Metaphysics: A Basic Introduction in a Christian Key

by Donald Wallenfang

What is metaphysics? Metaphysics: A Basic Introduction in a Christian Key gives a simplified answer to this daunting question. Born under the shadow of the Parthenon by Aristotle and his contemporaries, metaphysics eventually enjoyed its heyday in the medieval era and is finding a resurgence today in modernity. This book explores the perennial question of being and its uptake in the world of Christian theology. Donald Wallenfang leads the reader through five navigable chapters that feature the most basic themes of metaphysics: the question of being, first principles, causality, cosmology, and morality. The abstract tendencies of metaphysics are brought down to earth with reference to the gospel of Jesus and the relevance of metaphysics for daily living. Altogether, the reader will be inspired to think toward the whole by asking questions that penetrate beneath the surface of things. Beauty, truth, and goodness will be unveiled to the degree that we accompany Jesus the metaphysician along his itinerary of being given.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy

154 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2019

Reviews

[Andrew]

I thoroughly enjoyed this - even those bits I didn't understand were somehow enjoyable as the language reached to something inviting and beyond.

It's a worthwhile read in that classical metaphysics is a (or even, in some cases, the) philosophical component of the milieu around the formation of much theology and indeed the intellectual world of the New Testament. Apart from that, I just find the propositions of metaphysics to be fascinating - regardless of whether they become (or are) part of my own personal worldview. My favourite part was the chapter on Being. I always find talk of being and becoming really exciting.

My only real complaint is that Wallenfang is intent on keying things in with some specifically Catholic doctrine, but that's not too much of an issue.

He's an excellent writer who is aware of the connotations and in-built historical roots of words (skilled in the art of languaging), and as I say, I often got enjoyably lost in the language. Bits like this:

"Being is dynamic, beginning with spiritual being. Spirit gives being. Spirit orders and orchestrates being. Spirit moves and forms being. It is no coincidence that cognate meanings of spirit are wind and breath (ruach; pneuma; spiritus), for wind signifies the power of motion and breath connotes life.

...

Subjective spiritual being refers to the person (noun) who persons (verb); it refers to the personal spirit (noun) who spirits (verb)—the personal spiritual being who respires (breathes), inspires (motivates), perspires (works), aspires (intellectualizes), conspires (collaborates), and expires (gives to the point of abandonment) in relation to other beings."

And things like this, which seem so inviting, even if elusive:

"Spirit is that which investigates matter from a zero point of personal orientation from the inside out."

And:

"Divine revelation exceeds ontology by unveiling the interpersonal reason for being that describes the essence of eternal being: love."

Grasp that! I love that kind of challenge, especially when it contains so many wonderful, concept-rich words.

Looking forward to reading his book on Phenomenology in the future.

[Andrew Talbert]

Wallenfang does well to outline first philosophy- structurally sound. The end also draws together a number of threads on the transcendentals, freedom, and being for morality. His points for meditation on morality are spot on and his description of eternal law, Being, and the Good are excellent. Nevertheless, his filling out of the content, especially for beginners, is not clear. It seems his initial description does not match with his actual practice (and later description) of a contemplative metaphysics. In terms of niggling details, there are a host of illustrations that lack explanation or clear connection to the content (are we to contemplate until we arrive at a connection? Does the image of an archer appear because he discusses the word “archē” even though archer is a Latin root word?)- ultimately they detract from the work; additionally, he frequently includes parenthetical foreign terms which sometimes receive clarification within the context, but other times need some elaboration from Heidegger. I am grateful for his structure, maybe if I had begun with a different genre expectation I would have enjoyed it better, though, in all fairness, I’m a Maritain man.

[Graham Hoppstock]

There are some things I really don’t like about this book like his preposterous metaphysical defense of the immaculate conception. That being said, it is the best intro to metaphysics I’ve read because it actually desires to think metaphysically and purely instead of simply dealing in the topical concerns of 20th century analytic philosophy.

[G.R. Vickers]

Overall, decent. But better titled Christianity in a Metaphysical key. Heavy handed use of parentheses along with some other minor but consistent grammatical annoyances.