...Eastern Philosophy Matrix and Essay Part 1 Matrix: Analyze Eastern philosophy by completing the following matrix. Provide a definition of the branch of philosophy as given in a philosophical source (the readings, supplemental materials, or outside academic sources) and list a minimum of three historical developments, theories, key contributors, and principal issues. Bullet point answers are acceptable. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Historical...
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...Fall Term (2008) Essay Assignment A Study Of: John Hick’s “The Problem of Evil” and Arthur C. Clarke’s “The Star” Audrey Scott 4272258 PHIL1F91 Andrew T. Seminar 10 The Problem of Evil as outlined as John Hick is that “if God is perfectly loving, he must wish to abolish evil; and if he is all-powerful, he must be able to abolish evil. But evil exists; therefore God cannot be both omnipotent and perfectly loving” (Hick, 1963). In this essay the topic of John Hick’s solutions to “The Problem of Evil” will be looked at. Another subject matter that will be briefly deliberated on in this essay is if and how both of Hicks’ solutions are applicable to Arthur C. Clarke’s “The Star”. The difference between “moral evil” and “natural evil” lies classified in the fact that “moral evil” is essentially wickedness; that God is indirectly responsible for this type of evil because he created human beings and human beings inflict this kind of evil, or malevolent acts on each other on a regular basis. “Moral evil” can also be when one inflicts an action with negative connotations on one’s self. Divergent from “moral evil”, “natural evil” is in reference to natural disasters or occurrences that create suffering which people are victims of, this is a type of evil to which God is directly responsible for, because he controls such physical environmental forces. In his essay, John Hick solves the problem of both “moral evil” by firstly posing a question to the reader of why an all-good and all-powerful...
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...the real questions." (Wiesel 30). Moishe is among the first prisoners taken by Germans and when he manages to escape and tell people of what Germans were doing to prisoners, he is taken for insane. There then follows a trail of events where he undergoes a series of bizarre encounters including the loss of his sisters and mother. This was a very trying time for Elie in which life drives out the innocence from him completely. In the concentration camps, where they are taken to as Jews, they are subjected to incessant torture and Elie witnesses babies burning in furnaces. The aim of this essay is trying identifying various ideas in the book written by Wiesel, identifying their changes, and at last draft a conclusion from these ideas as well as marking a significant change in his life since it takes a toll on his personal relationship with God. Changes in ideas about God and Humanity by Elie Wiesel From an innocent religious boy, Wiesel was geared up towards studying theology, life deprived him off the faith and he lost the close relationship with God. At some instance, he cursed when his father prayed that Gods name be sanctified and exalted. In Buna, Elie and other prisoners lost their faith and humanity as well in an attempt to struggle through a life where they are made to see their fellow prisoners get hanged...
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...What is the “Problem of Evil”? What is the difference, if there is a difference, between so-called “moral evil” and “natural evil”? How exactly does John Hick, in his essay “Problem of Evil”, solve the problem of both “Moral evil” and “natural evil”? Do you think that either or both, of Hick’s solutions is really able to solve what appears to be a unique problem of evil in Arthur C. Clarke’s short story, “The Star”? Unhappiness, as a whole, is a challenge to the idea of good. When one hears or discovers about the disasters or the pain and suffering of wars, violence, earthquakes and killings it is safe to ask one’s self, what the problem of evil is. Investigating the short story “Problem of Evil” written by John Hick the author talks about the differences in “moral evil” and “natural evil” while defining the main question with god and evil. Furthermore in “moral evil” and “natural evil” John Hicks explanations are studied throughout the short story titled The Star by Arthur C. Clark. The problem that is most debated among believers and non-believers of God is the problem of evil. This debate is due to the belief of the omnipotence of God, saying how he is all loving, all powerful and all knowing. For all these meanings of God, there is a major defect, if the almighty is capable of revealing these abilities then how could he let evil enter into the world. If he is all- loving, then why is there so much hatred revolving around us and ultimately, If he is all-powerful, then should...
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...In this essay I will be presenting an argument against the existence of Christian God. I will show how the Problem of Evil is a big factor when concerning Gods existence. I will explore the ideas of how God’s benevolence is contradictory to how the world is. I will also be presenting arguments for the existence of a God but countering them with my points along with philosopher’s theories. J.L Mackie said “if a good and powerful God exists, he would not allow pointless evil, but because there is much unjustifiable, pointless evil in the world, the traditional and powerful God could not exist.”[1]. When we talk about a benevolent God the problem arises of Evil in the world. It’s a problem because God is attributed as being Omnipotent, Omniscient...
