Thought and Belief Exam 2

Question 1

Understand the modal terms: contingent, necessary, possible, impossible. (OA)

Answer 1

Contingent is what could be, its existence is dependent on other factors. Necessary is something that must exist without a doubt, possible is the existence of a scenario where it could exist under some circumstances. Impossible is something that cannot exist under any circumstance.

Question 2

What is the difference between existence in reality, and existence in the understanding, for Anselm? What about existence ONLY in the understanding? (OA)

Answer 2

• existence in understanding: to exist in one’s personal thoughts
• existence in reality: to exist objectively
  -Does not mean it is proven

Question 3

Be able to explain the three main premises in Anselm’s argument. (OA)

Answer 3

Premise 1: that than which nothing great can be conceived. Implies that God is the greatest most perfect conceivable being.
Premise 2: if we can think of such a being in our mind that nothing greater can be conceived, than it must be possible for it to exist in reality.
Premise 3: since God is the greatest conceivable being, he must exist necessarily.

Question 4

Explain the two ways that something can be conceived for Anselm (see the text, Ch. IV). Which allows one to say that “God does not exist”? Why? (OA)

Answer 4

1. A thing is conceived when the word signifying it is conceived
2. A thing is conceived when the very entity which the object is, is understood

In #1 you can say that God does not exist because God can be thought or conceived not to exist given sense.

Question 5

What is the Extreme Position? Is it a good objection to Anselm’s argument?(OA)

Answer 5

The extreme position is that no concepts apply to God because he transcends human understanding. Therefore we cannot logically prove the existence of God which makes it logically defective as an objection.

Question 6

Explain Gaunilo’s Perfect Island Objection. What is Anselm’s main response to it?(OA)

Answer 6

He is trying to demonstrate that Anselm’s reasoning is faulty: if the island truly does exist then it shouldn’t be hard for someone to prove to him the existence of it.
He does not flinch: anyone can think that anything exists in reality or concept except that than which a greater cannot be conceived to reasoning

Question 7

It was argued in class that Gaunilo confuses limit cases with limit simpliciters. Explain that distinction. How does this distinction help Anselm’s position?(OA)

Answer 7

limit case is pushing a scenario to the max like Gaunilo’s perfect island. simpliciters are referring to the limit or ultimate reality of something. Gaunilo is trying to push Anslem’s argument to a limit while Anslem says it is a simpliciter since he is not exaggerating God’s perfection with hypotheticals.

Question 8

What is the difference between an apriori and an aposteriori argument? (CA)

Answer 8

a priori argument is one that is based on reasoning and knowledge that is independent of experience or empirical evidence.
a posteriori argument is one that is based on empirical evidence, sensory experience, or observations of the external world.

Question 9

Craig offers both philosophical and scientific reasons for P1: Whatever begins to exist has a cause. What are they?(CA)

Answer 9

(a) Something cannot come from nothing.
Claiming that something that can just from nothing is worse than the idea of magic, and if you deny this first premise than you must think the entire universe just popped into existence even with all its complex moving parts.

(b) Common experience and scientific evidence confirm the truth of premise 1.
Aside from our theorizing, the science of cosmology itself is based on the assumption that there are causal conditions for the origin of the universe, as well as for the ordinary causal events going on in nature.

Question 10

In our reading and video, Craig explains the scientific reasons behind the Big Bang. Be familiar with them.(CA)

Answer 10

His reasons are that we can see distant galaxies moving farther away which supports the idea that the universe was once in a central hot and dense state. And that the detection of cosmic radiation supports that same big bang theory of everything being in that hot state at one point. Additionally, there is the redshift of light moving away from galaxies that also support the slow expansion of the universe consistent with the big bang theory.

Question 11

What is the Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem, and how does Craig use it in his argument?(CA)

Answer 11

That everything that exists must have a cause. Craig uses it to support his second claim that the universe must be finite and have a beginning and a cause which he argues is God as he is the best explanation.

Question 12

How does entropy help defend P2 of the Kalam argument?(CA)

Answer 12

Because the universe must be fed energy to maintain its state under the 2nd law and under entropy. But if it stretches back infinitely then why is it not in a state of heat death? therefore it must have a beginning and a cause.

