Life After Death Flashcards

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1
Q

What is resurrection?

A

The Christian belief that the body dies but the soul survives. This soul is re-embodied in a replica body, or one renewed and transformed, not just a temporary reanimation.

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2
Q

What are philosophical issues that may arise regarding resurrection?

A
  • Aquinas would agree. The person is a psycho-physical unity, so would need to be so after death. Being embodied matters.
  • Hick defends qualitative identity in replica theory
  • Timing of resurrection is unclear (instant? After judgement?)
  • Why does resurrection need to be physical?
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3
Q

What is reincarnation?

A

The Hindu belief that the world and our bodily existence is an illusion, driven entirely by karma (result of actions, relative to our dharma/duty in life). It is the endless cycle of birth, death and reincarnation of the soul, which can be escaped in moksha (to become one with the Brahman)

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4
Q

What is rebirth?

A

The Buddhist belief that there is no ‘fixed self’ or persistent identity, and claims that a ‘self’ is illusory. It is the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth, but there is only a causal link between lives, not one continuity. Can be scaped through Nirvana (being extinguished/annihilated)

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5
Q

What is immortality of the soul?

A

The Christian belief in the indestructibility of the soul and that core identity consists of the soul. It is a dualist view that originated with Plato.

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6
Q

Define these key terms:
- Substance
- Material
- Immaterial
- Post mortem
- Mortality
- Embodied

A
  • Substance: the “stuff” something is made of (physical or not)
  • Material: made of matter
  • Immaterial: not made of matter (e.g., spirit)
  • Post mortem: after life (adjective)
  • Morality: state of living, for a limited time
  • Embodied: within a material body
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6
Q

Simply define what these mind-body theories are:
- Parallelism
- Substance dualism
- Materialism
- Idealism
- Philosophical behaviourism
- Property dualism
- Ephiphenomenalism

A
  • Parallelism: realm of physical and mental state have no connection between each other
  • Substance dualism: the body and soul are distinct from each other [Descartes]
  • Materialism: only matter is in the world
  • Idealism: we only exist in a mental state
  • Philosophical behaviourism: mental and body states are both the same
  • Property dualism: there are two properties in matter (mainly physical)
  • Epiphenomenalism: physical events result in mental events
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7
Q

What mind-body theories would monists agree on?

A
  • Property dualism (physical only)
  • Philosophical behaviourism (physical only)
  • Idealism (mental)
  • Materialism (physical)
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8
Q

What mind-body theories would dualists agree on?

A
  • Parallelism
  • Cartesian dualism
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9
Q

Provide arguments in favour of substance dualism.

A
  • Swinburne’s brain transplant scenario
  • Descartes’ argument from doubt (body and thoughts are essentially different)
  • Physical events are public and objective, immaterial are subjective and private
  • Out of body experiences
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10
Q

Provide arguments in favour of materialism.

A
  • Only physical evets can be verified empirically
  • Diagnosis of death is physical - the human life has ended
  • Dualists cannot explain how mental and physical INTERACT
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11
Q

Describe Swinburne’s two scenarios regarding the human brain.

A

1st scenario:
- Teo hemispheres of brains into two entities
- You do not identify a person through their physical identities/organs
- There is something immaterial that makes up the human brain instead

2nd scenario:
- Brain divided into two ~ one rewarded & one punished
- You cannot determine a person by physical appearance (there may be an immaterial explanation)

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12
Q

What does Swinburne conclude from these scenarios?

A
  • “I must have a further essential immaterial part…”
  • “I am my soul plus whatever brain (and body) it is connected to
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13
Q

Provide arguments supporting the criteria regarding bodily identity to continue.

A
  • Recognition of others (physical appearance)
  • Biometric passports
  • DNA persists
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14
Q

Provide arguments against the criteria regarding bodily identity to continue.

A
  • Physical characteristics change in a life time
  • Cosmetic surgery
  • Severe injury or disease
  • Twins (identical)
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15
Q

Provide arguments supporting the criteria regarding psychological identity to continue. (i.e., memories, personality)

A
  • Locke’s criticism with the prince and cobbler
16
Q

Provide arguments against the criteria regarding psychological identity to continue.

A
  • Amnesia or Alzheimers
  • Brain damage can alter memory
17
Q

Provide arguments supporting the criteria regarding the soul continuing.

A
  • Swinburne’s scenarios
  • Plato (cave allegory)
  • Strong sense of myself, despite change
18
Q

Provide arguments against the criteria regarding the soul continuing.

A
  • Unverifiable, no empirical evidence