Fighting Words
How did Clifford define a "true belief" - that is, something that you really believe?
For Philo, what are three qualities of God that we cannot affirm if we base our reasoning exclusively on experience of the world?
Infinity
Perfection
Unity
What's the difference between Revealed Religion and Natural Religion, for Hume? What sources do each rely on?
Revealed religion derives from Scripture and Tradition.
Natural Religion derives from Reason and Experience.
How does Schleiermacher define religion? How does his definition support tolerance?
In terms of intuition and feeling the Infinite.
No one can regulate the intuitions of others.
Who said that religion is "an issue of maximal concernment"?
Who said that religion is about "ultimate concern"?
What did they mean?
John Locke = Maximal Concernment
Paul Tillich = Ultimate Concern
That Religion is something you can't not think about to live a satisfying life. That "God" is our ultimate value, even if you don't call it "God."
What is evidentialism?
Does Clifford promote a weak or strong version of it? How so?
Evidentialism = our beliefs should be supported/justified by (sufficient) evidence.
Strong version = no exceptions for any beliefs or anyone (Clifford).
Weak version = some reasonable exceptions.
What's the difference between an Empiricist and an Absolutist for James?
Empiricist: could be wrong, not absolutely certain when I know that I know things.
Absolutist: we can be certain when we know things.
What view/positions do each of the main characters in Hume's Dialogue represent?
Demea: Mysticism (piety > philosophy)
Cleanthes: Deism/Theism (Rational religion)
Philo: Skepticism
How does Feuerbach define the essence of religion?
Projection thesis: we project our best qualities outward onto an object.
Concealment thesis: religion is what hides this from us, and reveals our own true nature in God.
What historical event caused Enlightenment philosophers to seek a new foundation for Religion that was not Tradition or Scripture?
The 30 years war (1618-1648) In Europe (which killed millions of people over religious divisions).
What was William James's main thesis in "The Will to Believe," his main objection to Clifford?
When a question is forced and momentous and alive, we not only can but *must* make a passional decision between hypothesis.
How does James define a "genuine option" when it comes to our beliefs?
- Forced: Unavoidable
- Living hypotheses: both options make appeal to your will (both possibly true).
- Momentous: the choice makes a huge difference.
What's the difference between apriori and aposteriori arguments? Give an example of each.
Apriori: independent of experience of world (cosmological argument, ontological argument)
Aposteriori: dependent on experience of the world (design argument, argument from suffering)
Where/how do religious ideas originate, according to Freud? Where do they come from?
Are deepest, oldest desires (for security and Fatherly protection and love). They are psychological needs (wish-fulfillments).
Also function of civilization as coercion mechanism.
Where do religious beliefs come from, according to Justin Barret?
From the way our minds are hardwired, (Not from mere superstition or stupidity).
What does Dawkins illustrate in his article related to Clifford's argument?
That there is real-world danger at risk in how people (anywhere on the planet) form their beliefs.
(and that Religion is dangerous).
What's James's point about the scientific method?
That it makes 1 passional/volition choice/fear/anxiety (avoiding error) the standard for all inquiry.
What was the "rule" or method that Cleanthes used to argue for the existence of God?
Life effects = Like causes (design argument)
Why does Civilization/Culture make individuals unhappy, for Freud?
Because it requires the sacrifice and renunciation of our desires.
What are some of the main differences between reflective and non-reflective beliefs for Barrett?
Reflective beliefs: rational, slowly-processed, verbally communicated, less reflective of action, etc.
Non-reflective: pre-rational, quickly-processed, non-verbal, more consistent with our actions, etc.
According to William James, what is the fundamental (passional/volitional) decision that human beings must sometimes make when faced with a dilemma of knowledge?
What was James's critique of Pascal's Wager?
That we can't will things to be true that we know to be false.
What were the three main transitions in the dialogue between Cleanthes, Demea, and Philo?
Aposteriori (design argument) -->
Apriori (cosmological/ontological arguments) --> Feeling (suffering)
What's Feuerbach's stance on mysticism (can't say anything positive or clear about God)?
That it's a form of atheism because everything that exists is finite/determinate.
What art piece is depicted on the first page of our syllabus?
Gustave Dore’s image of the beatific vision, from Dante's, Paradiso, Divine Comedy.