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| Question | Answer |
| Explain the concept of Plato's Forms | Intro: A priori reasoning by Plato who was very influenced by Socrates and believed in dualism. He was a greek Philosopher who believed that there were two worlds the physical realm and the spiritual realm Para: Recognition Items in the physical realm are seen a shadows of the Forms (Analogy of the Cave shows fire creating shadows and cave warping the sounds of the passers by which were the Forms) Forms are perfect and unchanging and represent something in the physical world i.e Form of Dogness Para 2. Hierarchy of the Forms Form of Good (Supreme Good) Higher Forms (beauty, truth and friendship) Lower Forms; Dogness and Chairness Physical objects: Chairs and tables. Images. Para 3. Form of Good illuminates all other Forms as the on thing that they all have in common is the underusing theme of Goodness. Illuminates (like in the analogy) Is the Supreme Good Conc. Plato's Concept of the Forms was created to describe show he saw the world and a great part of this is the basis in his dualism as it shows that there can be a world that we already have knowledge of |
| 'Forms are an illusion; we can only experience what is real' Discuss Against | -They explain recognition due to an a priori reasoning -Empiricism tends to have faults we can not see and record scientifically concepts such as love and friendship and yet we experience them |
| 'Forms are an illusion; we can only experience what is real' Discuss For | -There is no evidence or proof of the Forms -Recognition can be explained through early cognitive memory and brain functions (when parents are teaching their child objects) -Biased due to Plato's belief in Dualism. -No such thing as being beyond experience |
| Explain what Aristotle meant by the Final Cause. | Intro: Aristotle was another greek philosopher, one who studied under Plato and despite him being a good teacher he disagreed with almost all of his teachings, A posteriori epistemic philosopher who used his surroundings and previous experiences to understand the universe. Potentiality and Actuality Para1: The Four Causes Material Cause + Example Formal Cause + Example Efficient Cause + Example Final Cause + Example Para2: Final Cause is most important as having a purpose is what determines all of the other causes. It is different for each individual. We all have the telos of attempting to reach perfection, goodness = reaching one's purpose (purpose of universe? PM) Para 3: Prime Mover Analogy of the Cat and the Milk Prime Mover is first uncaused cause that simply acts as a Great Attractor and moves those around him from potentiality to actuality whilst being pure actuality. Conc. Aristotle's theory of the Final Cause was key to his beliefs as it tells the world its telos and also links to the later development of the theory of Causation and God |
| Teleological Argument | Paley analogy of the watchmaker (come across the watch on a heath) 1. Purpose complexity and order point to design 2. Design = designer 3. The universe is infinitely complex so there must be a grand designer 4. Grand Designer is God a) if we had never seen the watch before complexity shows designer (Only ever seen part of OUR universe and no other) b) if the watch was broken order still shows design (Poor Design) c) if we didn't understand the purpose of certain parts we could still see it was designed (appendix) |
| Hume's Criticisms of Teleological Theory | 1. Aptness of Analogy; the choosing of a watch which is obviously designed is a biased choice due to the fact that it will almost certainly point to a designer whereas a cabbage would be more difficult to justify. 2. Poor Design (Problem of Evil) Natural Evil and Disasters Vestigial Structures; appendix or salamanders. 3. Chance? Despite the complexity of the universe there is still a small thought that it may have been created by chance rather than designed, no proof against it. 4. Multiple Designers If there were per say a designed universe it is so irreducibly complex that the design points to several designers as in the case of a ship rather than pointing to the Judaeo Christian God. |
| Aquinas' Teleological Argument | Law of Nature A posteriori 1. Everything in the Universe follows a natural law or process (Planets) 2. Anything following a natural law results in a good working system (solar system) and have a telos/ goal/ purpose 3. All non thinking beings follow their purpose whilst being guided by a conscious being (archer and arrow) 4. All non thinking organisms in the natural world are controlled towards a telos/ goal by a conscious being. or else it would be unstable. 5. This being is God |
| Kant's Moral Argument | Inductive Argument 1 Everyone is born with innate moral awareness and an understanding of their duty 2. Rationally perfect virtue 'ought' to be rewarded with perfect happiness 3.(categorical Imperative) If they 'Ought' to do it then they 'can' 4. Summum Bonum is the result of perfect goodness and perfect happiness. 5. Goodness can be achieved by following your duty but not for reward but for reasons' sake. 6. If Summum Bonum 'ought' to be achieved then it 'can' be achieved 7. not received in this life due to inequality; bad a rewarded and good are punished. 8. Must be rewarded in the afterlife Someone or something must provide the afterlife 9. GOD |
