PHILOSOPHY RS MOCK SUMMER 2026

Plato’s Forms

Non‑physical, perfect realities; physical world is an imperfect copy

Form of the Good

Highest Form; source of truth, knowledge, and reality.

Plato’s Analogy of the Cave

Illustrates ignorance vs enlightenment; prisoners mistake shadows for reality

Plato on the Soul

Tripartite soul: reason, spirit, appetite

Aristotle’s Four Causes

Material, formal, efficient, final causes explain change

Aristotle’s Prime Mover

Pure actuality; final cause of motion; non‑interventionist

Aristotle’s View of the Soul

Soul is the form of the body; inseparable; enables life functions

Strengths of Plato

Explains universals, moral absolutes, rational knowledge

Weaknesses of Plato

No evidence for Forms; elitist epistemology; unclear application

Strengths of Aristotle

Empirical, practical, grounded in observation

Weaknesses of Aristotle

Prime Mover unclear; teleology questioned by modern science

Substance Dualism

Mind and body are distinct substances (Descartes)

Cogito Argument

“I think therefore I am” proves mind’s certainty

Mind–Body Problem

How can non‑physical mind interact with physical body?

Property Dualism

One substance (physical) but two property types: physical & mental

Epiphenomenalism

Mental states are by‑products with no causal power

Materialism

Only physical matter exists; mind = brain activity

Identity Theory

Mental states identical to brain states

Functionalism

Mind defined by function, not substance; supports AI consciousness debates

Criticisms of Dualism

Interaction problem; neuroscience evidence; category error (Ryle)

Criticisms of Materialism

Qualia problem; Mary’s Room; hard problem of consciousness

Types of Religious Experience

Mystical, conversion, corporate, numinous

William James’ Criteria

Ineffability, noetic quality, transiency, passivity

James’ Pragmatism

Truth judged by effects; experiences valid if transformative

Otto’s Numinous

Mysterium tremendum et fascinans; awe‑inspiring encounter with the holy

Swinburne’s Principles

Credulity & testimony support belief in experiences

Corporate Experiences

Shared events (e.g., Toronto Blessing); debated reliability

Psychological Explanations

Freud (wish‑fulfilment), Jung (collective unconscious)

Physiological Explanations ( for religious experience)

Temporal lobe epilepsy, drugs, brain stimulation.

Challenges to Veridicality

Conflicting claims, subjectivity, cultural shaping.

Defences of Veridicality

Consistency, transformative power, cumulative case.

Logical Problem of Evil

Inconsistent triad (Mackie): omnipotent, omnibenevolent God vs evil.

Evidential Problem of Evil

Evil as evidence against God’s existence (Rowe).

Augustinian Theodicy - Evil

Privation; free will misuse; original perfection

Criticisms of Augustine

Biological implausibility; perfect world producing evil; moral issues.

Irenaean Theodicy

Soul‑making; humans grow into God’s likeness.

Hick’s Development

Epistemic distance; universal salvation; necessary suffering.

Criticisms of Hick

Excessive suffering; universalism; infantilisation of victims.

Free Will Defence

God allows evil for genuine freedom (Plantinga)

Criticisms of free will defence

Natural evil unexplained; freedom vs omniscience tension.

Process Theodicy

God not omnipotent; co‑suffers; cannot prevent evil.

Pre‑Fall Human Nature

Harmony, rational will, obedience to God

Post‑Fall Human Nature

Disordered desires; concupiscence; weakened will.

Original Sin

Inherited corruption; transmitted through generations.

Grace

Only God’s grace can restore humans; cannot earn salvation.

Predestination

God elects some for salvation; rooted in divine foreknowledge.

Criticisms of Augustine’s Anthropology

Scientifically outdated; pessimistic; incompatible with free will.

Resurrection of the Body

Physical resurrection; continuity of identity; Pauline teaching.

Soul Immortality

Soul survives death; dualist interpretations.

Heaven

Beatific vision; eternal union with God; symbolic vs literal interpretations.

Hell

Eternal punishment, annihilationism, metaphorical readings.

Purgatory

Intermediate purification; Catholic doctrine.

Judgement

Particular vs final judgement; sheep and goats imagery.

Critiques of Afterlife Beliefs

Lack of evidence; incoherence of personal identity; ethical concerns.