Phil - Metaphysics

Front 1

Metaphysics definition... (Bill Sparks)

Back 1

Metaphysics is that branch of philosophy concerned with the most fundamental questions: EXISTANCE, essence, SPACE and time, the nature of UNIVERALS, cause and EFFECT, etc.

Front 2

What is the central question to Metaphysics?

Back 2

WHAT IS THERE?

Front 3

Name the two arguments FOR the existence of God..

Back 3

The argument from MIRACLES and the argument from DESIGN.

Front 4

Name the argument AGAINST the existence of God..

Back 4

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL.

Front 5

State the argument from miracles.. And then state whether it is valid or invalid.

Back 5

1. Miracles occur.
2. Miracles could not occur unless God exists.
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3. Therefore, God exists.

VALID

Front 6

Definition of Miracles... (1) ... (The simple definition).

Back 6

Implicitly defined as something which is done by God.

Front 7

Definition of Miracles... (2) ... (The complex definition).

Back 7

A miracle is an event benefitting a human being which is not, in principle, explainable by the natural sciences but is caused by God.

Front 8

Define 'begs the question'...

Back 8

Assuming the initial point.

EG. 'This painting is trash because it is obviously worthless.'

Front 9

What is the first objection of the argument from miracles?

HINT - PREMISE 2
2. Miracles could not occur unless God exists.

Back 9

P2 begs the question.
Miracles (an event which is implicitly defined as something done by God) could not occur unless God exists.

Front 10

What is Hume's objection of the argument from miracles?

Back 10

The evidence from P1 is too weak.

It is always more likely that P1 is false than that the laws of nature have been overturned for someone’s benefit.

Front 11

State premise 1 and 2 of the argument from design. (Also objection to argument of miracles)

Back 11

A watch and the universe as a whole, resemble each other in that they both display a high level of complex organisation.
Such features could never have arisen through the operation of chance alone.

Front 12

The watch argument from the argument from design comes from who? (Also objection to argument of miracles)

Back 12

Teichman and Evans (1999).

Front 13

What are the following two premises and conclusion to premise 1 and 2 of the argument from design..

1. A watch and the universe as a whole, resemble each other in that they both display a high level of complex organisation.
2. Such features could never have arisen through the operation of chance alone.

Back 13

3. Therefore, the watch has been designed and made (by a watchmaker).
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4. Therefore, The universe also has been designed and made (by God).
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Therefore, God exists.

Front 14

State the argument from ANALOGY... (Also objection to argument of miracles)

Back 14

Entity A has the features: X, Y, Z...
Entity B has the features: X, Y, Z...

Entity A also has the feature F, therefore Entity B also has the feature F.

Front 15

Is the argument from ANALOGY valid or invalid? Why?

Back 15

INVALID

If Entity A and Entity B are different entities then, no matter how long the list of shared features …

Eventually there will be at least one feature which is not shared.

Front 16

Objection to argument of miracles (relative to P2 'Miracles could not occur unless God exists).

Back 16

P2 is false.

If we could not sin we would be just robots, with no free will or moral capacity;

So God allows choice, even though God could choose not to.

(If so) P2 is false → conclusion is not proven

Front 17

Objection to argument of miracles (relative to P3 'Miracles could not occur unless God exists).

Back 17

P3 is false.

What looks like “evil” is not actually evil:

A necessary part of the universe;
Not all suffering is evil;
You can’t have “good” without “evil”.