...Argument Against God For the concept I chose Nagel’s argument against god. Nagel claims that because evil exists it indicates that God must not exist. Premise one states that God is all knowing, all-powerful, and all good. This portrays God as a being that could see, oppose, and destroy Evil with ease, but that isn’t the case, Evil is still in existence. Premise two expands off the claim that God is all-powerful, meaning that God could eliminate all Evil, but he hasn’t. Premise three demonstrates the claim that God is all knowing; therefore he is aware of all Evil. Premise four explains how God is all good meaning that He opposes all things Evil. Premise five claims that Evil is still found throughout God’s world. Thus supporting the conclusion that God cannot exist if Evil is still in existence, which it is. In my opinion, I find Nagel’s argument to be extremely compelling and one hundred percent possible. The idea that God is a being whole is all knowing, all-powerful, and all good suggests that he would create the best possible world. There are various examples that I found to be effective but the idea of a hole in a t-shirt, I found to be simplest and most understandable that demonstrates the inability for God to exist. Although this might be true and God may not exist I have a different outlook. If Evil did not exist what purpose would God serve? He is the protector of Evil and justifies all that is good, but with no bad would good even exist? Instead of each side, only a...
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...ASSIGNMENT 1 1. To what did the Latin religio refer? a) The Latin word L. religionem (nom. Religio) is defined as “a respect for what is scared, reverence for the gods”, and according to the text refers to the fear or awe a person feels in the presence of a spirit or a god. 2. Taoism and Confucianism are nontheistic religions, that is, religions for which belief in God or gods is nonessential. While gods are not alien to either Taoism or Confucianism, belief in/of gods is not central to either tradition. What are a couple of other religions that can be called nontheistic religions? a) A few additional examples of some nontheistic religions are Agnosticism, Atheism, Buddhism, Secular Humanism and Scientology. 3. What is Paul Tillich's definition for religion, and why do Hopfe and Woodward consider its development too broad? a) Paul Tillich defines religion as, “that which is of ultimate concern”. Hopfe and Woodward consider the development of Tillich’s definition of religion too broad for a world religions course because a philosophical exploration of Tillich’s definition of religion, yields many an individuals personal belief of what is of ultimate concern hardly lending to the general understanding of popular or mainstream religions they hope to accomplish in this text. 4. Explain E. B. Tylor's theory concerning the origin and evolution of religion. What is animism, and to what, "ultimately" and "finally," did Tylor think it evolved? a) E.B. Tylor’s theory regarding the...
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...was coined by C.G. Jung According to Jungian theory, the mind or psyche is divided into three parts: (1) the conscious ego, (2) the personal unconscious, and (3) the collective unconscious. Jungs ego theory Is similar to Frueds and that the aspect of personality that is conscious and embodies the sence of self (direct quote) Personal unconscious; consist of feelings and thoughts that are not relevant in current awareness. Jung also believed that our dreams restore equilibrium to individuals that have one sided viewpoint. Collective unconscious; is made up of archetypes that consist of powerful emotional symbols. These image are common to all humans that have been passed down since humanity began; images and events normal to everyday life such as the rising and setting of the sun. Animus and anima; Implies that each woman has a masculine side and a parallel innate knowledge of what a male is. The opposite parallels apply to males having a female side. Persona and Shadow; Are two archetypes that represent our inner and outer selves. Persona archetype; this is the part of our persona that we present to society. Shadow archetype; is the dark side of our persona. These are the shameful desires and impulses which lead to unacceptable actions as deemed by the society that we live in. Mother; This archetype embodies fertility and promulgating the human race. Similar to real mothers, the archetype can be good, evil or a combination of the two. Hero and Demon; ...
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...their eyes were opened, now possessing the knowledge of good and evil. This beast, the serpent, is often debated to be the devil amongst many scholars and theologians. Is this possible when there is no textual reference to Satan or Lucifer in Chapter 3 of Genesis? This difficult question contains many questions and theories within, making it one of the most interesting mysteries of the Old Testament.2) However, after truly understanding the context and clues surrounding the serpent’s role in this creation story, it can be stated that Satan uses the serpent as his instrument in tempting Eve to disobey the Lord. 3) The Bible refers to Satan as an ancient serpent, but does not identify him with the Genesis serpent. With this said, it would be safe to say that there is no connection between Satan and the serpent. However, according to conservative Christian teachings, the whole Bible is divinely inspired and so were those, in various Councils, who selected which books were to be included in the Bible. So, from this initial belief, it makes perfect sense to interpret earlier writings in light of later ones as well as vice versa. With this theory in mind, it makes it plausible to use future references of Satan presented in the entirety of the Bible as a basis of understanding of the manipulator behind the serpent’s acts. Maybe the serpent had eaten from the tree of knowledge which would explain his knowledge of good and evil. It stated that Eve “saw that the tree was good for eating and...
