Tutorial # I. Philosophy of Religion - Questions for Discussion

David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, II-XI, reprinted in
Feinberg and Shafer-Landau, ed., Reason and Responsibility.

See also “Hume on Religion” - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10

1. What is the difference between a priori arguments and a posteriori arguments? Give examples.

2. What is the difference between deductive argument and inductive argument? Give examples.

3. What’s wrong, if anything, with an inductive argument by analogy to “proof” that God exists?

4. According to Hume, is there any alternative hypothesis to the existence of a Designer that would explain the “order” we witness in nature?

5. How should we evaluate the weight of competitive hypotheses?

6. If we assume that the inference from effects (the order\”design” of nature) to causes (the existence\nature of God) is valid, what should we conclude about the nature of God? Is he Good, Omniscient, Omnipotent?

7. Is there any matter of fact that could falsify the statement that God exists? Why?

8. If not, is there any matter of reason that could falsify the statement that God exists?

9. Mystical experiences and miracles can be considered evidence for the belief in the existence of God?

10. Is Hume an atheist?

11. Is there contradiction between science and religion?

A Priori and A Posteriori

The terms "a priori" and "a posteriori" are used in philosophy to distinguish between two different ways of knowing.
"A priori" and "A Posteriori" are also often used to distinguish different types of arguments.

Definition:
- a priori knowledge is independent of experience or experimentation. It is knowledge based on pure reason.

- a posteriori knowledge is dependent on experience or experimentation.

Examples

You know a priori that all bachelors are unmarried; or that cubes have six sides; or that if today is Wednesday then today is not Thursday; that two plus five equals seven, etc.
In all these cases, it suffices that you understand the meaning of the relevant terms for you to gain that knowledge, you don't need to set up an experiment or to observe the world.

You can know a posteriori that some bachelors are beautiful; that Edinburgh is in Scotland; that water is H2O; that pain is correlated to he activation of certain brain areas.
In all these cases, it is not sufficient to sit comfortable in your armchair and reason about the meaning of the relevant terms for you to gain that knowledge. You have to go outside and observe how things are in the world.

The Profession of Philosophers

It is the profession of philosophers to question platitudes that
others accept without thinking twice. A dangerous profession, since philosophers are more easily discredited than platitudes, but a useful one.
For when a good philosopher challenges a platitude, it usually turns out that the platitude was essentially right; but the philosopher has noticed trouble that one who did not
think twice could not have met. In the end the
challenge is answered and the platitude survives, more often
than not. But the philosopher has done the
adherents of the platitude a service: he has made them think twice.

David K. Lewis, Convention (1969)

Introduction to Philosophy Matteo's Tutorials

Hi Folks!

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