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Martin, Michael. Atheism, morality, and meaning. Prometheus Books, 2002. 330p index afp ISBN 1-57392-987-5 pbk, $21.00

Martin (emer., Boston Univ.) is something of a guru among those who see him as a champion of atheism. Among his best-known titles are Atheism: A Philosophical Justification (CH, Dec'90) and The Case against Christianity (CH, Jan'92). In the present volume, he sets out to defend atheism against the claim that it cannot provide a basis for morality or purposeful existence. He also aims to show that attempts to provide such a basis by means of a Christian worldview are seriously flawed. However, several impediments prevent this from being either a very inviting or successful book. First, although the formal analytical style of argument aims at logical rigor, it will seem labored, dry, and distracting to many readers. Second, despite Martin's references to a new generation of disputants, few of the arguments are new or philosophically interesting; they are tired variations on timeworn, threadbare cavils from generations ago. Third, the entire tenor of discussion betrays an uncritical acceptance of a logical empiricist frame of reference, in which what counts as "evidence" or "refutation" seems to have little to do with the subtleties of interpretation, meaning, or history. Summing Up: Not recommended. -- P. E. Blosser, Lenoir-Rhyne College

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Revised: June 3, 2003.