I don't know What This Chapter Is Called Flashcards
What is the main point of D’Souza’s chapter regarding David Hume?
David Hume’s own argument (philosophy) can be proven false by his own premises
What is Richard dawkin’s main contention concerning scientific laws and miracles?
Scientific laws cannot be violated, hence miracles can not occur
Who is the early scholar that maintained miracles were myths?
David Strauss
What is the core argument that refutes hume’s own contention?
Human knowledge is so limited and unreliable that it can never completely dismiss the possibility of miracles
What is the ore belief of logical positivists?
They think that science operates in the verifiable domain of law and facts , while morality operates in the subjective and unverifiable domain of choices and values
What is the difference between analytical and synthetic statements?
Analytical statement- the truth/falsity of the statement ca be established by examining the statement (self-verifiable)
Synthetic- can be verified only by checking the facts
What are two different statements that are neither true. H definition nor are they true by verification
- There is life after death and God made the universe
2. David hume’s criteria for justification
Why are scientific laws unverifiable
No finite number of observations, however large, can be used to derive an unrestricted general conclusion that is logically defensible (probability)
Hume argued disconnection between what two concepts?
Cause and effect
Newton’s laws were true and vindicated for 200 years until they were replaced by laws developed by who
Einstein
According to popper, what is the only function of science in regard to theories?
Science cannot verify theories, it can only falsify them
Can experience answer the question of miracles?
No
Why are miracles hard to prove?
It is useless to appeal to experience before we have the philosophical question of whether miracles are possible
What is CS lewis’ definition of a miracle and how does it differ from the naturalist’s position?
Lewis: an interference with nature by supernatural power
Natural: what happens of itself, a closed integrated system
A naturalist must give up what?
Belief in a free will
What is the fatal weakness of naturalism
Every single thing must be explained in terms of the total system
In naturalism, what kind of thinking would be impossible?
Metacognition or introspection: in naturalism, nature controls independent thinking making independent thought impossible (Dawkins memes)
Is it possible for nature to give rise to a cosmic consciousness and if so what kind of “god” would it be?
No God (infinite) would have to arise out if the finite, which is not possible. Therefore, a cosmic consciousness would be like a human mind born out of a mindless nature
What is lewis’ conclusion about nature producing a god or even the human mind?
To believe that nature produces a God, or even the human mind, is, as we have seen, absurd
Appeal
For Christians, the Bible, pastors, testimony of people who you know well or have seen a difference in
Empiricism
Knowing and seeing that someone had an observable situation that has changed. Senses or sees a change physically like medics, evidence of x rays and blood tests
Rationalism
What s most likely. People believe the devil is performing miracles these days. Stats. Show miracles have occurred all over the world. There is evidence that they have occurred, so no one can prove they do not exist.
Immediate sensory awareness
Has to do with self internal witness. Evidence that only yourself can feel like hear while healing. No longer in pain after.
