Atheism Final Exam

Terms: You will be given 5 of these terms and asked to give: 1) a brief definition, 2) an example, where relevant and possible, and 3) the name of the relevant philosopher.

wide atheism

narrow atheism

positive atheism

negative atheism

weak agnosticism

strong agnosticism

hidden atheism

evil atheism

epistemic culpability

epistemically inculpable

pragmatic motivation

natural theology

cosmological arguments

teleological arguments

Big Bang Theism

Young Earth Creationism

Intelligent Design Theism

Cambrian explosion

abiogenesis

deductive atheology

inductive atheology

defeasibility

fallibilism

atheism by default

single property disproofs

multiple property disproofs

omnipotence(A)

omnipotence(LP)

omniscience

omnibenevolence

moral perfection

methodological naturalism

ontological naturalism

evidential problem of evil

HH suffering

HA suffering

NH suffering

NA suffering

friendly atheism

Authors: You will be given quotes from 3-8 of these authors and asked to identify who wrote them.

Feldman

Oppy

McCormick

Findlay

Drange

Grim

Rowe

Wykstra

Draper

van Inwagen

Salmon

Everitt

Stenger

Schick

Smith

Dennett

Plantinga

Schellenberg

Rachels

Essay Questions:

You will be given 4 of these questions and asked to answer 3 of them. The best answers will be thorough, and they will reflect a comprehensive understanding of the author’s positions, class discussions, and the relevant philosophical issues, concepts, and controversies.

1. What is Feldman’s view about the conclusion we should draw when epistemic peers disagree about some conclusion? What is Feldman’s argument for this conclusion? Does Feldman’s position suffer from any significant philosophical problems?

2. On Findlay’s view, what is the significance of the fact that attempts to prove God by means of the ontological argument have failed? What is implied by that failure? What does Findlay think about the different characterizations of God and worthiness for worship?

3. What is Rowe’s argument from suffering for the conclusion that no God exists? What are the important issues surrounding the argument? What are the contentious aspects of the argument?

4. What is Wykstra’s most substantial objection to Rowe’s argument? How does he argue against Rowe? Which premise is vulnerable to Wykstra’s critique? Why? Can Rowe respond to the objection?

5. On Draper’s view, how does the presence of suffering show that there is no God? Which part of Draper’s evil argument is the strongest?

6. What is the argument that van Inwagen gives against arguments like Draper’s and Rowe’s? How does it undermine them?

7. Given the relative frequencies of different sorts of objects in the universe--orderly, chaotic, designed, and not designed—what conclusion does Salmon argue for concerning the universe? Summarize his argument. Consider objections.

8. What is Everitt’s argument from scale? What are the biggest philosophical problems with the argument?

9. What is Plantinga’s view about the compatibility of science and religion? What is Plantinga’s EAAN argument? What conclusion does he draw? As you see it, what are the most debilitating arguments with it?

10. What is Dennett’s strongest argument concerning the compatibility of science and religion? What conclusion does Dennett want us to accept? What are the problems with Dennett’s position?

11. Explain Drange’s Hiddenness argument. What are the limitations of his position?

12. Explain Schellenberg’s Hiddenness argument. What are the limitations of his position? What are the strongest objections to it?

13. Are moral autonomy and belief in God compatible, according to James Rachels? Why or why not? What are the problems with his position?