4 Religious Language Flashcards
What is an analogy?
The use of comparison between two dissimilar or similar things towards the end of explaining a separate concept
What is a symbol?
A physical representation of image which can point to a meaning beyond the physical thing which it represents.
Define via positiva
(Also known as the cataphatic way) posits that we can know and understand elements of god by the way in which the scriptures describe him. For example, we can ascertain that god is good because we are told so and we understand the concept of goodness
Define via negativa
(Also known as negative theology or apophatic way), is somewhat the opposite of via positiva. It is the idea that we cannot use human language to effectively describe god as god goes beyond our human understanding of these words. We cannot make positive assertions about god, but are able to make assertions about what god is not, and we can gain knowledge from this
What is equivocal language?
Language which can have more than one meaning, or a double meaning.
Language game
Wittgensteins term for the idea that language has meaning with a particular social context, each context being governed by rules in the same way that different games are governed by different rules. The meaning of a statement is not defined by the steps you verify or falsify it, but by the context in which it occurs, so use and context.
Blik
Hares idea of a framework of interpretation: a view of the word that is non-cognitive and non-falsifiable
Eschatological verification
Hicks view that the ‘facts’ of the Christian religion will be verified or falsified at death
Falsification principle
Statements are factually significant if and only if there is some form of evidence which could falsify it
Non-cognitive
A statement/ language is non-cognitive is to say that it is inappropriate to ask whether it is factual. It may contain emotions or make moral claims
Cognitive
A statement/ language is cognitive if it conveys factual information. Most cognitive statements are synthetic - they are shown to be true or false depending upon synthetic.
Verification principle
Statements are only meaningful if they are true by definition (tautology) or empirically verifiable. There are strong and weak forms
Logical positivism
The philosophical approach taken by the Vienna circle ( a group of philosophers who met in that city in the 1920s/30s) who claimed that theological language is literally meaningless, because it is neither a matter of logic nor provable by empirical evidence.
What did Aquinas mean by attribution?
By attribution, aquinas meant that the made and the marker must have commonalities and that’s we can ascertain things about the maker by looking at the made. Therefore, by looking at the world we can understand things about god.
Give an example of a religious symbol?
The Star of David, cross etc.
What does Tillich believe a symbol does? (With example)
Tillich argues they help people to open up to hidden levels of reality and understanding that are not possible with literal language
How does John Hick challenge Tillichs view?
John hick questions the lack of clarification of Tillichs part regarding the idea that a symbol participates on what it symbolises as well as questioning how a symbol might change when used by people of differing beliefs
What are analytic statements?
Statements which contain meaning and evidence within themselves
Define strong verification
A truth which can be conclusively established empirically
Define weak verification
A truth which it is possible for experience to render possible
What is Ayer’s position on religion?
Ayer believes that religion had no meaning
In what way does logical positivism contradict itself?
Logical positivism contradicts itself in that should the theory be taken seriously, it disproves itself as it cannot be said to be meaningful under its own criteria
Who posited the idea of falsification?
Anthony flew
In which parable did he put this idea forward?
The parable of the explorer/gardeners
How does Hare challenge these ideas?
Hare challenges these ideas with his own analogy, presenting the idea of bliks
What two conclusions did Flew believe challenged theists?
He reaches the conclusion that this should force theists to either a) admit that there is evidence that exists that points towards the disproving of gods existence or b) admit that there is no evidence that exists that could alter their state of belief
Who posited the theory of language games?
Ludwig Wittgenstein
What is meant by the term ‘language games’?
Language games is the theory that religious and non-religious individuals cannot understand each other as they are playing different games with different rules in the way they understand and use language.
How are religious discourses compared to sports in this theory?
He argues that if one tries to play football by the rules of netball it will not work. In the same way, if you attempt to use non-religious rules to navigate religion, it will not work
What is meant by Wittgenstein’s ideas of families of words?
He believed that some groups of words have a family resemblance, they are similar but different. Therefore, some words might function in a similar fashion to an extent but will also be different and function in their own independent way.
Define fideism
This is the sourcing of knowledge from faith and reason alone, rather than from empiricism
Define empiricism
This is garnering knowledge from experience alone rather than faith or reason
What is picture theory in wittgenstinian thought?
This is his idea that in order for a statements to have some kind of meaning it should picture something which is a fact. For example, if someone states that there is a tree outside the window, and then there actually is a tree outside the window upon investigation, there there is truth to the claim
How is wittgenstinian thought critiqued?
Richard Brockhaus critiques picture theory as he argues that it does not go far enough to explain all phrases
Into what 2 categories can language games be divided?
Cognitive and non-cognitive
What paradox does the theory of language games create?
That within the context of language games, god can simultaneously be said to exist and to not exist within different views and realities