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...Philosophy: Problems Essay 2: Existentialism Evaluation: 20% of final grade Length: 1400-1500 words Due: After uploading to Assignment2 students are required to hand in a hard copy of their essays at the beginning of their seminars on March 10, 2015. Late papers will be penalized 3% per day. Students must write this essay in order to complete this course with a passing grade. Choose 1 essay topic from the following list of 16: Sartre Write an essay which explicates and evaluates some of the central claims in Sartre’s “Existentialism” (the first essay of Existentialism and Human Emotions.) You should frame your essay around a particular philosophical claim or theme which you would like to write about in Sartre’s essay. For example: 1. How does Sartre argue that “existentialism is a humanism” and is his argument a good one? 2. What is Sartre’s notion of freedom and how does it relate to ethics? Is this a viable ethics? 3. Explain and evaluate the claim that “existence precedes essence.” What are the implications for living if one accepts this claim? Defend or consider problems with this position. 4. What does Sartre mean when he says that “man is condemned to be free” but also that we are nonetheless responsible for who or what we become? In what way are we free, in which ways are we responsible, and to whom are we responsible? Is Sartre right? If so, why? If not, why not? 5. Drawing on the entirety of the essay, develop an account of...
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...simple fact, evil exists and it can be seen every where in today’s society. No matter how old or young, no matter where we look, whether it is in our textbooks or comic books, on TV or in our video games, evil is always there. There is evil of different types, with different causes and effects, with one event being more evil and has the power to stir up different emotions than the last. By examining opinions offered by people like John Hick, we can understand why God allows evil and the reasons extreme cases of destruction, as in “The Star” by Arthur C. Clarke to exist in our world or anywhere. There is no denying that evil has a tight grasp around the world we live in. It is this simple fact which defines the problem of evil. However, to understand this problem one must first understand evil itself. Webster’s English Dictionary defines evil as morally objectionable behaviour which causes harm, destruction, or misfortune. That being said, there are two different types of evil, moral and natural evil, each of which having their own unique characteristics. Moral evil, or wickedness, is the pain and suffering which is a direct result brought about from human action. Since humans are free to choose and act as they wish, they are free to choose to do good or they can choose to do evil. Most crimes and sinful act which cause pain and suffering, such as rape, murdered, and war are all considered morally evil acts. The second category of evil is natural evil. Natural evil is the pain...
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...weary soul to peace, to smooth a troubled spirit because of its beauty or to stir up a man’s heart because of its strong graphic visualization of the real world. In Allison Dorothy’s essay, This is Our World, Allison describes art as a tool that can be used as a voice for the weak. Allison believes that art is powerful enough to disturb a human’s mind by making him think deeply about the meaning of the art piece and that it can at the same time also be used as a tool to denounce the evil that exists in this world. Although Allison views on the use of art are considerable and thoughtful, they are in my opinion bias and not complete. Art is not only meant to trouble the spirit of a person to get across a message or a voice, art is shapeless and can be bent into whichever shape. It can also be used for many other different purposes, depending on the author of the art piece, whether the purpose is righteous or wicked. Allison see’s art as an unpredictable thing that should be used to force people to see things they do not wish to see “Art should surprise and astonish, and hopefully make you think something you had not though until you saw it.” (Allison 42). The Art piece should provoke more questions than answers and, most of all, “Should make us think about what we rarely want to think about at all” (Allison 48). Allison believes that art is not meant to be something that people get familiar with; it should not be something that is normal or usual. Art should make a person...
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...2017, education.seattlepi.com/theme-sweat-zora-n-hurston-6714.html. This text talks about the great virtue of hard work possessed by Delia, who continually “breaks her back” to make ends meet for her family. This text associates Delia’s character with the symbol of virtue and purity which is evident in her religious commitment to church. The text also describes Delia’s struggle and pain inflicted by her husband Sykes and likens this to the universal motif of the struggle between “good and evil” where good always triumphs over evil. In my opinion this source correctly categorizes...
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...King Lear (Free Essay No Copyright) In King Lear, the unnatural elements seem to always dominate the natural elements throughout the play. There exists a reversal of order in the play where the evil prosper in the downfall of the good, and where man's life is meaningless and arbitrary. King Lear, the tragic hero, dies in the end despite the torment and agony he had to endure to regenerate and repent. But it is the worthless destruction of countless other lives because of Lear's own personal tragedy that supports the view of the brutality and the meaningless of man's life in the play. Life in Lear's universe is brutal, and at times, merciless. All this has been brought about by the reign of evil in the play. The natural order of things has been reversed to such an extent that many of society's cherished values have been neglected and confused. Evil characters such as Edmund is praised by Gloucester for exposing the "treachery" of Edgar, while Edgar is denounced for his "villany". Love, based on selflessness and truth, is weighted in materialistic terms. A man's life, then, can only be considered arbitrary and meaningless in the chaotic universe of King Lear. The character of Lear and Gloucester die in a state of joy, but they nevertheless die in the end resulf. Both had immeasurable sufferings for their follies, and yet both had gained wisdom - patience, insight, love - from their experiences. Both were shown to have the capacity for comparison during their ordeals...
