Philosophy

What is the logical problem of evil?

"Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?"

Do you think an infinite regress of causes is impossible? Why or why not? *

1. At least one thing has been caused to come into existence. 2*. Nothing can be the cause of its own existence, or be causally responsible for its own existence. 3. The chain of causes of things coming into existence cannot be infinite. C1. So, there is a cause of the existence of some things which was not itself caused to exist. (1, 2, 3) 4. If C1, then God exists. _________________________________________________ C2. So, God exists. (C1, 4)

State, in your own words, Aquinas' argument that he gives for the existence of God based on causation (i.e., "The Second Way"). Do you find his argument convincing? Why or why not? *

1. At least one thing has been caused to come into existence. 2*. Nothing can be the cause of its own existence, or be causally responsible for its own existence. 3. The chain of causes of things coming into existence cannot be infinite. C1. So, there is a cause of the existence of some things which was not itself caused to exist. (1, 2, 3) 4. If C1, then God exists. _________________________________________________ C2. So, God exists. (C1, 4)

What solutions to the problem of evil does Hick rule out as being unacceptable for most traditional theists?

1. God is all-powerful (and all-knowing)- Evil isn't real 2. God is perfectly good- God is limited in power 3. Evil exists- Good and evil are co-extensive Moral vs. Non-moral or natural

theodicy

A philosophical response on the part of a believer to the problem of evil

A posteriori argument

A posteriori knowledge is knowledge that depends on experience for its justification (e.g., Plato lived before Augustine) -depends entirely on sense experience

A priori argument

A priori knowledge is knowledge that does not depend on experience for its justification (e.g., mathematical knowledge). -derived from a reason independently of or prior to sense experience

Do you think free will is required for moral responsibility? Make sure you make an argument for why or why not. *

Defense makes the reality of moral evil compatible with the existence of God, how could the creation and placement of free beings in a world of natural evil be consistent with the actions of a good Creator?

Name at least five great-making properties a perfect being conception of God is likely to include.

Friendly smart nice humble helpful

Do you agree with Ivan's assessment of the problem of evil? If not, how might you respond to him?

He declares that there is untold, unfathomable suffering in the world that God allows, but no adequate justification or explanation can be given why God would permit such evil.

Do you think there could potentially be a difference between the concepts of design and order? What implications would such a distinction have for, say, Paley's argument for the existence of God?

P1. Human artifacts are products of intelligent design (ID). P2. The universe resembles these human artifacts. C1. So, (probably) the universe is a product of ID. P3. The universe is vastly larger and more complex than any human artifact. C2. So, (probably) the universe was created by an extremely powerful and vastly intelligent designer.

What is the analogy between the watch and the world, according to Paley? Describe his argument.

P1. The universe contains natural entities that (i) are extremely internally complex, (ii) have parts that work together to perform a particular function, and (iii) are such that only very few possible combinations of their parts will come together to be functional. P2. The best explanation for P1 is that there is an intelligent designer. C1. So, (probably) there is an intelligent designer.

Teleological argument

P1: A great machine and the world are alike in the adopting of means to ends of the constitutive parts. P2: The great machine is designed by a human mind C: It is probable that the world is designed by a mind (God) EX: Leaves falling from the trees in the winter has a purpose P1: A watch's mechanism and the world constituted parts are framed and put together for a purpose P2: The watch is designed by a human mind C: it is probable that the world is designed by a man

Cosmological argument

P1: Efficient casues come in series P2: We do not and can not find that something is its efficient cause. Something cannot cause itself P3: The series of efficient causes cannot go back to infinite C: We must determine a first efficient cause, which everyone understands to be God. God is the uncaused cause.

Evaluate Clifford's claim that one of the greatest dangers to society is not (merely) that it should believe wrong things, but that it should become credulous, and lose the habit of testing things and inquiring into them. Is Clifford right about this? Explain your position. *

Some objections -What constitutes "sufficient" evidence? -Do insufficiently-supported beliefs always produce bad consequences? -Couldn't there be bad consequences that result from adopting Clifford's policy of always withholding belief in the absence of sufficient evidence?

libertarianism

The doctrine that people have inviolable personal freedoms and the right to pursue their own social and economic well-being in a free market without interference from others.

incompatibilism

The view that determinism and free will are incompatible doctrines; they both cannot be true.

Determinism

The view that events are determined, or necessitated, by preceding physical causes and the laws of nature.

moral evil

There is a distinction between moral evil and natural evil. Moral evil is eval that is brought about by the bad actions of human beings, whereas natural evil is evil that is brought about by nonagential forces (e.g. hurricanes, tornado, drought).

Compossibility

array or collection of properties that can be held at the same time.

James argues that, although it can't be proved, we should nevertheless believe that indeterminism is true rather than determinism. How does he argue for this thesis?

bad

non moral evil

evil that is brought about by nonagential forces (e.g. hurricanes, tornado, drought). Both natural and moral evil are a challenge to religious believers. Many atheists claim that natural evil is proof that there is no God, at least not an omnipotent, omnibenevolent one, as such a being would not allow such evil to happen to his/her creation.

Recount Flew's parable about the Garden. What was it supposed to illustrate?

green

Great making property

is any property, or attribute, or characteristic, or quality which it is intrinsically good to have, any property which endows its bearer with some measure of value, or greatness, or metaphysical stature, regardless of external circumstances.

What is d'Holbach's argument against the reality of free will?

man is connected to the laws of universal nature. man is entirely subject to those laws. man is not free

According to van Inwagen, what mysteries must an indeterminist, determinist, and/or compatibilist with respect to free will ultimately have to live with?

unknown