Question 1

The greater good defense claims that some evils are necessary in order to achieve certain good ends.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

What is the difference between moral evil and natural evil? Evaluate the greater good defense and the free will defense in terms of how adequately each defense handles the problem of natural evil.

Accepted Answer

Moral evil refers to the evil actions or choices made by human beings, such as murder, theft, or deception. Natural evil, on the other hand, refers to the suffering and harm caused by natural events or processes, such as earthquakes, diseases, or natural disasters.

The greater good defense argues that natural evil is necessary in order to bring about a greater good. This defense suggests that the suffering caused by natural evil ultimately leads to a greater good, such as personal growth, compassion, or the development of virtues. However, this defense can be problematic as it raises questions about the nature of the greater good and whether the suffering caused by natural evil is truly necessary for its attainment.

The free will defense, on the other hand, argues that natural evil is a result of the free will of human beings or other moral agents. This defense suggests that natural evil is a consequence of the choices made by free agents, and that without the possibility of natural evil, there would be no true freedom or moral responsibility. However, this defense can also be problematic as it raises questions about the extent of human or moral agency in causing natural evil, and whether it can fully account for the suffering caused by natural events.

In evaluating these defenses, it is clear that both the greater good defense and the free will defense have limitations in adequately handling the problem of natural evil. While they offer some explanations for the existence of natural evil, they do not fully address the extent of suffering and harm caused by natural events, and they raise questions about the nature of the greater good and the extent of human or moral agency in causing natural evil. Ultimately, the problem of natural evil remains a complex and challenging issue for philosophical and theological inquiry.

Question 3

In his refutation of the teleological argument,David Hume argues that

Accepted Answer

A)  the analogy between human creations and the universe is weak. 
B)  we have no other universe with which to compare this one. 
C)  it supports the conclusion that God has all the limitations of human creators. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  the analogy between human creations and the universe is weak. 
B)  we have no other universe with which to compare this one. 
C)  it supports the conclusion that God has all the limitations of human creators. 
D)  all of the above D

Question 4

In his parable about the two worshipers,Kierkegaard says that the worshiper who is genuinely in the truth is

Accepted Answer

A)  the one who has the correct beliefs about God. 
B)  the one who is able to rationally justify his or her beliefs. 
C)  the one who prays to a false idol with utmost passion. 
D)  the one whose actions conform to the laws of his religion. 
A)  the one who has the correct beliefs about God. 
B)  the one who is able to rationally justify his or her beliefs. 
C)  the one who prays to a false idol with utmost passion. 
D)  the one whose actions conform to the laws of his religion.

Question 5

What is the free will defense? What are some problems critics have with this defense?

Accepted Answer

The free will defense is a philosophical

Question 6

According to your text,perspectivalism claims that science and religion

Accepted Answer

A)  have totally incompatible perspectives on the nature of reality. 
B)  do not conflict because they describe reality in different but compatible ways. 
C)  each deal with totally different regions of reality. 
D)  are really making the same claims,but use different terminology. 
A)  have totally incompatible perspectives on the nature of reality. 
B)  do not conflict because they describe reality in different but compatible ways. 
C)  each deal with totally different regions of reality. 
D)  are really making the same claims,but use different terminology.

Question 7

An essential premise of the cosmological argument is the claim that everything has a cause for its existence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The fine-tuned universe argument for God attempts to undermine the claim that the universe was produced by the Big Bang.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

According to John Hick,why did God create a world in which there is suffering? What are some criticisms that could be made of Hick's position?

Accepted Answer

According to John Hick, God created a wo

Question 10

In the reading,C.S.Lewis argues that

Accepted Answer

A)  God's ways are so far beyond our ways that we shouldn't try to explain why he allows evil to happen. 
B)  God is incapable of preventing natural evil,but he can comfort us in our suffering. 
C)  suffering results from the laws of nature,which are necessary if there is to be human freedom at all. 
D)  suffering is a punishment for violating God's moral law. 
A)  God's ways are so far beyond our ways that we shouldn't try to explain why he allows evil to happen. 
B)  God is incapable of preventing natural evil,but he can comfort us in our suffering. 
C)  suffering results from the laws of nature,which are necessary if there is to be human freedom at all. 
D)  suffering is a punishment for violating God's moral law.

Question 11

Anselm's argument may be viewed as a reductio ad absurdum argument because

Accepted Answer

A)  he begins with a premise that is the opposite of what he wants to prove and shows that it leads to a contradiction. 
B)  contemporary philosophers consider his premises to be absurd. 
C)  it reduces all the traditional properties of God to the one property of perfection. 
D)  it reduces belief in God to an absurd leap of faith. 
A)  he begins with a premise that is the opposite of what he wants to prove and shows that it leads to a contradiction. 
B)  contemporary philosophers consider his premises to be absurd. 
C)  it reduces all the traditional properties of God to the one property of perfection. 
D)  it reduces belief in God to an absurd leap of faith.

Question 12

Why does Kierkegaard believe that reason will not be helpful in arriving at faith?

Accepted Answer

Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosophe

Question 13

Anselm assumes that existence is a property that makes a being more perfect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

A theodicy is an attempt to justify God's permitting evil to occur.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Another name for the teleological argument is the argument from design.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The free will defense assumes that

Accepted Answer

A)  God can freely do anything he wishes and we should not question him. 
B)  there are some things that are logically impossible for God to do. 
C)  we would be better off lacking free will than suffering. 
D)  we will be rewarded for enduring suffering in the afterlife. 
A)  God can freely do anything he wishes and we should not question him. 
B)  there are some things that are logically impossible for God to do. 
C)  we would be better off lacking free will than suffering. 
D)  we will be rewarded for enduring suffering in the afterlife.