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...Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology PSY 410 December 23, 2013 Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Introduction In psychology, there are many branches such as cognitive psychology, behavioral psychology, and developmental psychology, but the most difficult would be abnormal psychology. It is difficult because the word “abnormal” is difficult to define. Defining “abnormal” is difficult because it means an individual is not following what is socially normal, but with different cultures, there is no way to set a normal standard of socially acceptable behavior (University of Texas, n.d.). “Abnormal” can be defined as expressing behavior that is either destructive to themselves, family, friends, or co-workers (University of Texas, n.d.). With this definition, individuals need to be able to understand the origins of abnormal psychology, the challenges in defining and diagnosing normal and abnormal behavior, how it has evolved into methodical discipline today, and the theoretical models that help diagnose and treat irregular behaviors. Ancestries of Abnormal Psychology Historically, abnormal psychology is a reasonably young science of approximately one hundred years, although there have been abundant recognized incidents of emotional disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008). These incidents found in the Bible, which describes people suffering from illnesses known as depression and schizophrenia in today’s world (Hansell & Damour, 2008). In some cultures...
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...Hanlon KIM’S PSYCHOANALYTIC PAPER 2 Introduction There are several theorists that have their own theory about psychoanalytic approach. Each theorist goes into detail about his or her theory and how it relates to an individual’s personality. An individual’s personality is what makes him or her special from everyone else. In this paper, it will talk about the theories of Freud, Jung, and Adler. This paper will also talk about the stages of Freud’s theory and at least three Freudian defense mechanisms with real-life examples. Theories of psychoanalytic approach Sigmund Freud was one of the theorists that came up with a theory that relates to psychoanalytic approach. Sigmund Freud created psychoanalytic, which is his way to understand personality (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). Freud started using hypnosis, which was created by Charcot and Pierre Janet to cure hysteria, but realized that it did not work to treat his patients (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). Since hypnosis did not work, Freud created free association, which is where the individual is aware of everything happening (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). He realized that this did not work as well, but realized that it was in the person’s dreams, which is in the unconscious mind (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). The other theorist is Carl Jung, who created his own theory about personality. Jung’s theory can be divided into three parts, which are the ego, personal unconscious, and collective unconscious (Boeree...
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...Situation ethics is an ethical theory devised by philosopher Joseph Fletcher. In situation ethics moral principles can be overlooked if love is better served. It is teological, which is consequential but rather than the greatest good it is looking for the greatest love. Joseph Fletcher outlined his theory of situation ethics in ten principles which he separated into the four working presumptions and the six fundamental principles otherwise known as propositions. In this essay I will be examining four of Joseph Fletchers six fundamental principles. The first fundamental principle is ‘only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all’. Only love is good in itself. Actions are not intrinsically good or evil as they are good or evil depending upon whether they promote the most loving result. Love is intrinsically valuable it has inherit worth. Nothing else has intrinsic value but it gains or acquires its value because it happens to help people making it good or hurt people making it bad. Actions are not intrinsically good or evil depending upon whether they produce the most loving result. They are extrinsically good depending on their circumstances and consequences. Joseph Fletcher said that actions are extrinsically good depending upon the circumstances. According to Joseph Fletchers first principle actions such as lying can be justified if the action itself is extrinsically good. Natural law states that actions such as lying are always wrong regardless...
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...Just War theory is a doctrine, also referred to as a tradition, of military ethics studied by theologians, ethicists, policy makers and military leaders. The purpose of the doctrine is to ensure war is morally justifiable through a series of criteria, all of which must be met for a war to be considered just. The criteria are split into two groups: ‘the right to go to war’ and ‘right conduct in war’ . The first concerns the morality of going to war and the second with moral conduct within war. Recently there have been calls for the inclusion of a third category of just war theory - jus post bellum - dealing with the morality of post-war settlement and reconstruction. Just War theory postulates that war, while very terrible, is not always the worst option. There may be responsibilities so important, atrocities which can be prevented or outcomes so undesirable they justify war. Origins The Indian epic, the Mahabharata, offers one of the first written discussions of a 'just war'. In it, one of five ruling brothers asks if the suffering caused by war can ever be justified, and then a long discussion ensues between the siblings, establishing criteria like proportionality, just means, just cause, and fair treatment of captives and the wounded. The war in Mahabharata is preceded by context that develops the "just cause" for the war including last minute efforts to reconcile differences to avoid war. At the beginning of the war, there is the discussion of "just conduct" appropriate...
