Abstract

This is a much needed and valuable study of what the author terms the ‘classical foundations for the modern philosophical theories of religion’. By the classical foundations he means the contributions of Hume, Kant and Hegel to the study of the philosophy of religion. Professor Collins’ purpose is to show that their philosophy of religion is more than peripheral to their basic doctrine, that it is an integral part of what they regard as the philosophical enterprise. In addition he is concerned to show the common issues that emerge from this aspect of the philosophical enterprise and the challenges that it presents to a realistic theism. With some minor reservations it is our considered opinion that the author has succeeded admirably in his task and that we have here a really outstanding and scholarly study of the place and the development of a theory of religion in each of these three great modern thinkers.