Modality, Probability, and Rationality: A Critical Examination of Alvin Plantinga's Philosophy

by James F. Sennett

This work examines several major projects in Plantinga's career, particularly as they relate to his defense of the rationality of theistic belief. Chapters are dedicated to his modal ontological argument, his free will defense, his attacks on inductive arguments from evil, and his «Reformed epistemology» program, in which he argues that theistic belief can be rational without reliance on propositional evidence. Along the way the book deals with important issues in possible worlds semantics, probability theory, and the theory of knowledge. Account is taken of Plantinga's most recent work, including his forthcoming books in epistemology. Though some portions of the work deal with technical concepts of modal and probabilistic logics, all professional philosophers and many professional theologians should find the book accessible, understandable, and informative.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1992