Key terms Flashcards
A posteriori argument
An argument based on sense experience and observations of evidence
A priori argument
A type of philosophical argument that relies on logic or reasoning. Empirical evidence is not used in this type of argument.
Analytical statement
A statement that contains the truth needed to verify it within the statement itself, it is true because of its meaning.
Anamnesis
The soul remembering the Forms
Anselm’s four-dimensionalism
All times and places are equally real and present to God
Anthropomorphism
Describing God in human-like terms, so bringing God down to the level of humans.
Apophatic way (via negativa)
The only legitimate way to talk about God is to say what he is not (God is infinite, indescribable and unknowable)
Blik
A basic unfalsifiable belief
Cataphatic way (via positiva)
Uses positive language to describe the qualities and nature of God (God is good, loving, and just)
Category error
A logical error with the use of language: a mistake is made by applying concepts or language to the wrong type of category
Cognitive
A factual statement that can be true or false.
Conditional necessity
An action is observed only because it has been freely chosen.
Contingent
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)
Conversion experience
A change of heart and turning around of one’s priorities, following a new direction in life.
Corporate religious experience
A religious experience shared with many people.
Deism
Belief in a creator that started the world but then has no further involvement with it
Empiricism
All knowledge and truth are derived from the senses, experiences and observation
Epicurean hypothesis
Finite particles given infinite time will eventually order. Hume adapted this idea from Epicurus (a Greek philosopher)
Epistemic distance
Humans cannot know or be sure that God exists in order to preserve free will.
Epistemology
The study of knowledge
Equivocal
A word has different meaning in different contexts.
Everlasting
A view of divine eternity. God has no beginning or end, moves through time and is in time.
Fallacy of composition
What is observed about the parts cannot be assumed to be the same for the whole
Falsification principle
A statement is a genuine scientific assertion if it is possible to say what evidence would prove it false or count against it