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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?
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