Metaphysics /

An exceptionally lucid account of traditional metaphysical issues. Van Inwagen's approach is systematic rather than historical, although historical material is introduced, usually whenever Van Inwagen needs a foil or an example of some issue under discussion. The book is divided into three parts, in which Van Inwagen examines metaphysical problems relating to the world, God, and human beings. These sections contain discussions of the monism-pluralism debate, of the reality of the external world, of the necessary existence of God, and of the mind-body problem, among other topics. In discussing these issues Van Inwagen steers a course between dogmatism and the uncritical relativism that holds all metaphysical theories to be equally adequate and acceptable. The discussions never degenerate into obscurantism, and the book should be extremely useful to undergraduates, graduate students, and general readers who want to get a feel for the issues that trouble metaphysicians. This is one of the best overviews of metaphysics this reviewer has ever come across. A strong case could be made that if a college library collection could contain only one book on this subject, it should be Van Inwagen's Metaphysics. M. A. Michael; University of Nevada, Las Vegas