhD in philosophy from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY).
Table of Contents
Part 1: Introduction to Philosophy
1. Why Does Philosophy Matter?
2. Can I Control My Thought Life?
Mental Exercises for Maintaining Good Mental Hygiene
3. When and Where Did Philosophy Begin?
A Brief History of Its Timeline and Masterminds
4. What Is Philosophy Exactly?
The Big Picture and Its Interrelated Parts
5. What Is Hermeneutics?
Factors Shaping Our Beliefs and Interpretations
Part 2: Logic, Reasoning, and Arguments
6. What Is Logic, and What Are Arguments?
7. What Is Deductive Reasoning?
8. What Is Inductive Reasoning?
9. What Are Informal Fallacies?
Part 3: Epistemology
What, How, and Why We Can Know
10. What Are Some Epistemic Goods?
Truth and Knowledge
11. Are We All Living in a Virtual World?
The Challenge of Epistemic Skepticism
12.What Is Religious Epistemology?
Part 4: Metaphysics
Exploration into the Nature of Reality and Human Persons
13. What Exists and What Doesn’t?
Existence and Ultimate Reality
14. What Is a Human Person?
The Mind-Body Problem
15. Am I Doing What I Choose to Do?
Free Will and Determinism
Part 5: Philosophy and Science
Complementary and Conflicting
16.What Is Science and How Does It Work?
Its Definition, Explanation, and Interaction with Faith
17. What Is Scientism?
Part 6: Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology
The Relation between Philosophy and Faith
18. What Is Philosophy of Religion?
Studying Faiths, Beliefs, and Their Claims
19. What Is Philosophical Theology?
Beginning with God
Part 7: Ethics
Theory and Application
20. What Is Ethics All About?
21. What Is Unique about Theological Ethics?
22..What Is Bioethics?
Matters of Life and Death
23.What Is Sexual Ethics?
Matters of Sexuality, Identity, and Gender
24. What about Communication and Information Ethics?
Part 8: The Meaning of Life
25. What Does Philosophy Say about the Meaning of Life?
26. What Is a Christian Philosophy of Life?
PRAISE FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
“Clear and thorough in its treatments of the wide variety of topics in philosophy.”
—GREGORY E. GANSSLE, Biola University
“...Powerful demonstration of how faith and philosophy go together.”
—PAUL M. GOULD, Palm Beach Atlantic University
“The authors efficiently survey the primary issues in philosophy with charity, insight, and an eye toward philosophy’s relevance to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
—SANJAY MERCHANT, Moody Bible Institute
“A guide to an intellectually robust Christian faith...”
—ERIC J. SILVERMAN, Christopher Newport University
“A splendid book.”
—TIM PICKAVANCE, Biola University
“A master class in philosophy.”
—TRAVIS DICKINSON, Dallas Baptist University
“Comprehensive but accessible.”
—KEITH HESS, Oklahoma Baptist University
“An accessible, thorough, contemporary, engaging, and truly Christ-honoring on-ramp to the study of life’s most important and enduring questions.”
—JOHN Y. KWAK, Western Seminary
“From start to finish, its authors demonstrate the relevance of philosophy for perennial questions about meaning, purpose, and human flourishing, ultimately leading the mind upward to the wisdom of God in Christ.”
—JASON S. HILES, Grand Canyon University
“Illuminates the big questions of life and existence, providing a distinctly Christian guide.”
—TIMOTHY A. STRATTON, Trinity Theological Seminary
"This book is fantastic! Very thorough and deep in scope but with an easily accessible delivery for those who are brand new to the subject. Whether one is beginning a formal education in philosophy or just has a personal interest in learning about it, this book is an invaluable and essential guide."
—LANELL M. MASON, Grand Canyon University