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...Is God Evil? Alan Gleisinger Walden University Is God Evil? “God either cannot or will not prevent evil. If God cannot prevent evil, then God is limited in power. If God will not prevent evil, then God is limited in benevolence. But if God is not limited in power or benevolence, why is there evil in the world?” Epicurus (Chaffee, 2013) Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t understand why people believe in God when there is so much pain and suffering in the world?” This question, and others similar in it’s message are becoming more and more reasonable things to be asked. If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and if God is good as he is believed to be in the traditional Western conception of God, then why would he allow evil to be such a prominent force in the lives of all of mankind (Soloman & Higgins, 2014)? In this paper I will show how the various arguments regarding the existence of God relates to the problem of evil in our world today. I will also show how these arguments relate to the different theories that try to answer questions about the problem of evil. With any attempt to answer the question of how can God exist with so much evil in the world, one must first have a clear understanding of what the problem of evil is. Simply stated, the problem of evil is: God is omnipotent (all-poweful), God is good, and evil still exists. Evil has two general categories, natural evil and moral evil. (Chaffee, 2013). Natural evil consists human suffering...
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...result of new scientific technologies, discoveries, or different social systems. It is the only genre that shows an outsider’s viewpoint on how a society could run in a different manner, allowing us to envision a desirable future and evaluate ways to work towards it or it advises us of the future we should steer clear of and aids us in ways of avoiding it. Science fiction is often observed in a dystopian setting. A dystopia is an imaginary world that intentionally overstates social problems in order to make a point about society's defects. In particular, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin is a science fiction based short story set in a dystopian society masquerading as a utopian society...
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...does exist why does he allow evil to occur, why doesn’t he protect the innocent”. In the dialogue between Athea, Bea and Agnos, Bruce Russell uses the characters to tackle that exact question by focusing on the argument of the problem of Evil. Athea in this dialogue is used as the protagonist in the attack of theism, he lays the foundation of the dialogue by providing the premises on which he believes that God must not exist due to the presence of evil. Bea in this dialogue is considered the protagonist in the defense of theism, he role is to highlight the weakness in the problem of evil argument and furthermore suggesting alternative reasons for the presence of evil despite God’s existence. In this essay I shall summarize the setting of the dialogue between the two main characters, then delve into the arguments that are presented. I shall first highlight Athea’s argument against the presence of God, explaining the structure and conclusion of the problem of evil argument, as this lays the foundation for the whole dialogue. I shall then focus on Bea’s reaction to Athea’s argument, clarifying her perceived weakness of the argument and furthermore pointing out her theories on why the presence of evil exists despite Gods existence. Finally I shall present my opinion on the Problem of evil, illustrating the weakness in the premises and its inadequate consideration of the ways in which God might prevent evil without our knowledge while letting certain evils to exist that lead to a greater...
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...Content TermPaperWarehouse.com - Free Term Papers, Essays and Research Documents The Research Paper Factory * Join * Search * Browse * Saved Papers ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Search Bottom of Form * Home Page » * Religion Topics Hinduism Worldview In: Religion Topics Hinduism Worldview Hinduism Worldview 1. The Question of Origin. The beliefs of a Hindu can be very confusing with the question of origin because they believe in so many different God’s and there are so many different sects. What unifies the sects though is the worship of Braham. It would be my guess that they believe that Brahma, the creator God, Is what brought them into existence. 2. The Question of Identity. To a Hindu all forms of living beings are a manifestation of God. They do not see themselves above animals or even plants. They belief that because animals and plants give them sources of food that they should be worshipped. 3. The Question of Meaning/Purpose. There are 4 goals in life for a Hindu. To have pleasure, wealth, harmony, and liberation. The first two consume each person because it causes suffering. The other two fulfill them. The concept of Salvation is to overcome the evil desires (pleasure and wealth) and achieve the last two to become moksha (the release of the evil). 4. The Question of Morality. Like the previous question they strive to be moksha. They have to release all the evil doings and wrongs to get there. They live through...
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...month I have learned about multiple points and arguments regarding the topic of evil and whether God why God would allow it to exist. The two points that have intrigued me the most are the types of evil and the use of evil to create virtuous character. These points have caused me to rethink my views on evil as well as how other people view evil. Until the topic lecture, I have never categorized evil into different typologies. Previously, I have always thought of evil as one generic category instead of multiple categories. The typologies that evil is divided into are are moral evil, natural evil, and radical evil. Moral evil is person-to-person evil. It is intentional and is bent on the person's detriment. When people here the word "evil," this is usually what some to mind. Moral evil includes acts that are meant to intentionally hurt someone such as lying, attacking, gossiping, etc. Natural evil is the evil that is free from human agency, and consists of natural disasters. Natural disasters are natural evil because they cause pain and suffering, however, there is no human agency causing them. The final type of evil is radical evil. Radical evil is extreme, gratuitous, and beyond normal experience. A perfect example of radical evil...
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