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Classical Theism: New Essays on the Metaphysics of God
This volume provides a contemporary account of classical theism. It features 17 original essays from leading scholars that advance the discussion of classical theism in new and interesting directions.
It’s safe to say that classical theism—the view that God is simple, omniscient, and the greatest possible being—is no longer the assumed view in analytic philosophy of religion. It is often dismissed as being rooted in outdated metaphysical systems of the sort advanced by ancient and medieval philosophers. The main purpose of this volume is to provide a contemporary account of what classical theism is and to advance the scholarly discussion about classical theism. In Section I, the contributors offer a clear and cutting-edge account of the nature and existence of the God and the historical and theological foundations of classical theism. Section II contains chapters on a variety of topics, such as whether classical theism’s doctrine of simplicity needs revision, whether simplicity is compatible with the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, and whether the hypothesis of a multiplicity of divine ideas is consistent with divine simplicity, among others.
Classical Theism will appeal to scholars and advanced students in the philosophy of religion who are interested in the nature of God.
Chapters 2 and 6 of this book are freely available as downloadable Open Access PDFs at under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
It’s safe to say that classical theism—the view that God is simple, omniscient, and the greatest possible being—is no longer the assumed view in analytic philosophy of religion. It is often dismissed as being rooted in outdated metaphysical systems of the sort advanced by ancient and medieval philosophers. The main purpose of this volume is to provide a contemporary account of what classical theism is and to advance the scholarly discussion about classical theism. In Section I, the contributors offer a clear and cutting-edge account of the nature and existence of the God and the historical and theological foundations of classical theism. Section II contains chapters on a variety of topics, such as whether classical theism’s doctrine of simplicity needs revision, whether simplicity is compatible with the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, and whether the hypothesis of a multiplicity of divine ideas is consistent with divine simplicity, among others.
Classical Theism will appeal to scholars and advanced students in the philosophy of religion who are interested in the nature of God.
Chapters 2 and 6 of this book are freely available as downloadable Open Access PDFs at under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 11, 2024
This collection of essays by various others, most of whom are arguing for classical theism, is an intermediate-advanced level defense of classical theism worth considering for any serious student of theology proper. Largely neo-scholastic and Thomistic in orientation.
August 4, 2023
Did not read the essays on Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, or Essence-Energies distinction because I am not interested in religions other than Catholic Christianity.
The essays were good.
The essays were good.
March 10, 2023
Very good, one of the best books I've read in a while. Some essays are better than others, but the essays from Koons, Pruss, Thomaszweski, Rogers, and Spencer were all great. I disagree with Rogers in particular, but still a good essay that details her view.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews