Prelude to Philosophy: An Introduction for Christians

by Mark Foreman

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2017

Overview

"The unexamined life is not worth living," according to Socrates, but pursuing the examined life strikes many as daunting, unappealing and even unnecessary. Is philosophy important? Why do I need philosophy if I have the Bible? Aren't philosophers simply engaged in meaningless disputes that are irrelevant to everyday life? Mark Foreman addresses these and other questions in this "prelude" to the subject. Unlike a full introduction to philosophy, this book is a preliminary discussion that dispels misunderstandings and explains the rationale for engaging in philosophical reasoning. In the first half of the book, Foreman defines the task of philosophy, compares it to other disciplines and demonstrates its practical value to Christians interested in developing a more thoughtful faith. The second half introduces the reader to logic and argumentation, the essential tools of a philosopher. Concise and straightforward, Prelude to Philosophy is a guide for those looking to embark on the "examined life."

Contents

Top Highlights

“Philosophy is the critical examination of our foundational beliefs concerning the nature of reality, knowledge and truth, and our moral and social values.” (Page 24)

“A philosophical mindset is an attitude or approach to life that involves regularly examining beliefs to ascertain what they mean, whether they are true and what value they have.” (Page 52)

“Propositional knowledge, as the name implies, consists of beliefs that can be formulated and conveyed in propositions.” (Page 47)

“A second-order discipline is a field that studies the methods and presuppositions of first-order disciplines.” (Page 31)

“A normative claim makes a claim about some action persons ought to do.” (Pages 21–22)

Product Details

• Title: Prelude to Philosophy: An Introduction for Christians
• Author: Mark Foreman
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2017
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Christian philosophy; Philosophie chrétienne; Philosophie › Introductions; Philosophy; Philosophy › Introductions; Textbooks
• ISBNs: 9780830896608, 0830896600
• Resource ID: LLS:WS_6502F6BE3CEB432CBC5290DE37CA75FF
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T04:11:28Z