Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big Questions

Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I find meaning?

Life is full of big questions. The study of philosophy seeks to answer such questions. In his latest book, prolific author Vern Poythress investigates the foundations and limitations of Western philosophy, sketching a distinctly Christian approach to answering basic questions about the nature of humanity, the existence of God, the search for meaning, and the basis for morality.

For Christians eager to engage with the timeless philosophical issues that have perplexed men and women for millennia, this is the place to begin.

304 pages

Part 1: Basic Issues in Exploring Big Questions

1. The Big Questions about Life
2. The Bible as a Resource
3. Opposite Approaches to Philosophy

Part 2: Metaphysics: What Is There?

4. Inadequate Philosophies
5. Christian Metaphysics

Part 3: Perspectives

6. Introducing Perspectives
7. Multiperspectivalism
8. Perspectives on God
9. Perspectives on the World
10. Perspectives through Language
11. Implications for Theology

Part 4: Examples of Metaphysical Analysis

12. Metaphysics of an Apple
13. Metaphysics of Walking
14. Metaphysics of a Bookmark
15. Perspectives in Combination

Part 5: Other Subdivisions of Philosophy

16. Ethics
17. Epistemology
18. The Soul, the Mind, and Psychology
19. Logic
20. Aesthetics
21. Specialized Branches of Philosophy

Part 6: Interacting with Defective Philosophies

22. The Challenge of Philosophies
23. Immanuel Kant
24. Edmund Husserl
25. Analytic Philosophy

Appendix A: Cosmonomic Philosophy
Appendix B: Perspectives on the Trinity
Appendix C: The Structure of a Bookmark

“In the author’s characteristically judicious and winsome fashion, this volume makes a timely and welcome contribution to the age-old debate on the relationship between Christian theology and philosophy. In doing so it provides a resolute and compelling case that the basic questions philosophy asks find their fundamental answers only in the Bible, God’s written Word. In the midst of so much current confused thinking on these matters, I commend Redeeming Philosophy to all concerned with ‘taking every thought captive to obey Christ.’”
—Richard B. Gaffin Jr., Emeritus Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary

“Poythress has again gotten it right. This book contains a great deal of fresh thinking and careful Christian philosophical work. This is Poythress’s clearest integration between linguistics, philosophy, and exegesis. Surely this book contains the most incisive analyses of apples and bookmarks that you will ever find. The point, of course, is that everything in God’s world reflects the richness of the triune God.”
—John M. Frame, Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Matters of philosophy are often complex and laden with challenging issues. Christians wonder whether they should avoid philosophy altogether and simply stick with the Bible or if there is something that can be gained from philosophical study. Employing the theological methodology of John Frame, Dr. Poythress has written a useful introductory exploration of the relationship between philosophy and the teachings of Scripture.”
—J. V. Fesko, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Westminster Seminary California