Mock summary of Philosophy and Ethics

What are natural and moral evil?

Natural evil results from natural processes (e.g., earthquakes), while moral evil stems from human actions (e.g., murder).

What is the logical problem of evil?

The idea that an all-powerful, all-good God should prevent evil, making its existence logically inconsistent with such a God (Mackie, 1955).

What is the evidential problem of evil?

The claim that the sheer amount and intensity of suffering make it unlikely that an all-good God exists (Rowe, 1979).

What is Hick’s soul-making theodicy?

The belief that suffering and evil help humans develop morally and spiritually, leading to a closer relationship with God (Hick, "Evil and the God of Love", 1966).

What is the free will defense?

The argument that God allows evil to exist because removing it would mean taking away human free will (Plantinga, 1974).

What is process theodicy?

Griffin’s idea that God is not omnipotent but works within the universe to reduce suffering over time.

How does the problem of evil apply to real-world issues?

It raises challenges in explaining natural disasters, moral atrocities like the Holocaust, and personal suffering.

What are the three types of religious visions?

Corporeal (physical appearances), imaginative (dream-like visions), and intellectual (inner awareness of God).

How does Otto define numinous experiences?

Encounters with the "wholly other," evoking awe and mystery (Otto, "The Idea of the Holy", 1917).

What is William James’ view on mystical experiences?

They are ineffable, noetic, transient, and passive, leading to deep spiritual insights (James, "The Varieties of Religious Experience", 1902).

What does William Stace say about mystical experiences?

They involve a non-sensuous and non-intellectual union with the divine.

What challenges exist in verifying religious experiences?

They are personal and lack objective evidence.

How does science challenge religious experiences?

By attributing them to psychological, neurological, or hallucinatory causes (Persinger, 1987).

What is Swinburne’s principle of credulity?

If someone believes they have experienced something, they should be trusted unless there is strong evidence to doubt them (Swinburne, "The Existence of God", 1979).

What is Swinburne’s principle of testimony?

We should generally accept others’ reports of their experiences unless we have good reason not to.

What is the verification principle?

The idea that statements are only meaningful if they can be empirically verified (Ayer, "Language, Truth and Logic", 1936).

What is eschatological verification?

Hick’s argument that religious truths will be verified after death.

What is a "blik" according to R.M. Hare?

A non-rational worldview that shapes how people interpret evidence (Hare, "Theology and Falsification", 1955).

What is Wittgenstein’s language game theory?

Religious language has meaning within its own context, like a game with its own rules (Wittgenstein, "Philosophical Investigations", 1953).

What is the Via Negativa?

The belief that God can only be described by what He is not (Pseudo-Dionysius).

What is deontological ethics?

Ethics based on duty and rules, such as Natural Moral Law (Aquinas, "Summa Theologica").

What is teleological ethics?

Ethics based on consequences, such as Fletcher’s Situation Ethics.

What is virtue ethics?

Ethics focusing on character and virtues, as taught by Aristotle ("Nicomachean Ethics").

How do these theories apply to real-world issues?

They provide different perspectives on moral dilemmas such as abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment.

What is Divine Command Theory?

The belief that morality is based on God’s commands.

What is ethical naturalism?

The idea that moral truths can be discovered through reason and observation.

What is ethical intuitionism?

The belief that moral truths are self-evident through intuition (Moore, "Principia Ethica", 1903).

What are two main views of conscience?

Religious (God-given) and secular (a product of reason or society).

How does Aquinas view conscience?

As a rational process that helps discern right from wrong.

How does Freud view conscience?

As part of the superego, influenced by upbringing and culture.

What is Bentham’s ethical theory?

Utilitarianism – the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

What is Kant’s ethical theory?

Deontology – moral actions follow absolute rules and respect human dignity.

How do Bentham and Kant differ on moral decision-making?

Bentham focuses on outcomes; Kant emphasizes duty and moral laws.

How are these theories applied in religious ethics?

Kantian ethics aligns with Christian duty-based morality, while Utilitarianism is often criticized for undermining moral absolutes.