A Little Book for New Philosophers: Why and How to Study Philosophy

What’s the point of studying philosophy when we have theology? Is philosophy anything more than a preparation for apologetics? Often called ＂theology’s handmaid,＂ philosophy has sometimes suffered from an inferiority complex in the church. Many Christians see little point in it at all. But as Paul Copan contends, it is possible to affirm theology’s preeminence without diminishing the value and contribution of philosophy. In A Little Book for New Philosophers, Copan offers a concise introduction to the study of philosophy. Aimed at newcomers, this brief overview is both a survey of philosophy’s basic aims and categories and an apology for its proper function in the life of the Christian. ＂By God’s grace,＂ Copan writes, ＂philosophy can enhance our understanding and worship of God . . . and assist us in defending the coherence of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.＂

Paul Copan is the Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He is the coauthor of Creation out of Nothing: A Biblical, Philosophical and Scientific Exploration and The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas, and coeditor of Holy War in the Bible.