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Philosophy Test #2
Spring 2011, Philosophy and Christian Thought
31
Philosophy
Undergraduate 2
03/02/2011

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Cards

Term
What are four reasons religouse beliefs have significance?
Definition

1. Central to one's worldview.

 

2.Consequential to one's understanding of their identity.

 

3. Provides justification and legitimacy to morality.

 

4. Foundational to happiness.

Term
What are three objections to the existence of God?
Definition

1. The concept of God is incoherent.

 

2. The lack of empherical evidence for God's existence.

 

3. Alternative explanation for belief in God.

Term
Cosmological Argument
Definition
An argument based on the need to explain the origin and nature of the universe.
Term
Teleological Argument
Definition
An argument from the perceived order and design in the universe.
Term
Moral Argument
Definition
An argument that seeks to explain the existence of values and morality as requiring the existence of God.
Term
Ontological Argument
Definition
An argument from the concept of God that makes God's existence necessary.
Term
What are the three versions of the Cosmological Argument?
Definition

Aquinas-"The first cause argument"

 

Samuel Clarke-"The Argument from Contingency"

 

Kalam-"Argument form the Universe's Origin"

Term
What are the three Teleological Arguments?
Definition

-Argument from Analogy

 

-Argument from Probability

 

-Argument from Inference to the best Explanation (Dembski)

Term
What are the four M's of Design?
Definition

Man

Mind

Morals

Meaning & Purpose to Existence

Term
Strengths from the Argument based on Religous Experience
Definition

-Common, if not universal, grounds for belief in God.

 

-Subjective awareness satisfies subjective certitude.

 

-Mystical experiences are difficult to acount for on naturalist grounds

 

-Theological: Biblical justification for religious esperiences,especially "internal testimony of the Spirit."

Term
Weaknesses from the Arguments Based on Religious Experience
Definition

-Susceptible to Religious Pluralism: diverse religious experiences used to confirm diverse religious beliefs.

 

-Are subject experiences sufficiently reliable to produce "objective" truths?

 

-Mystical experiences have been used to affirm contradictory religious beliefs.

 

-Some experiences, most notable experiences of evil, are difficult to roconcile with religious beliefs.

 

-Theological: possibility of deception due to human fallibility/ "fallenness" and evil influences.

Term
The Problem of Evil: A "Classical" Formulation
Definition

If God is all powerful, then He should be able to eliminate evil;

 

If God is benevolent, the He should desire to eliminate evil;

 

Yet there is evil ion the world.

Term
Three Manifestations of "Evil"
Definition

Moral Evil

 

Natural Evil

 

Gratuitous Evil

Term
Moral Evil
Definition
Evil and suffering that is a consequence of the choices and actions of free moral agents.
Term
Natural Evil
Definition
Evil and suffering that does not appear to be from the choices of free moral agents, but as a result of natural events and forces.
Term
Gratuitous Evil
Definition
Evil and suffering that is of such a quality or magnittude that there can be no purpose or reason for its existence.
Term
Five possible resolutions to the problem of evil
Definition

Illusionism,

Impossiblism,

Finitism,

Sadism,

Atheism

Term
Illusionism
Definition
Evil and suffering is an illusion.
Term
Impossiblism
Definition
It is not possible and/or desirable for God to elimanet evil and suffering at this present time, but God will in the future.
Term
Finitism
Definition
God is limited in His abilities to eliminate evil and suffering.
Term
Sadism
Definition
God is able, but not desiring nor concerned about eliminating, or even minimizing evil and suffering.
Term
Atheism
Definition
The presence of evil and suffering is explained by the absence of "God" in the world.
Term
Three Forms of the Argument from Evil
Definition

Logical/Deductive Argument

 

Evidentail Argument

 

The Natural Argument

Term
Logical/Deductive Argument
Definition
The existence of evil is logically incompatible with God's existence.
Term
Evidential Argument
Definition
The presence of evil and suffering serves as evidence for rejecting belief in God's existence.
Term
The Natural Argument
Definition
The natural world is not only characterized by suffering and pain, but such characteristics seem necessary for biological life to be sustained; this seems inconsistent with a good and wise creator.
Term
Possible Explanations for Evil and Suffering
Definition

Nature of Evil,

Moral Freedom,

Natural Law,

"Soul-Making"

Term
Nature of Evil
Definition
Evil is not a created 'thing' that could be created by God, but is best understood to be a distortion and/or privation of good.
Term
Moral Freedom
Definition
moral evils and some natural evils (possibly all?) are the consequences of choices and acts of free moral agents; greater good that such free moral agents exist than a world where no evil but also no freedom.
Term
Natural Law
Definition
Evil and suffering often occurs as a result of natural physical laws and forces that are morally indifferent to man's interests and desires.
Term
"Soul-Making"
Definition
Evil, particularly in the form of suffering, can be used to develop character and virtue in moral agents; God permits such evil for the ultimate good of the agent and God's purposes and plans.
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