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...as well, as shown by Xunzi’s critique of Mencius. It may be perceived that Mencius has the dominant position in the Confucian tradition as Mencius’s belief that human nature is originally good has often been interpreted into certain sayings of Confucius. Additionally, Xunzi’s claim that human nature is “evil” and that people can be transformed to become good may be inconsistent, as they imply Mencius’s claim that human nature is inherently good. For this reason, it is crucial to analyze both thinkers separately as integration of one thinker’s original thought to another may obscure the important aspects of the assimilated thinker’s position. Secondly, this method of analysis will show that the debate is not one conducted from extreme opposites as it may seem at first sight, for both Mencius and Xunzi agreed that man must cultivate his goodness consciously regardless of whether he is born with it or acquires it from the state. The differences in their views on human nature lead to the ultimate difference of interpretation of the betterment of human nature. Although both philosophers had differences, their ultimate goal was to suggest that human beings can be good and this is what the state needed in such a crucial time in China’s history. To elaborate further on human nature, it is crucial to look at its development within each philosopher’s teachings. Mencius, being the idealist that he was, believed in the innate goodness of man. He believed that man's ability to learn how to...
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...Theology Revision Plato Plato lived in Athens in the 5th and 4th Centuries BC He was the student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle He was a dualist- believed in the body and the soul He believed the soul was more perfect than the body He believed that societies should be run by philosophers He believed the physical world is a pale imitation of the world of the forms The allegory of the cave The prisoners- normal people of society The prisoner who escapes- philosophers, people that thirst to know the real truth The people casting the shadows- the leaders of society- shaping the world without knowing the truth The shadows/statues- what people believe is reality, what they are told to believe, things people deem to be important The cave- a world without knowledge, the physical world/the body The fire- controlled, dim light- limited knowledge. An imitation of the form of the good The journey outside- a difficult journey, acquisition of knowledge The sun- illuminates the true world- form of the good The journey back into the cave- the desire to educate and inform others of the truth The world of the Forms Forms Plato uses the word ‘form’ to describe the true essence of material objects in the world This idea of the ‘form’ exists in a non physical (yet more real) realm that can only be understood by the mind. This is called the world of the forms Plato believed that the forms were interrelated and hierarchical The highest form The ultimate principle...
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...Psychology For many years, various forms of madness have been noted in every culture. Multitudes of theories, as well as some myths, have been developed to explain such conditions. Society’s opinion on what was considered abnormal was based on such phenomenon as paranormal forces, the anger of the gods, the influence of the moon, unstable personality, hereditary factors, and debauchery (Frude, 1998). History shows that theorists continue to develop a variety of theories to explain psychological disorders. These theories usually fall in one of three basic categories: mystical/supernatural (possession of spirits), scientific/medical (biological, imbalances, faulty learning processes, or emotional stressors), and humanitarian (cruelty or inadequate living conditions) (Frude, 1998). Each of these theories and the ongoing advancements in knowledge has been the foundation of the study of abnormal psychology. To comprehend the effort that these aspects of psychology have had in this field of study, it is important to know the origins of abnormal behavior, how this behavior was recognized and treated, how abnormal psychology evolved into a scientific discipline, and the theoretical models related to the development of abnormal psychology. Origins of Abnormal Psychology and the Evolution of the Scientific Approach Abnormal psychology has been studied for about 100 years, but the recognition of what society deems to be abnormal behavior goes back further than that, to the primitive and pre-modern...
