Moreland and Craig’s Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview is an outstanding undergraduate text introducing topics in first philosophy and how they relate to Christian thought. First philosophy, the area in philosophy dealing with the subjects of metaphysics, epistemology and ethics, dates back to Plato and Aristotle.

Moreland’s specialties lie in the areas of metaphysics and philosophy of science, while Craig’s specialties lie in the areas of God and time, philosophy of religion and philosophical theology. The arguments in the text utilize the latest research in their respective areas, and give a particular point of view for academic integration (rather than discussing several options for integration and picking one). Because of the latter, some readers may disagree with the opinions summarized in the text, but at a minimum these positions will produce fodder for further thinking.

Several sections deserve special mention. In particular, the philosophy of religion section has excellently updated arguments on the existence of God, the problem of evil, and the coherence of the divine attributes. These are areas on which Craig has researched and published extensively. The section on philosophy of science (Moreland’s contribution, except for chapter 18, which is undoubtedly Craig's) is another outstanding section which describes extensively how science is done, whether a particular methodology can demarcate science from other disciplines, and how all of this relates to Christian thought. In addition, Moreland's section on metaphysics is detailed and well-argued, dealing with general ontology, the mind-body problem, free will and determinism, and life after death.

The book overall is an outstanding addition to a philosophical library, and is quite unique in that it uses the latest philosophical arguments to support the Christian worldview. It also surveys disciplines such as ethics and epistemology and relates these areas to Christian thought. A vital tome for any scholar who desires to examine the philosophical presuppositions in her field of study and how they might relate to academic integration, as well as an interesting text on relating philosophy to theology.

Winner of a 2004 Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association Gold Medallion Award.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I  Introduction

1. What is Philosophy?

2. Argumentation and Logic

Part II  Epistemology

3. Knowledge and Rationality

4. The Problem of Skepticism

5. The Structure of Justification

6. Theories of Truth and Postmodernism

7. Religious Epistemology

Part III  Metaphysics

8. What is Metaphysics?

9. General Ontology: Existence, Identity and Reductionism

10. General Ontology: Two Categories—Property and Substance

11. The Mind-Body Problem: Dualism

12. The Mind-Body Problem: Alternatives to Dualism

13. Free Will and Determinism

14. Personal Identity and Life After Death

Part IV  Philosophy of Science

15. Scientific Methodology

16. The Realism-Antirealism Debate

17. Philosophy and the Integration of Science and Theology

18. Philosophy of Time and Space

Part V  Ethics

19. Ethics, Morality, and Metaethics

20. Ethical Relativism and Absolutism

21. Normative Ethical Theories: Egoism and Utilitarianism

22. Normative Ethical Theories: Deontological and Virtue Ethics

Part VI  Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology

23. The Existence of God (I)

24. The Existence of God (II)

25. The Coherence of Theism (I)

26. The Coherence of Theism (II)

27. The Problem of Evil

28. Creation, Providence and Miracle

29. Christian Doctrines (I): The Trinity

30. Christian Doctrines (II): The Incarnation

31. Christian Doctrines (II): Christian Particularism

Reviewed by: Mark Hansard