More PTE stuff Flashcards
(36 cards)
Define moral evil
Evil caused by human actions/choices
Define natural evil
Evil from natural events beyond human control
Define hard determinism
No free will- all actions the product of previous choices
Define soft determinism
We have some free will but are always influenced by external events
Define virtue ethics
Developing good character through adopting higher pleasures
Define hedonism
Happiness is maximizing pleasure and avoiding any pain
Explain the free will defence
It is more loving for God to create us fully free and allow the possibility of evil
Explain the soul making defence
Evil has to exist so that humans can develop their souls and become good, moral people.
Explain existentialism
A rejection of God, religion and any external constraints. We create our own essence by making choices
Explain genetic determinism
Our lives are determined by our DNA. We are programmed by our genes to act in certain ways
Explain the experience machine thought experiment
Nozick-we can imagine being plugged into a machine that perfectly mimics an ideal life
Explain the difference between higher and lower pleasures
Higher pleasures- uniquely human and self improving
Lower pleasures -short term and can be accessed without intelligence
State 2 attributes of God related to why he would stop suffering
Omnipotent-all powerful Omnibenevolent- all loving
State 2 examples of natural evil
Genetic diseases Cancer Earthquakes Floods hurricanes
State 2 of the 3 poisons in Buddhism
Ignorance Hatred Greed
State 2 impacts of the warrior gene.
Makes us more impulsive Less empathetic More violent/ aggressive
State 2 parts of the hedonic calculus
Intensity, duration, extent, certainty, remoteness, purity, remoteness, richness
State 2 examples of higher pleasures
Reading, music, worship/religion, philosophy, nature, art…
Explain the holocaust and antisemitism
The attempted extermination of the Jewish people by the nazi’s in WW2. antisemitism-hatred and mistreatment of the Jewish people
Explain the book of Job and its meaning for suffering
Job endured great suffering from Satan despite being good, he keeps his faith and God shows him the whole of creation to see how bad can be part of a greater good
What is the humanist view of freedom?
We are free to create our own lives but must act with responsibility towards others
Explain the Islamic view of predestination
Allah knows all that will happen, so while we are free, our actions are also known by Allah
Explain the Christian path to happiness
Happiness is only possible when we follow God and accept his forgiveness
Explain the Buddhist path to happiness
We must overcome desire and attachment, including to ourselves. The middle way and following the eightfold path