Key terms Flashcards

1
Q

A posteriori argument

A

An argument based on sense experience and observations of evidence

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2
Q

A priori argument

A

A type of philosophical argument that relies on logic or reasoning. Empirical evidence is not used in this type of argument.

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3
Q

Analytical statement

A

A statement that contains the truth needed to verify it within the statement itself, it is true because of its meaning.

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4
Q

Anamnesis

A

The soul remembering the Forms

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5
Q

Anselm’s four-dimensionalism

A

All times and places are equally real and present to God

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6
Q

Anthropomorphism

A

Describing God in human-like terms, so bringing God down to the level of humans.

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7
Q

Apophatic way (via negativa)

A

The only legitimate way to talk about God is to say what he is not (God is infinite, indescribable and unknowable)

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8
Q

Blik

A

A basic unfalsifiable belief

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9
Q

Cataphatic way (via positiva)

A

Uses positive language to describe the qualities and nature of God (God is good, loving, and just)

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10
Q

Category error

A

A logical error with the use of language: a mistake is made by applying concepts or language to the wrong type of category

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11
Q

Cognitive

A

A factual statement that can be true or false.

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12
Q

Conditional necessity

A

An action is observed only because it has been freely chosen.

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13
Q

Contingent

A

Can exist or not exist; relies on something outside of itself to exist (a baby is brought into existence by its parent and relies on oxygen and food to survive)

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14
Q

Conversion experience

A

A change of heart and turning around of one’s priorities, following a new direction in life.

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15
Q

Corporate religious experience

A

A religious experience shared with many people.

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16
Q

Deism

A

Belief in a creator that started the world but then has no further involvement with it

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17
Q

Empiricism

A

All knowledge and truth are derived from the senses, experiences and observation

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18
Q

Epicurean hypothesis

A

Finite particles given infinite time will eventually order. Hume adapted this idea from Epicurus (a Greek philosopher)

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19
Q

Epistemic distance

A

Humans cannot know or be sure that God exists in order to preserve free will.

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20
Q

Epistemology

A

The study of knowledge

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21
Q

Equivocal

A

A word has different meaning in different contexts.

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22
Q

Everlasting

A

A view of divine eternity. God has no beginning or end, moves through time and is in time.

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23
Q

Fallacy of composition

A

What is observed about the parts cannot be assumed to be the same for the whole

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24
Q

Falsification principle

A

A statement is a genuine scientific assertion if it is possible to say what evidence would prove it false or count against it

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25
Q

Following necessity

A

The moment of free choice is known in God’s eternal present; God is with us because that moment is in God

26
Q

Form

A

Plato’s description of a perfect, unchanging concept or ideal in the World of Forms (Form of the Good)

27
Q

Form of Life

A

The wider context in which statements are made.

28
Q

Immutable

A

Unchanging

29
Q

Inductive

A

Evidence is collected from observations and experiences to suggest a hypothesis which is then reinforced by further observations and experiences. An inductive argument can only lead to a probable or possible solutions (it is the basis of scientific reasoning)

30
Q

Infinite regress

A

A chain of events that goes backwards forever

31
Q

Language game

A

Rules (unspoken) which make sense of statements or words being used

32
Q

Logical fallacy

A

An error in logical reasoning

33
Q

Mass hysteria

A

Collective obsessional behaviour, with psychological and physical symptoms

34
Q

Metaphor

A

A figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true but helps explain an idea or makes a comparison

35
Q

Motus

A

Greek word meaning constant change, observed in the world

36
Q

Mystical experience

A

An experience of something beyond normal awareness, sometimes described as super-sense or sub-sense

37
Q

Necessary being

A

Cannot not exist, does not rely on anything for its own existence and holds the reason for its being within itself

38
Q

Non-cognitive

A

A non-factual statement that cannot be said to be true or false.

39
Q

Particulars or phenomena

A

the changing (mutable) things we witness in the world of the senses

40
Q

Personhood

A

What makes each individual unique (memories, physical appearance, mind and soul)

41
Q

Pluralism

A

All religions are valuable and hold truth

42
Q

Pragmatism

A

The effects on and value to the individual; used by William James to emphasise the importance of the effects of a religious experience because they know it holds value for the individual

43
Q

Preceding necessity

A

There is no free agent or choice involved (God’s knowledge of the laws of nature)

44
Q

(Real or determining) Predicate

A

It adds something to the description of a subject or object

45
Q

Premise

A

A statement which forms the basis of an argument

46
Q

Principle of credulity

A

Things are as they seem to be unless we have evidence to the contrary

47
Q

Principle of testimony

A

We should assume people are telling the truth unless we have good reason to believe otherwise.

48
Q

Privation

A

Evil is not a substance itself but it is a privation, a lack of goodness.

49
Q

Providence

A

God’s knowledge, not of the future but how God oversees the world and our free choices

50
Q

Rationalism

A

Human reason is the source of all knowledge and reason

51
Q

Self-limitation

A

God chooses to limit his attributes in order to allow free will

52
Q

Simple necessity

A

The necessity of nature acting according to natural, physical laws.

53
Q

Substance dualism

A

There are two kinds of basic substance: mental and physical

54
Q

Synthetic statement

A

A statement that needs external evidence to verify whether it is true or false

55
Q

Tautology

A

A statement that is always true, it contains the definition within it (the round circle)

56
Q

Telos

A

Greek word meaning end or purpose. Teleology is the study of purpose

57
Q

Theism

A

Belief in a God that is active and involved with the world, as in monotheistic religions

58
Q

Theodicy

A

A defence or justification of God in the face of evil and suffering

59
Q

Universal salvation

A

Everyone is saved or welcomed into heaven after death

60
Q

Univocal

A

A word is used in the same way in different contexts

61
Q

Vale of soul-making

A

This world, where natural and moral evil have a purpose, to allow humans to develop into the likeness of God