Postmodern Metaphysics

by Christos Yannaras

Yannaras's book is an important contribution to the theology/science debate. It offers a respectable alternative to creationist resistance to materialistic evolutionism. It shows how spiritual reality transcends the categories of chance and necessity that materialists believe can explain everything. It argues passionately for the priority of relationality and reciprocity, the spiritual dimension through which we can discover God's causality and so enter into personal relation with him.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Metaphysics, Christianity

206 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2005

About the author

Christos Yannaras (Greek: Χρήστος Γιανναράς) was a Greek philosopher, Eastern Orthodox theologian and author of more than 50 books which have been translated into many languages. He was a professor emeritus of philosophy at the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens.

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

The first half of this book is a must for anyone concerned with justice, and (re?)empowering our humanity that has lost its self worth to economic injustice. The second half was a bit harder to get through, as Yannaras goes into great detail about physics (specifically, the theory of relativity)--while still emphasizing the need for personal relationships with nature.

[Matt Burget]

I don’t think I’ll read a better book this year — incredibly salient and well translated. Really tough concepts communicated clearly. Provides a critique of contemporary positivism and argues that quantum theory demands a metaphysical method to interpret existence (convincingly imo). He ends with a clear presentation of Personalism and relational ontology that is common among Eastern Orthodox thinkers since Zizioulas.