More PTE stuff

Question 1

Define moral evil

Answer 1

Evil caused by human actions/choices

Question 2

Define natural evil

Answer 2

Evil from natural events beyond human control

Question 3

Define hard determinism

Answer 3

No free will- all actions the product of previous choices

Question 4

Define soft determinism

Answer 4

We have some free will but are always influenced by external events

Question 5

Define virtue ethics

Answer 5

Developing good character through adopting higher pleasures

Question 6

Define hedonism

Answer 6

Happiness is maximizing pleasure and avoiding any pain

Question 7

Explain the free will defence

Answer 7

It is more loving for God to create us fully free and allow the possibility of evil

Question 8

Explain the soul making defence

Answer 8

Evil has to exist so that humans can develop their souls and become good, moral people.

Question 9

Explain existentialism

Answer 9

A rejection of God, religion and any external constraints. We create our own essence by making choices

Question 10

Explain genetic determinism

Answer 10

Our lives are determined by our DNA. We are programmed by our genes to act in certain ways

Question 11

Explain the experience machine thought experiment

Answer 11

Nozick-we can imagine being plugged into a machine that perfectly mimics an ideal life

Question 12

Explain the difference between higher and lower pleasures

Answer 12

Higher pleasures- uniquely human and self improving
Lower pleasures -short term and can be accessed without intelligence

Question 13

State 2 attributes of God related to why he would stop suffering

Answer 13

Omnipotent-all powerful Omnibenevolent- all loving

Question 14

State 2 examples of natural evil

Answer 14

Genetic diseases Cancer Earthquakes Floods hurricanes

Question 15

State 2 of the 3 poisons in Buddhism

Answer 15

Ignorance Hatred Greed

Question 16

State 2 impacts of the warrior gene.

Answer 16

Makes us more impulsive Less empathetic More violent/ aggressive

Question 17

State 2 parts of the hedonic calculus

Answer 17

Intensity, duration, extent, certainty, remoteness, purity, remoteness, richness

Question 18

State 2 examples of higher pleasures

Answer 18

Reading, music, worship/religion, philosophy, nature, art…

Question 19

Explain the holocaust and antisemitism

Answer 19

The attempted extermination of the Jewish people by the nazi’s in WW2. antisemitism-hatred and mistreatment of the Jewish people

Question 20

Explain the book of Job and its meaning for suffering

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What is the humanist view of freedom?

Answer 21

We are free to create our own lives but must act with responsibility towards others

Question 22

Explain the Islamic view of predestination

Answer 22

Allah knows all that will happen, so while we are free, our actions are also known by Allah

Question 23

Explain the Christian path to happiness

Answer 23

Happiness is only possible when we follow God and accept his forgiveness

Question 24

Explain the Buddhist path to happiness

Answer 24

We must overcome desire and attachment, including to ourselves. The middle way and following the eightfold path

Question 25

Explain with examples, the diaspora

Answer 25

Examples: hostile powers taking over homes, negative rumours, persecution.

Question 26

Explain the Fall from Genesis

Answer 26

God created the world perfect, but people sinned. God stopped them from eating from the tree of life and banished them from the garden, but made a promise to defeat the serpent.

Question 27

Explain the theory of behaviourism using an example

Answer 27

People’s behaviour can be “conditioned” or determined by their environment. For example, the social credit system in China rewards people for certain things and punishes them for others.

Question 28

Explain 2 parts of Freud’s unconscious mind

Answer 28

The super-ego (an internal set of rules we learn from society)
The Id (our base impulses and desires)

Question 29

Explain 2 merits of argument we are not fully free

Answer 29

Scientists have measured something called the readiness potential, which may show that simple decisions are made before we are aware
Certain genes can affect the way people behave

Question 30

Explain 2 different happy hormones

Answer 30

Dopamine- to encourage us to reach our goals
Oxytocin- triggered by social interactions
Seratonin- regulates mood levels. Caused by exercise
Endorphins- caused by laughing

Question 31

Explain how the covenant influences Jewish people today

Answer 31

They believe that God has promised them a place where they can live (the promised land)

Question 32

Explain the Hindu view of suffering with reference to karma and reincarnation

Answer 32

Your actions affect what happened to you (karma). If you suffer, it means you have bad karma.

Question 33

Explain why women can be less free in society

Answer 33

According to De Beauvoir, women are often forced by society to adopt a stereotypical gender role which limits their freedom.

Question 34

Explain the libet experiment and why it matters

Answer 34

Your conscious brain makes decisions before your mind does. You decide things, but this always follows the necessary brain activity.

Question 35

Explain the view that we can choose to be happy

Answer 35

Happiness is a mindset that can be controlled. This means that we can choose to be happy by reflecting on our mindset and seeking ways of boosting our happy hormones.

Question 36

Explain why Nordic countries are so happy

Answer 36

Generous parental leave, childbirth is cheap, free healthcare, hygge (the art of creating a nice atmosphere), wealth isn’t important to happiness.