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...Theories of Myth Stephanie Gonsalves University of Phoenix HUM/105 Liz Labby March 29, 2011 Theories of Myth Myth is defined as a sacred narrative. The word myth means story or word. According to M. Magoulick, What is myth, “myths articulate how characters undergo an ordered sequence of events. The term myth has come to refer to a certain genre or category of stories that share characteristics that make this genre distinctly different from other genres of oral narratives, such as legends and folktales. Many definitions of myth repeat similar general aspects of the genre and may be summarized thus: Myths are symbolic tales of the distant past (often primordial times) that concern cosmogony and cosmology (the origin and nature of the universe), maybe connected to belief systems or rituals, and may serve to direct social action and values” (Magoulick, 2000). A myth refers to stories that tell about the beginning of humans and the cosmos. In most cultures a myth is a strong belief. Some take it as a source of spiritual growth, while others don’t believe in myths at all. In most cultures the people see in myth the distinct character of their culture, while others only see patterns repeating. Some believe myths to be real and contemporary, while others think of it as far gone and over with. I believe myths to be a legend of ancestry that has both true and false facts to the narrative and in most cases myths are only believed to be true in a certain culture...
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...Psychology For a number of years, multiple forms of hysteria or madness have been seen in every society and culture. Vast varieties of theories, and many myths as well as legends, have been developed to help better explain such disorders and conditions. Society’s view on what was considered to be abnormal behavior was often determined on these particular phenomenon’s, as well as paranormal forces, unstable personality, the anger of the gods, hereditary factors, the influence of the moon, and debauchery. Throughout time history has shown that theorists are continually developing a vast amount of theories to help explain psychological issues. These theories typically fall under three basic categories: scientific/medical (biological, imbalances, emotional stressors, or faulty learning processes), humanitarian (cruelty or inadequate living conditions), and mystical/supernatural (possession of spirits), (Frude, 1998). To get a fuller and better understanding many theorist focus these ideas of psychology have had in their field of study, because it is good to know the beginnings or the origins of unusual or abnormal behavior, knowing how these behaviors are treated and noticed, even to known how it evolved into a scientific discipline, is just as important to the history. The concepts of abnormal psychology has been studied for centuries, but what society believes to be unusual or abnormal behavior goes much further back, to the pre-modern and primitive times (Hansell &Damour...
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...ESSAY: THOMAS MALTHUS Born: 13-Feb-1766 Birthplace: Rookery, near Dorking, Surrey, England Died: 29-Dec-1834 Location of death: St. Catherine, near Bath, England Cause of death: unspecified Remains: Buried, Bath Abbey, Bath, England Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Occupation: Economist Nationality: England What many know, at least those with an elementary knowledge of economics or politics, is that Malthus is the surname of a man, who, a couple of hundred years back, said that man, sooner or later, universally, will run up against himself; that the population of mankind will eventually outstrip man's ability to supply himself with the necessities of life. The Malthusian doctrine, as stated in "Essay on the Principle of Population," was expressed as follows: "population increases in a geometric ratio, while the means of subsistence increases in an arithmetic ratio." Well, that seems plain enough, and perfectly understandable, if there is too many people and not enough food, then, certainly, there is going to be problems. Malthus developed his theory, at least to this extent: that left alone, no matter all the problems short of worldwide catastrophe, humankind will survive, as, nature has a natural way to cut population levels: "crime, disease, war, and vice," being, the necessary checks on population." This proposition, as was made by Malthus in 1798, was to cause quite a public stir, then, and yet today. The English economist Thomas Robert Malthus, b....
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...The Problem of Evil William Lane Craig Examines both the logical and probabilistic arguments against God from suffering and evil. The problem of evil is certainly the greatest obstacle to belief in the existence of God. When I ponder both the extent and depth of suffering in the world, whether due to man’s inhumanity to man or to natural disasters, then I must confess that I find it hard to believe that God exists. No doubt many of you have felt the same way. Perhaps we should all become atheists. But that’s a pretty big step to take. How can we be sure that God does not exist? Perhaps there’s a reason why God permits all the evil in the world. Perhaps it somehow all fits into the grand scheme of things, which we can only dimly discern, if at all. How do we know? As a Christian theist, I’m persuaded that the problem of evil, terrible as it is, does not in the end constitute a disproof of the existence of God. On the contrary, in fact, I think that Christian theism is man’s last best hope of solving the problem of evil. In order to explain why I feel this way, it will be helpful to draw some distinctions to keep our thinking clear. First, we must distinguish between the intellectual problem of evil and the emotional problem of evil. The intellectual problem of evil concerns how to give a rational explanation of how God and evil can co-exist. The emotional problem of evil concerns how to dissolve people’s emotional dislike of a God who would permit suffering. Now...
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