Subject specific vocabulary: Philosophy of religion and ethics

Analogical

• Analogy is about transferring information or meaning from on subject to another because of the similarities and differences between them

• An analogical argument is when you use comparisons or similarities between two this to make a point or conclusion

A priori

Statements that are based on logical deduction and not sensory experience, they are known before sense experience.

Contingency & necessity

• A contingent truth or being is something that relies on another factor for it existence.

• Necessity implies that something is required or always true; an essential thing

Proof

Evidence establishing the truth of a statement. In philosophy this mean there is enough evidence to support the truth of a proposition

Evil

this contrasts to God’a will; cause of suffering; the moral opposite of good

Natural evil

Cause of suffering within the natural world e.g. disaster, disease and death. Evil which is not cause by specific human action.

Moral evil

Intentional human action (commission) or lack of action (omission) that results to suffering e.g. murder

Soul making

A concept that describes how suffering helps humans develop morally

Theodicy

a defence of the justice and goodness of God in the light of evil

Free will

The ability to act at one’s own discretion. This results in having moral responsibility for our free actions

Corporeal vision

A form of empirical religious experience, e.g. they are experience through the senses