Exam 3 Philosophy

What is Hume’s argument against miracles?

• We must proportion belief to evidence

• Laws of nature are supported by uniform experience

• Testimony claiming miracles is always weaker evidence than uniform experience

• Testimony can be unreliable (lying, exaggeration, error)

• Conclusion: It is never rational to believe a miracle purely on testimony

What is a miracle according to Hume?

A violation of the laws of nature that contradicts uniform experience and empirical evidence.

What are Hume’s two arguments that ideas come impressions?

Analysis of Ideas: Any idea can be broken into components that trace back to impressions (gold + mountain)

Empirical Challenge: If someone lacks impressions (blind = no color idea; deaf = no sound idea), they lack ideas.

What is the “missing shade of blue”?

A person who has seen all shades of blue except one could imagine the missing shade when shown a gradient. 

Why is the missing shade of blue a problem for Hume?

It is an example of someone forming an idea without a prior impression, which violates his claim that all his ideas come from impressions.

What is Hume’s argument that we do not perceive causes?

We only perceive:

1. One event followed by another (sequence).

2. Never a necessary connection.

• The idea of causation comes from repeatedly seeing things together = constant conjunction.

What is the problem of induction?

• We assume the future will resemble the past.

• We cannot justify this assumption:

  • Not a priori = can imagine the opposite

  • Not inductively = circular reasoning.

  • Therefore, induction has no rational justification.

What is the basis of our belief in causality?

• Custom / Habit

  • We see repeated patterns and expect them to continue

What is the Problem of Evil?

If God is all-powerful, all knowing, and all-good, why does evil exist?

a posteriori

knowledge from experience

a priori

knowledge independent of experience 

constant conjuction

repeated pairing of events; which leads to belief in causation

demonstrative reasoning

a priori; its opposite is inconceivable

ex. math, geometry

empiricism 

knowledge is grounded in experience 

ideas

less vivid copies of impressions

impressions

direct vivid perceptionsi

inductive/probalistic reasoning

a posteriori; deals with matters of fact; opposite is conceivable

miracle

violation of laws of naturep

problems of induction

we cannot rationally justify that the future resembles the past

rationalism

the view that reason is the basis of knowledge

What is the teleological suspension of the ethical?

• setting aside universal ethical norms to fulfill a higher divine purpose

  • Example: Abraham sacrificing Isaac.

Three Stages/Spheres of Life

1. Aesthetic - pleasure, no commitment 

2. Ethical - duty, morality, responsibility 

   1. Religious - highest stage; faith in God above ethical 

Knight of Faith

• Makes infinite resignation

• Then regains what was resigned by faith in God

• Example: Abraham

Tragic Hero

• Sacrifices something for ethical reasons anyone can understand

  • Example: Agememnon

Difference: Knight of Faith vs. Tragic Hero

• Tragic hero stays within ethical 

• Knight of Faith transcends ethical for God 

Infinite Resignation

• Giving up something deeply loved permanently for ethical/religious reasons

• First step before faith

Paradox of Faith

• Faith places one’s relationship with God above ethics (the universal).

• Appears irrational yet is required