Question 17

Formulate,in a series of numbered statements,the argument from design.Which premise do you think is the most plausible? Why? Which premise do you think is the weakest.Why?

Accepted Answer

1. The universe and the natural world ex

Question 18

How does C.S.Lewis use the free will defense to explain the existence of natural evils?

Accepted Answer

C.S. Lewis uses the free will defense to

Question 19

W.K.Clifford's story of the shipowner was intended to make the point that

Accepted Answer

A)  the best we can do is to act on our sincere convictions. 
B)  it is better to take risks in the hope that we are right than to never venture out into the unknown. 
C)  it is always wrong to believe anything on insufficient evidence. 
D)  faith provides us with a basis for belief when reason fails us. 
A)  the best we can do is to act on our sincere convictions. 
B)  it is better to take risks in the hope that we are right than to never venture out into the unknown. 
C)  it is always wrong to believe anything on insufficient evidence. 
D)  faith provides us with a basis for belief when reason fails us.

Question 20

According to your text,John Hick's critics,Edward Madden and Peter Hare,argue that

Accepted Answer

A)  there is never any justification for allowing people to suffer. 
B)  Hick's position is weak because he justifies it by basing it on the Bible rather than by giving philosophical arguments. 
C)  there is no way of knowing whether or not something is evil. 
D)  Hick assumes that the only choice God had was between the present amount of evil and no evil at all. 
A)  there is never any justification for allowing people to suffer. 
B)  Hick's position is weak because he justifies it by basing it on the Bible rather than by giving philosophical arguments. 
C)  there is no way of knowing whether or not something is evil. 
D)  Hick assumes that the only choice God had was between the present amount of evil and no evil at all.

The greater good defense claims that some evils are necessary in order to achieve certain good ends.

What is the difference between moral evil and natural evil? Evaluate the greater good defense and the free will defense in terms of how adequately each defense handles the problem of natural evil.

In his refutation of the teleological argument,David Hume argues that

In his parable about the two worshipers,Kierkegaard says that the worshiper who is genuinely in the truth is

What is the free will defense? What are some problems critics have with this defense?

According to your text,perspectivalism claims that science and religion

An essential premise of the cosmological argument is the claim that everything has a cause for its existence.

The fine-tuned universe argument for God attempts to undermine the claim that the universe was produced by the Big Bang.

According to John Hick,why did God create a world in which there is suffering? What are some criticisms that could be made of Hick's position?

In the reading,C.S.Lewis argues that

Anselm's argument may be viewed as a reductio ad absurdum argument because

Why does Kierkegaard believe that reason will not be helpful in arriving at faith?

Anselm assumes that existence is a property that makes a being more perfect.

A theodicy is an attempt to justify God's permitting evil to occur.

Another name for the teleological argument is the argument from design.

The free will defense assumes that

Formulate,in a series of numbered statements,the argument from design.Which premise do you think is the most plausible? Why? Which premise do you think is the weakest.Why?

How does C.S.Lewis use the free will defense to explain the existence of natural evils?

W.K.Clifford's story of the shipowner was intended to make the point that

According to your text,John Hick's critics,Edward Madden and Peter Hare,argue that

Introduction To The Philosophical Journey

The Search for Ultimate Reality

The Search For Knowledge

The Search for Ethical Values

The Search for the Just Society

Philosophy and the Meaning of Life

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Exam 4: The Search for God

The greater good defense claims that some evils are necessary in order to achieve certain good ends.

What is the difference between moral evil and natural evil? Evaluate the greater good defense and the free will defense in terms of how adequately each defense handles the problem of natural evil.

In his refutation of the teleological argument,David Hume argues that

In his parable about the two worshipers,Kierkegaard says that the worshiper who is genuinely in the truth is

What is the free will defense? What are some problems critics have with this defense?

According to your text,perspectivalism claims that science and religion

An essential premise of the cosmological argument is the claim that everything has a cause for its existence.

The fine-tuned universe argument for God attempts to undermine the claim that the universe was produced by the Big Bang.

According to John Hick,why did God create a world in which there is suffering? What are some criticisms that could be made of Hick's position?

In the reading,C.S.Lewis argues that

Anselm's argument may be viewed as a reductio ad absurdum argument because

Why does Kierkegaard believe that reason will not be helpful in arriving at faith?

Anselm assumes that existence is a property that makes a being more perfect.

A theodicy is an attempt to justify God's permitting evil to occur.

Another name for the teleological argument is the argument from design.

The free will defense assumes that

Formulate,in a series of numbered statements,the argument from design.Which premise do you think is the most plausible? Why? Which premise do you think is the weakest.Why?

How does C.S.Lewis use the free will defense to explain the existence of natural evils?

W.K.Clifford's story of the shipowner was intended to make the point that

According to your text,John Hick's critics,Edward Madden and Peter Hare,argue that

Introduction To The Philosophical Journey

The Search for Ultimate Reality

The Search For Knowledge

The Search for Ethical Values

The Search for the Just Society

Philosophy and the Meaning of Life

Filters