| Nature of the problem of evil | Mackie's Inconsistant Triad LOGICAL INCONSISTENCY Omnipotent Omnibenevolent Evil Exists Can't have all three Doesn't point to JC God How can JC God justify the pain from the genocides? What role did they play in helping humanity, and if there was one was it worth it?, Dostoyevsky: Nothing, not free will, love or anything is worth the suffering of children |
| Different Religious responses to challenges posed by scientific views | BBT: Against Creationism Facts on when universe began It argues the point of how all species were made at once not like in genesis (birds after land animals not before like in genesis0 Evolutionism: Against Creationism Proof for us not being a special species (Homologous Structures and Fossil Records) also vestiges structures showing a lack of design from God Responses: 1. Accept and Embrace science (BBT agrees with genesis that God created the universe when nothing else existed) Not to take scriptures so literally 2. Ignore Scientific Proof because apparently science is wrong 3. Intelligent Design, the universe is far too complicated with far too many complex parts working together it can't have evolved (Mouse trap) must have all pieces for it to work as a whole which points to design. |
| God is Good | Lawgiver Judge Source of Human Ethics Jesus; teachings and sacrifice (agape) Creation and Sustaining |
| To what extent are things only good because God commands them? For | -He is omniscient and omnipresent so he knows what the best things is to do in each and every situation, time frame and place. Omnibenevolent so he loves us enough to make sure that anything he commands as good is truly good. - We may not understand why an action is good (ant on patchwork analogy) -Moral values coincide with the Human Rights |
| To what extent are things only good because God commands them? Against | -There may be a higher power and moral code that transcends God -God could command a wrong thing yet it would be morally correct which makes him immoral to follow. -Bad history with Sodom and Gomorrah. |
| An Accidental Universe is the best explanation for our universe. For | -Would explain the problem of Evil Sheer amount of cruelty - Evolution (survival of the Fittest would explain certain parts of anatomy) -Hume's Criticisms -Animals claws and teeth designed to rip apart to survive |
| An Accidental Universe is the best explanation for our universe. Against | -It explains irreducible complexity in a way evolution cannot. -clear design of the eye -complexity shows design not chance -ant on a carpet analogy -PoE may be a reason and plan behind it. |
| "Freud successfully undermines the moral argument for the existence of God" For | - Super Ego; moral awareness is based on society's influence rather than an innate moral awareness -Empiricist as opposed to a priori -Cultural Relativism -Inductive vs Deductive -Not a logical theory, some assumptions. |
| "Freud successfully undermines the moral argument for the existence of God" Against | -We do have an innate moral awareness that transcends culture. -There are many common rules between people in the world (human rights) -We all attempt to reach our best in some way (Summum Bonum) -Fair to assume there is a just universe -Duty must be to a higher power |
| "All of the theodicies fail to answer the problem of evil" Against | -The theodicies merely explain it Augustine; disobedient angels and human and free will. -Irenaeus answered it by saying it was a payment for free will Irenaeus also says that it is needed for us to mature in the light of God and become like him so it is needed. |
| "All of the theodicies fail to answer the problem of evil" For | -Dostoyevsky; nothing is worth the suffering and pain of children ex. Nepal -Mill described the sheer gratuitous amount of savagery and evil just in the design of creatures. -Can't be an omnibenevolent God who creates a world with this much evil. - Theories that describe why evil came to be are based on angels and genesis meaning that they do not fully realistically address the issue. |
| Science gives the best explanation for our existence For | - There is evidence of the big bang (red shift and microwave radiation) -There is evidence of evolution (homologous structures) -It is a logical explanation based on experience and a posteriori knowledge. -Removed us from the Dark Ages -Destroyed Superstition -explains HOW it came to be |
| Science gives the best explanation for our existence Against | - Doesn't answer more important questions beyond experience i.e WHY the universe exists. -Science is ever-changing and being proved wrong. -Complexity leads to design. |
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