An Introduction to Philosophy: A Christian Guide to the Things that Really Matter

by Steven B. Sherman, Richard A. Holland, Gary S. Osmundsen, Peter J. Rasor

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310111733
Publisher:	Zondervan Academic
Publication date:	03/18/2025
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	1.00(w) x 1.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Steven B. Sherman (Ph D, 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. (Ph D, 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 (Ph D, 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 Th M in theology and Ph D in philosophy from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY).

Table of Contents

I. Part 1 Introduction [Authors: GO, RH, MC, PR, and SBS] 1. Why does philosophy matter? Wisdom for our time [Author: GO] 2. Why the rise of anxiety and depression in the world? Critical thinking and intellectual virtues can help us think and live better [GO] 3. Where and when did philosophy begin? A brief history of its timeline and masterminds [PR] 4. What is philosophy exactly? The big picture and its interrelated parts [GO] 5. What is hermeneutics (philosophical, theological, and biblical)? Factors shaping our beliefs and interpretations [SBS] II. Logic, Reasoning and Arguments: Moving beyond mere opinions and sound bites [RH] 6. What is logic, and what are arguments? [RH] 7. What is deductive reasoning? [RH] 8. What is inductive reasoning? [RH] 9. What are informal fallacies and how can they be avoided? [RH] III. Epistemology: What, how, and why we can know [GO and SBS] 10. What are some epistemic goods? Knowledge, understanding and wisdom [GO] 11. Are we all living in the Matrix? The challenge of epistemic skepticism and disagreement [GO] 12. What is religious epistemology and theological knowledge? Perceiving and knowing God [GO and SBS] IV. Metaphysics: What things exist? What is the mind? Do we have free will? [GO] 13. Existence and ultimate reality: What exists and what doesn’t? [GO] 14. The mind-body problem: What’s the problem? [GO] 15. Free will and determinism: Can I really do whatever I want to do? [GO and PR] V. Philosophy and science: Complementary and conflicting [PR] 16. What is philosophy of science? Different theories lead to different conclusions [PR] 17. What is scientism? Impoverished, self-refuting, materialistic theory of everything [PR] VI. Philosophy of religion and philosophical theology: The relation between philosophy and faith [PR and SBS] 18. What is philosophy of religion? Studying faiths, beliefs, and their claims [PR] 19. What is philosophical theology? Beginning with God . . . then using philosophical categories and language [SBS] VII. Ethics: What we should be and what we should do [PR, RH, MC, and SBS] 20. What is ethics all about? Are ethics and morals the same thing? Theories, controversies and dilemmas. [RH and PR] 21. What’s unique about theological (particularly, Christian) ethics and morals? A world(view) of difference [RH, MC, and SS] VIII. Applying ethical theory to specific moral situations: Bioethics, sexual ethics, and technology ethics [MC, SBS, and Others] 22. What is bioethics? . . . Matters of life and death [MC] 23. What is sexual ethics? . . . Matters of sexuality, identity, and gender [MC and SBS] 24. What about other types of ethics? Media, social media, political, business, environmental, and more [SBS and others] 25. How should hot-button ethical issues be answered? Essential intellectual and moral virtues and ultimate authority [MC, SBS, and others] IX. Meaning of life: What really matters most and why [GO and others] 26. What does philosophy have to say about life’s meaning and purpose? More than meets the eye [GO and others] 27. What is a Christian philosophy of life—its meaning and purpose? “Find your purpose” is more than just a motto [GO and others]