A FAITHFUL GUIDE TO PHILOSOPHY
A Christian introduction to the love of wisdom
By Peter S. Williams
Paternoster. 439 pages. £13.99
ISBN 978 1 842 278 116
Peter S. Williams has provided an accessible Christian introduction to what can be an intimidating subject.
In four parts he walks the reader along the most frequently trodden paths of philosophical discussion. In part one he outlines the relationship between philosophy and faith, and traces the components of good and bad arguments. In part two he presents five common arguments for God – cosmological, teleological, moral, ontological, and arguments from religious experience. In part three he addresses some of the thornier issues around consciousness and liberty. In the final part, Williams addresses aesthetics, science, and the problem of evil.
What it says on the tin
This book does what it says on the tin. It has clearly-written introductions to the big philosophical issues and would be a good resource to pull off the shelves for research or teaching purposes. Perhaps most useful are the extensive bibliographies. Throughout, and at the end of each chapter, there is a combination of recommended resources including YouTube clips, films, online lectures, articles, books and much besides. These alone merit the very reasonable price of the book. One particular highlight was his discussion of methodological naturalism and scientism. These issues were clearly presented and cogently engaged with. One disappointment was the treatment of freedom and responsibility. Compatibilism was caricatured and then dismissed, and something akin to William Lane Craig’s Middle Knowledge was offered instead. Williams quotes with approval Paul Copan, who states that God’s knowledge of future actions does not hinder future action, as knowing and bringing about are distinct. In humans that is true, but as a statement regarding the divine will it denies divine simplicity. As a fan of Jonathan Edwards I thought this section was lacking in critical engagement. This quibble aside, I would recommend this book as a solid one-stop shop for those wishing to be introduced to philosophical discussion.
