Peter Van Inwagen Books

In a book that will appeal to a general audience as well as philosophers of religion, a leading metaphysician tackles fundamental theological problems in a lucid and engaging manner. Peter van Inwagen begins with a provocative new introduction exploring the question of whether a philosopher such as himself is qualified to address theological matters. The chapters that follow take up the central problem of evil in a world created and sustained by God.

The book presents a compelling argument against the notion that the existence of suffering is a valid reason to deny God's existence. Peter van Inwagen articulates a carefully reasoned perspective, asserting that belief in God can coexist with the reality of suffering. His accessible writing invites readers to reconsider the relationship between faith and the challenges of human experience, ultimately suggesting that suffering does not negate the possibility of divine presence.

This volume brings together van Inwagen's most significant essays in this major field, addressing key topics and including two entirely new chapters.

This book covers the gamut of historical and contemporary arguments of metaphysics, engaging readers through three profound questions: what are the most general features of the world, why is there a world and what is the place of human beings in the world?

In Do Numbers Exist? William Lane Craig and Peter van Inwagen take opposite sides on whether there are abstract objects, such as numbers and properties. Craig argues that there are no abstract objects, whereas Van Inwagen argues that there are.