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Problems in Epistemology and Metaphysics: An Introduction to Contemporary Debates
Problems in Epistemology and Metaphysics takes a pro and con approach to two central philosophical topics.
Each chapter begins with a question: Can We Have Knowledge? How are Beliefs Justified? What is the mind? Contemporary philosophers with opposing viewpoints are then paired together to argue their position and raise problems with conflicting standpoints. Alongside an up-to-date introduction to a core philosophical stance, each contributor provides a critical response to their opponent and clear explanation of their view.
Discussion questions are included at the end of each chapter to guide further discussion.
With chapters covering core questions surrounding religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, truth, being and reality, this is a comprehensive introduction to debates lying at the heart of what we know, how we know it and the nature of the world we live in.
Each chapter begins with a question: Can We Have Knowledge? How are Beliefs Justified? What is the mind? Contemporary philosophers with opposing viewpoints are then paired together to argue their position and raise problems with conflicting standpoints. Alongside an up-to-date introduction to a core philosophical stance, each contributor provides a critical response to their opponent and clear explanation of their view.
Discussion questions are included at the end of each chapter to guide further discussion.
With chapters covering core questions surrounding religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, truth, being and reality, this is a comprehensive introduction to debates lying at the heart of what we know, how we know it and the nature of the world we live in.
- GenresPhilosophy
416 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2020
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About the author
Steven B. Cowan
60 books17 followersSteven B. Cowan (M.Div.; Ph.D.) is the Jim Young Professor of Religion and Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Louisiana College in Pineville, La.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 2, 2026
I love the idea behind these kinds of books: experts in different subdisciplines of philosophy present and defend different positions on particular topics, interacting with one another in a constructive and informative manner. Thereby showing the rest of us how the topics can be engaged with productively.
Why the low score then? There are two reasons. First, the contributions by different authors vary considerably in their quality: some chapters are highly readable and well argued (whether you agree with their conclusions or not), others much less so. Second, some odd choices made by the editor. Theology is very much overrepresented in this book, appearing time and again, often entirely unnecessarily. Of course, there is overlap between philosophy and theology, mostly within the philosophy of religion. But if this book is meant to be representative of contemporary debates in modern epistemology and metaphysics, then theology should make little or (more likely) no appearance at all. The worst offense on this front appears in chapter 6 (Are Scientific Explanations Limited to Natural Causes?) in which we find an author (Bruce L. Gordon) defending Intelligent Design Theory (ID)! Needless to say, ID is not a topic that any significant portion of philosophers or scientists take seriously, so its inclusion is something of an embarrassment. Indeed, ID is widely derided as pseudoscience. As such, you are only slightly more likely to find serious discussion of ID in philosophy as you are in a biology textbook. Yet the editor saw fit to include it as part of philosophy's "Contemporary Debates". It also turns out that Bruce L. Gordon is affiliated with the Discovery Institute, an organisation that promotes Creationism, climate change denial, and doubtless other nonsense. Again, this is an embarrassing inclusion. I am not sure what the editor was thinking.
Many serious authors did contribute to this volume. However, due to the exceptionally poor quality of some chapters (not just chapter 6), I cannot in good conscience rate the book anything other than 1 out of 5 stars.
Why the low score then? There are two reasons. First, the contributions by different authors vary considerably in their quality: some chapters are highly readable and well argued (whether you agree with their conclusions or not), others much less so. Second, some odd choices made by the editor. Theology is very much overrepresented in this book, appearing time and again, often entirely unnecessarily. Of course, there is overlap between philosophy and theology, mostly within the philosophy of religion. But if this book is meant to be representative of contemporary debates in modern epistemology and metaphysics, then theology should make little or (more likely) no appearance at all. The worst offense on this front appears in chapter 6 (Are Scientific Explanations Limited to Natural Causes?) in which we find an author (Bruce L. Gordon) defending Intelligent Design Theory (ID)! Needless to say, ID is not a topic that any significant portion of philosophers or scientists take seriously, so its inclusion is something of an embarrassment. Indeed, ID is widely derided as pseudoscience. As such, you are only slightly more likely to find serious discussion of ID in philosophy as you are in a biology textbook. Yet the editor saw fit to include it as part of philosophy's "Contemporary Debates". It also turns out that Bruce L. Gordon is affiliated with the Discovery Institute, an organisation that promotes Creationism, climate change denial, and doubtless other nonsense. Again, this is an embarrassing inclusion. I am not sure what the editor was thinking.
Many serious authors did contribute to this volume. However, due to the exceptionally poor quality of some chapters (not just chapter 6), I cannot in good conscience rate the book anything other than 1 out of 5 stars.
Displaying 1 of 1 review