Reason, Metaphysics, and Mind: New Essays on the Philosophy of Alvin Plantinga

In May 2010, philosophers, family and friends gathered at the University of Notre Dame to celebrate the career and retirement of Alvin Plantinga, widely recognized as one of the world's leading figures in metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of religion. Plantinga has earned particular respect within the community of Christian philosophers for the pivotal role that he played in the recent renewal and development of philosophy of religion and philosophical theology. Each of the essays in this volume engages with some particular aspect of Plantinga's views on metaphysics, epistemology, or philosophy of religion. Contributors include Michael Bergman, Ernest Sosa, Trenton Merricks, Richard Otte, Peter VanInwagen, Thomas P. Flint, Eleonore Stump, Dean Zimmerman and Nicholas Wolterstorff. The volume also includes responses to each essay by Bas van Fraassen, Stephen Wykstra, David VanderLaan, Robin Collins, Raymond VanArragon, E. J. Coffman, Thomas Crisp, and Donald Smith.

"The culmination of a long and fruitful career is always something worth celebrating. But some retirement celebrations require a little something extra -- like an academic conference and a book. On May 21-23, 2010, nearly three hundred people gathered to celebrate the career and retirement of Alvin Plantinga. They gathered not only because Plantinga is world-renowned for his contribution to the fields of epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion, but also because 'Al' -- as most of the conference participants know him -- is their friend, mentor, and/or former professor. This volume is a collection of the papers presented at that conference. The topics addressed by the essays are as diverse as Plantinga's own work.... The philosophical food in this volume is so appetizing that I found myself saying, 'Please sir, I want some more.'"--Jim Beilby, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Kelly James Clark is Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College.

Michael Rea is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.

1. Introduction

2. Commonsense Skeptical Theism

3. The Varieties of Accidental Necessity

4.Singular Propositions

5.Theory Comparison in Science and Religion

6. Descartes and Virtue Epistemology

7. The Value of the Atonement

8. Causation and the Mental

9.The Providential Usefulness of 'Simple Foreknowledge'

10. Then, Now, and Al