Suggested Readings on Epistemology
I was recently asked to suggest reading lists on (1) epistemology in general, (2) religious epistemology, and (3) Reformed presuppositional/Van Tilian/
I think the following books should get you up to speed on contemporary epistemology in general (and religious epistemology more specifically):
- Robert Audi, Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (3rd ed.)
- Ernest Sosa et al, eds., Epistemology: An Anthology (2nd ed.)
- Matthias Steup et al, eds., Contemporary Debates in Epistemology (2nd ed.)
- William Alston, Perceiving God
- Alvin Plantinga, Warrant: The Current Debate, Warrant and Proper Function, and Warranted Christian Belief
- Richard Swinburne, Epistemic Justification
- John M. DePoe & Tyler McNabb, eds., Debating Christian Religious Epistemology
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has many helpful articles on topics in epistemology, but start with these:
Kelly James Clark’s article “Religious Epistemology” in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides a good overview of the contemporary landscape (along with a helpful bibliography).
On Reformed presuppositional/Van Tilian/Framean epistemology, I recommend the following for starters:
- Cornelius Van Til, The Defense of the Faith (4th ed., esp. chapters 1-3)
- Cornelius Van Til, An Introduction to Systematic Theology (2nd ed.)
- Cornelius Van Til, A Christian Theory of Knowledge (2023 reprint edition)
- John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God
- John M. Frame, Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought (esp. chapters 4-17)
- Greg L. Bahnsen, Van Til’s Apologetic: Readings and Analysis (esp. chapters 4-6)
- Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., “Some Epistemological Reflections on 1 Cor 2:6-16”
- K. Scott Oliphint, “Epistemology and Christian Belief”
- James D. Baird, “Analogical Knowledge: A Systematic Interpretation of Cornelius Van Til’s Theological Epistemology”
In the opening chapters the authors set out their vision for Christian philosophy. Foundational to this vision is the doctrine of creation; thus philosophy is “the attempt to discern the structure or order of creation, and to describe systematically what is subject to that order.” From this base, the authors discuss the importance of philosophy for various elements of the Christian mission: apologetics, practical ethics, cultural engagement, and Christian scholarship. They reflect on the relationship between faith and philosophy, focusing on the concept of a worldview, grounded in the biblical metanarrative, which plays “a vital mediating role between Scripture and philosophy.” A worldview is unavoidable, and while a worldview is not equivalent to a philosophy, it can be “developed into” a philosophy.
Every so often a scientific study appears purporting to show an inverse correlation between intelligence and religiosity; in other words, the smarter you are, the less likely you are to be religious. The latest offering is