Question 13

Why does Craig believe that there cannot be an infinite series of past moments?(CA)

Answer 13

Because contradictions arise when we create infinities like how under the theory that everything needs energy to exist, then if there was an infinite past to the universe then we would be at a dead state and out of energy.

Question 14

If the Kalam argument is correct, then what kinds of features or characteristics must the cause of the universe have?(CA)

Answer 14

• It transcends space and time (since it caused space and time)
• It is changeless (because it is timeless)
• It is not material (because it is spaceless)
• It is uncaused (since nothing could have been “before” it)
• It is incredibly powerful (since it caused the entire universe)
• It is personal since:
  o The only sorts of entities that transcend space-time are abstract objects and
  minds. Abstract objects are passive and causally inert, so it must be active and conscious

Question 15

Explain the method of abductive inference. What are the key factors involved in evaluating an abductive inference? (TA)

Answer 15

Abductive reasoning attempts to justify an explanation with the best explanation, all things considered. Goes from an observation to a theory which accounts for the observation.

Question 16

What does it mean to say that the universe is “fine-tuned” according to Collins? (TA)

Answer 16

That the universe is so specific and complex that it needed to be fine tuned by hand from a higher being.

Question 17

What does it mean to say that “the existence of fine-tuning is very improbable under atheism?” (TA)

Answer 17

Because the argument implies the universe was fine tuned by a higher being which goes against Atheism which believes in only what they can see.

Question 18

Does Collins think that is it rational to believe that all cosmic possibilities are equally probable/improbable? Why or why not? (TA)

Answer 18

No, he believes that the fine tuning of the universe does not just have a chance to exist. Instead he believes that the universe is so fine tuned that it must have a creator like God.

Question 19

What is the Merchant’s Thumb Principle? How is it relevant to Collins’ argument? (TA)

Answer 19

Because it suggests that if a reasonable explanation can be given to something then no one should say no explanation can be given. Which supports Collins’ argument since he is supporting that the universe was fine tuned and he has evidence.

Question 20

According to Collins, what is the (weak) Anthropic Principle? Is it a good objection to the Fine-Tuning Argument? (TA)

Answer 20

1. We exist.
2. Fine-tuning is necessary in order for life to occur.
   (If there is life, then the universe is fine-tuned)
3. Thus the universe is fine-tuned.
   So no it is not a good objection because it agrees.

Question 21

Know the reasons Collins offers for claiming that the Many Universes Hypothesis (MUH) is weak. (TA)

Answer 21

1. Does not have scientific evidence, including the fact that it does not explain the expansion of the universe.
2. Themany universe generator seems in need of design
3. The hypothesis is weakened by the fact that the generator would have to not only create universes but randomly create laws of physics themselves.

Question 22

What is the difference between the logical and the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 22

The logical problem is that it is said that if an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God does exist then there cannot be any evil in the world because he would prevent it. But there is obviously evil in the world so said God cannot exist. But the difference in the evidential problem is that some people say God may allow evil to exist for a greater good and therefore a God can exist. But the evidential problem says that maybe that is true, but people can easily list off some pointless evils in the world that have no greater good so therefore a God cannot exist.

Question 23

In “Rebellion” by Dostoevsky, Ivan discusses “loving one’s neighbor.” What does Ivan think about this, and why?

Answer 23

He thinks that it is highly difficult to do such a thing with all the irrational suffering in the world since one can only see the terrible things people do.

Question 24

Ivan reports near the end of the chapter that he just wants to “stick to the fact.” What fact is that?

Answer 24

That there is irrational suffering in the world.

Question 25

Dostoevsky discusses the issue of eternal harmony in our short excerpt. What does he mean by this expression?

Answer 25

That even with the existence with suffering there is a perfect balance between the two creating a utopian society of eternal harmony.

Question 26

What does Ivan mean when he claims that he must “give back [his] entrance ticket?” Why does he think this?

Answer 26

He is insinuating that he wants to give back his entrance ticket to life due to all the irrational suffering. He is rejecting the conditions of existence.

Question 27

Does Augustine believe that God is the cause of evil? Why or why not?

