In part 3 of the above book, the authors look at the essence of reality and how it relates to human existence and philosophy. They contend that reality has objective properties apart from human awareness and is not merely the result of personal understanding. The philosophers begin by analyzing various doctrines of reality, including monism, Plotinus, and pluralism (Geisler & Feinberg, 2005). The theorists first examine the reasons for monism before exploring pluralistic viewpoints that aim to make sense of reality’s apparent diversity and the underlying union. Therefore, this section will discuss Part Three of the book, which explores some of the most fundamental logical questions, such as, what reality is, and if there are many truths or just one. Consequently, the writers analyze a few pluralistic aspects that attempt to balance reality’s clear distinction and the arguments for and against monism. In addition, the theoreticians are making an effort to respond to theology, metaphysics, the rule of law, and the problem of free will.
The third part examines metaphysics and the essence of existence. The thorough exposition of the concepts of truth would be very beneficial in this area. The early Greek philosopher Parmenides is regarded as the archetypal figure of monism in the West (Robinson, 2019). Examining his case for the unity of all reality shows the monism stance and discusses the counterarguments available to those who dissent. One of Parmenides’ objections to monism is that reality can only be one or many. If reality is multifaceted, then each component of existence must be unique. Other Philosophers, such as Zeno, argue that if reality is multifaceted, it can be segmented. However, philosophers have yet to consider Zeno’s arguments for several reasons. Moreover, as Zeno implies, one need not believe that (all) reality is divided by arithmetic.
According to the strict definition of monism, there is only one being in the universe. Every single object has a single essence. There is only identification; there is no diversity in being. According to rigorous definitions of pluralism, there are numerous beings, and beings are fundamentally multifarious. Any unity these entities have is secondary to and predicated on their distinct and complex lifestyles (Gupta, 2018). Religious folks, particularly Christian theists, contend that the universe contains a fundamental unity and a true diversity of beings. Theists who practice Christianity do not believe that being is always and everywhere identical. Though not identical, beings are akin to one another. However, there is a unity of being because God is the source of every other being’s existence.
The most significant philosophical implications are related to the straightforward and essential question of man’s nature. The response to this query affects ethics, theology, metaphysics, and the rule of law. There is still debate in philosophy over the issue of the mind and body. Some philosophers have yet to attempt to demonstrate that it is not a genuine issue. There have been numerous suggested solutions, but they must be more clearly preferable on strictly philosophical grounds (Auten, 2019). Most modern philosophers of mind subscribe to some symbolic interaction, initial and ongoing, or identity theory while acknowledging that each perspective has drawbacks. Several of the arguments are difficult for readers to comprehend. This makes reading the book even more challenging. The novel demands careful consideration. A few areas are difficult to understand since they demand philosophical questions without solutions.
The problem of free will is among the most significant yet contentious philosophical concerns that Philosophers must address. It should be underlined once more that our solution has implications for ethics, law, theology, and metaphysics. Hard determinism subscribes to the communication and general theory, according to which freedom and determinism cannot coexist. Everything is determined to be what it is because of previous circumstances, whether known or unknown. Everything, including every cause, is a result of a particular cause or set of causes. This type of determinism has drawn much criticism since it contradicts the popularly accepted human assumption that at least certain human activities are free.
The subject of eternity is fascinating for a philosopher to consider. The current existence’s body-mind interdependence proves nothing regarding the circumstances of a future existence. Humans would need to observe that future existence in order to draw any conclusions. The circumstances there are unique from those encountered in this life. The philosophers are interested in the essence of reality and man and curious about how each of humanity recognizes the existence of other minds and beings with similar minds to individuals’ own. Philosophers have long used the analogy argument to back up our conviction that there are other minds at work. Nonetheless, this claim has faced some severe challenges in modern philosophy.
This chapter has looked at the resemblance argument, which is the most frequently used justification for the presence of other minds. The analogy’s reasoning has received much criticism in modern philosophy, but it still seems to be as valid as any of the alternatives. It certainly has its critics, but its arguments must be more compelling. Christianity forbids philosophers from embracing any notion of truth that leads to either materialism or secular humanism. A man might know the truth, and according to the Bible, man will be held accountable for that understanding. As a result of the preceding discussion, it can be concluded that, although the above-discussed book presents a Christian viewpoint, it has failed to acknowledge other philosophers who have contributed immensely to the same field.
References
Auten, B. (2019). Book review: Introduction to philosophy by Norman Geisler and Paul Feinberg. Apologetics315. Web.
Geisler, N. L., & Feinberg, P. D. (2005). Introduction to philosophy: A Christian perspective. Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Gupta, N. R. (2018). Book review: Introduction to philosophy: A Christian perspective by Norman L. Geisler and Paul D. Feinberg. Christos Express. Web.
Robinson, H. (2019). Dualism (E. N. Zalta, Ed.). Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy; metaphysics research lab, Stanford University. Web.