Metaphysics /

Van Inwagen (Univ. of Notre Dame) examines the main problems in metaphysics as that field is understood in contemporary analytic philosophy. Organized topically, this volume offers discussions of God, minds, free will, time, individuality, and more. The author occasionally introduces figures from the history of philosophy (e.g., in his discussion of J. M. E. McTaggart's views on time), but the book's focus is on the current state of understanding of these issues. Additionally, Van Inwagen critically analyzes the positions that developed in response to these problems and the arguments offered for them. Some changes were made to this fourth edition but none so significant that a library need acquire the new edition if it already owns a previous one. However, Metaphysics is a very helpful introduction to a difficult area in philosophy, and any library that does not have this book should get it. Most of the material will be familiar to faculty who specialize in analytic metaphysics, but the clarity of the writing makes this volume extremely useful to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and those faculty who are interested in these issues but have only a passing acquaintance with them. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty. --Mark A. Michael, Austin Peay State University