Conclusion

This book considered commendable traits of historical moral apologists: how they lived with the argument, did important work in the midst of tragic circumstances, irenically engaged interlocutors, honestly contended with the problem of evil, exhibited epistemic humility, diligently cultivated intellectual rigor, and patiently and painstakingly investigated evidence. It also chronicled the expansive epistemology, wide empiricism, and broad theories of rationality so often on display in the history of moral apologetics, which carved out important room for morality to shape one’s view of metaphysics. The role of moral faith was underscored—involving confidence that the moral law can be satisfied and that adherence to it conduces to deep joy. It also accentuated the political implications of the moral argument and how it can be deployed to argue for more than generic theism. Finally, it argued that a study of this history can elevate the level of contemporary discourse on the topic.