Reading / Discussion Questions Assignment 2
Compare, contrast, and evaluate the views of John Searle and Rene Descartes on dualism.
Rene Descartes view on dualism is that reality is composed of two substances: mind and body. Descartes considers the human mind to be immaterial because the mind produces thoughts and feelings, which are intangible and not physical objects. Descartes considers the body material because it is tangible and occupies space. Though he identifies mind and body different, an interaction occurs in the body. John Searle, unlike Descartes, believes that there is a mental and a physical substance, but both are two branches of a single substance. He believes that the mental substance arises from a physical substance, hence the brain. Searle’s version of dualism is known as supervenience theory.
Compare, contrast, and evaluate the views of George Berkeley and Thomas Hobbes on the mind.
George Berkeley’s view on the mind is that it is perceiving thing. He states that finite minds are limited to the number of ideas it can perceive. Thomas Hobbes’s view on the mind is that it exists when it is in motion. Thoughts, ideas and emotions are results of motion in the brain.
Explain and evaluate what David Hume means by saying that we have no evidence of the self.
David Hume believes that the self is an illusion and there is no evidence and perception of an actual self. Hume states that the self is altering itself constantly. Since the self is always changing, then there is no such idea of the self.
How is Hume’s view of the mind related to that of the Tibetan Master Milarepa’s on this subject?
Humes view of the mind relates to that of Tibetan Master Milarepa’s because both understand that the self exists only as an illusion. One cannot actually see the self.
Chapter 5
Explain, compare, and contrast the views of Anselm and Gaunilo regarding the Ontological argument.
St. Anselm ontological argument is based upon the nature of being. The ontological argument argues that only real things are perfect. God is already a perfect being; therefore, the ontological argument is used to justify that God exists. On the other hand, Gaunilo argues that something existent does not make it perfect. He employs a reductio ad absurdum which demonstrates that if a point is proven in one case, then it must work in all cases because all things are equal. Anselm’s case is biased because there is no proof of God’s existence.
Explain, contrast, and evaluate the views of Freud and Nietzsche, on the rationality of religious belief.
Friedrich Nietzsche states “God is dead.” Nietzsche did not believe he had died, but that God had never existed. He states that through reason, one understands God as a fable used by powerful monarchs, dictators, and emperors to control the masses. Sigmund Freud, like Nietzsche, had a similar belief. The most religious belief is that there is a God, but he will care for us and provide eternal happiness in the afterlife. Due to lack of empirical evidence, Freud believes that this religious belief is “wishful thinking” and that it is used for protection from reality.
Explain, compare, and evaluate the views of Tolstoy and Kierkegaard, on the rationality of religious belief.
Soren Kierkegaard belief on the rationality of religious belief is that God and Jesus may be either beyond or not beyond human rationality. He states that God exists beyond time and space, but that Jesus became part of space and time. Kierkegaard goes on to say that truth is subjective and irrational though possible. Leo Tolstoy had similar belief with Kierkegaard. Tolstoy believed that having belief in religion gave a meaningful life. Life with only reason is meaningless to the point that Tolstoy would choose to take his life.
Explain and evaluate Pascal’s Wager. Would belief based on such an argument get you into heaven?
Pascals Wager shows how people believe in God and then compares them to outcome if God exists or not. Pascal has four outcomes and those four outcomes tell us whether you go to heaven or hell, and if you have wasted or saved energy. This is known as prudential argument. I do not believe that such an argument will get you into heaven. One can believe in God but do bad things. In my opinion, doing the bad things will not allow one into heaven because of the bad they have done to others.
Explain and evaluate William Paley’s version of the design argument. Does the argument provide a rational basis for belief in some sort of creative intelligence behind the universe and life?
William Paley’s version of the design argument is that of an analogy between nature and a watch. A watch is composed of a complex movement that tells time. Paley wants us to compare the complexity of the watch and the complexity of nature and natural organisms. A watch is man-made. Paley want us to understand that someone created this complex nature and natural organisms. That someone being, God or a supreme creator.
Explain and evaluate the problem of evil.
The problem of evil is the following: If there is a God who is benevolent, all knowing, and all powerful, then why does evil exist in the world we live in. If there is a God, why would he allow evil? J.L. Mackie believes that if God does exist, why would he allow for tragedies in the world to occur. The reason for evil, according to Mackie, is that God lacks one of the three qualities. Theologist define evil as necessary to justify a human's free will.
Chapter 6
Compare and contrast the main tenets of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
Hinduism is the one of the oldest religions in the world. Hinduism is polytheistic system that has many gods and goddess and lesser deities. Hinduism refers to the collection of faiths that are believed originated in India, but scholars believe it was brought to India by nomadic people. Founded by Gautama Siddhartha Buddha and like Hinduism, Buddhism is a philosophical-religious system, but they do not worship large Parthenon of deities that is found in Hinduism. Offerings are made to various Buddhas but are not worshiped as god. Taoism, founded by Lao Tzu, is in line with living with the principles of the universe. The Tao is a great force which guides events in the universe. Taoism is based on simplicity in order obtain truth and freedom. All three share the concepts of karma, samsara, and reincarnation.
Explain in detail the connection between the Tao, Ying, and Yang.
The Tao, Ying, and Yang are all related to Taoism. The idea is that the universe is run by one force, which is the Tao. There are two opposite forces that form the Tao, which is Ying and Yang. The Ying and Yang represent the opposite forces that are found within the universe and accomplish any changes that occur within the universe. All changes in the universe can be cause of Ying and Yang and the five elements: wood, fire, metal, water, and earth.
Articulate how principles of Taoism serve as the foundation of the art of Feng Shui.
The principles of Taoism serve as the foundation of the art of Feng Shui because it is a method of influencing our destiny and being able to predict the future which are principles of Taoism. Taoism uses the five elements to that put the world together, but Feng Shui uses animal forces amid the people.
Explain and evaluate the views of Sogyal Rinpoche regarding death and human activity in the modern world (from the readings at the end of chapter 6).
Sogyal Rinpoche view regarding death and human activity in the modern world is defined for humans to find the correlation between a good death and a happy life. If one dies at peace, it will lead into a positive afterlife. Death is not something to be feared, according to Rinpoche, but to die a good death, one must learn and live a good life.
Consider and explain the evidence for reincarnation and the experience of other levels of reality presented in the chapter.
Reincarnation is the idea that once we die, we are reborn in another body. Scientific process has proven that reincarnation is true. In this chapter, a case researched by Dr. Ian Stevenson, the case of Susan Ghamen and Hanan Monsour. Once Monsour passes away and time passes, Ghamen is born and as time passes, remembers her friend “Leila.” The case shows that Ghamen remembers the connection with her friend from her previous life as Monsour. Dr. Ian Stevenson has been able to validate 1,200 cases of reincarnation.