Answer 27

No he does not. Because if God is good, then he does no evil. And if God is just, then he punished the wicked that does the evil. Therefore God cannot be the cause because he punished the wicked who perform the evil.

Question 28

Why does Augustine think that evil cannot be learned?

Answer 28

Because if you learn then you understand, and if you understand then you choose the good. Therefore everyone who learns does the good.

Question 29

What is inordinate desire, and how does it relate to free will?

Answer 29

it is the desire for worldly things and non eternal desires. it relates because even if God sees it as wrong we have the free will to have inordinate desires

Question 30

How is inordinate desire related to the concept of vanity in Ecclesiastes?

Answer 30

because inordinate desires are meaningless and useless in the grand concept of the goal of eternal life.

Question 31

What kind of evil does Hume focus on in his writing? Explain Philo’s argument against the existence of God.

Answer 31

He focuses on the evil that is necessary in the world to prove that a deity can exist. there exists instances of human suffering and misery in the world and therefore a benevolent and omnipotent god cannot exist because he would not allow such things to exist.

Question 32

What is Demea’s counterexample to Philo’s argument?

Answer 32

That God would want to create a perfect world and in order to that some instances of moral suffering must be included. So the existence of suffering in this world does not disprove God’s existence.

Question 33

In the Dialogues, Philo explains in Part XI that there are four main sources of evil in the world. What are these sources, and how do they actually cause or bring evil?

Answer 33

i. The need for self preservation.
ii. The existence of general, natural laws.
iii. The frailty and frugality of creatures and their powers.
iv. The inaccurate workmanship of nature.

Question 34

If Philo is right, then what are we to conclude about the possible cause of the universe?

Answer 34

That the God whom created the universe has neither good nor malice.

Question 35

Know Kreeft’s four initial “solutions” to the problem of evil. Does he accept any of them? Why or why not?

Answer 35

1. Job is not Just
2. God is not Just
3. God is not omnipotent
4. God it not real
   No he does not. Because God is just and will reward the good and punish the evil. So if we are happy then we are rewarded. Job is unhappy, so he must be unjust, but we also know that this is false. This all contradicts the solutions.

Question 36

In the prologue to the Book of Job, what reasons are we given for thinking that Job is a “just” man?

Answer 36

In the prologue it says he is a blameless man with full integrity. He feared God and strayed from evil

Question 37

How is the connection between Job’s character and his prosperity challenged throughout the text?

Answer 37

Because he is given many hardships and loses everything he was given in life to see if he was only faithful to God when he had these things or if he will remain faithful even when he has nothing.

Question 38

What are the two ways to describe temptation or trial (according to Thomas Aquinas)? Which one applies to Job?

Answer 38

With regard to doing the good; and
with regard to doing evil. The first applies to Job.

Question 39

Kreeft contends that the argument for the problem of evil in Job contains ambiguous terms. We narrowed his analysis down to the concept of justice. What were the two things we said about the concept of justice?

Answer 39

(a) a human application of ‘justice’ does not fit with a divine application of ‘justice.’
(b) justice is not the same thing as equality

Question 40

Why does Kreeft believe that Job (unlike Qoheleth in Ecclesiastes) gets an answer to the question “Does my existence have any meaning at all?” What is the (unexpected) answer that Job receives?

Answer 40

God’s response emphasizes the limitations of human understanding and the inscrutability of divine wisdom. Through his encounter with God, Job gains a deeper trust and reverence for God’s sovereignty and providence, finding meaning in his relationship with the Creator rather than in a mere understanding of his circumstances

Question 41

From Satan’s point of view, the question “Does Job fear God for nothing?” has an explicit and an implicit meaning. Explain those two meanings.

Answer 41

a) Explicit: Satan is openly claiming that Job serves or fears God only because of the material benefit it affords him. Hence the challenges.
(b) Implicit: Satan is secretly implying that there can be no good reason at all to serve God other than because it benefits them. Why would anyone want to serve anyone else if they got nothing out of it?

Question 42

What is the relationship between the two important questions we considered from the Book of Job (Why does God allow the just to suffer? and Does Job fear God for nothing?)?