Showing papers in "Sophia in 2005"
11 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the author places holiness within a self-differentiating ontological unity, the Heideggerian "fourfold", and the resulting existential disposition is characterized as "reverence".
Abstract: Atheists are rarely associated with holiness, yet they can have deeply spiritual experiences. Once such experience of the author exemplified ‘the holy’ as defined by Otto. However, the subjectivism of Otto’s Kantianism undermines Otto’s otherwise fruitful approach. While the work of Hegel overcomes this, it is too rationalistic to account for mortal life. Seeking to avoid these shortcomings, this paper places ‘holiness’ within a self-differentiating ontological unity, the Heideggerian ‘fourfold’. This unity can only be experienced by confronting groundless finite mortality, and the resulting existential disposition is characterized as ‘reverence’. Reverence is gratitude for mortal existence, and existence itself. Moreover, it is as much political as it is ontological, atheistic as it is theistic.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors defend the moral principle behind one account of infinite sin, a principle referred to as the status principle (that other things being equal the higher the status of the offended the party, the more serious the sin).
Abstract: In this paper I examine a recent objection to the retributive punishment theory of hell, specifically that the theory entails something obviously false: that it is possible to commit an infinite sin. I defend the moral principle behind one account of infinite sin, a principle referred to as the Status Principle (that other things being equal the higher the status of the offended the party, the more serious the sin). I show that recent objections to this principle are far from conclusive, and that the principle is more plausible than perhaps initially thought.
6 citations
TL;DR: In a recent issue ofSophia, Jason A. Beyer introduced objections to the antitheist arguments that purport to show the inconsistencies between God's attributes as discussed by the authors, and argued that Beyer's objections are untenable.
Abstract: In a recent issue ofSophia, Jason A. Beyer introduced objections to the antitheist arguments that purport to show the inconsistencies between God’s attributes. In this short response I argue that Beyer’s objections are untenable.
3 citations
TL;DR: The simplest Divine Command Theory is one which identifies rightness with being commanded or willed by God as mentioned in this paper, and two clear and appealing arguments for this theory turn on the idea that laws require a lawgiver, and the notion that God is sovereign or omnipotent.
Abstract: The simplest Divine Command Theory is one which identifies rightness with being commanded or willed by God. Two clear and appealing arguments for this theory turn on the idea that laws require a lawgiver, and the idea that God is sovereign or omnipotent. Critical examination of these arguments reveals some fundamental principles at odds with the Divine Command Theory, and yields some more penetrating versions of traditional objections to that theory.
3 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an analytical vision of education as a social phenomenon, focusing in the teleological and, social aspects and marking the different approaches that, from that field, have conceptualized education, including some references to post-structuralist and post-modern educational views.
Abstract: The present work shows “The Curriculum†as a fundamental object of reflection. The first part, aims to present an analytical vision of education as a social phenomenon, focusing in the teleological and, social aspects and marking the different approaches that, from that field, have conceptualized education, including some references to post-structuralist and post-modern educational views.The second part, highlights the conceptual analysis of curriculum, its scopes and limitations, and its double nature as a whole in the theory-practice relation (PEJ and Pedagogical practice, on one hand; and, the “school†– context relation, on the other hand). Finally, the third part, assumes the curriculum critical vision, the tensions generated towards the cultural relativity and its real possibilities in the generation of an Institutional descontextualization and recontextualization process that tune “school†with the “feelings†of the new century.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify several logical difficulties regarding the possibility of attaining historical evidence for the occurrence of miracles and demonstrate that there is sufficient reason to doubt Swinburne's central claim.
Abstract: In his bookThe Concept of Miracle and his paper ‘For the Possibility of Miracles’ Swinburne claims that there are no logical difficulties in supposing that there could be strong historical evidence for the occurrence of miracles. This claim is based on three assertions; two of which I demonstrate are only true contingently. In this paper I identify several logical difficulties regarding the possibility of attaining historical evidence for the occurrence of miracles. On the strength of these logical difficulties I hope to demonstrate that there is sufficient reason to doubt Swinburne’s central claim.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors point out that theological fatalism is incompatible with the existence of a being who is omnipotent, omniscient and infallible, and they end by suggesting that "possible" formalized as "◊" is to be understood as "can or could have been" and not simply as ''can''.
Abstract: We content that a very seductive argument for theological fatalism fails. In the course of our discussion we point out that theological fatalism is incompatible with the existence of a being who is omnipotent, omniscient and infallible. We end by suggesting that ‘possible’ formalized as ‘◊’ is to be understood as ‘can or could have been’ and not simply as ‘can’. The argument we discuss conflates the two.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors consider whether it is consistent to hold both that God is omnibenevolent and that he infinitely punishes human beings for the commission of finite transgressions.
Abstract: In “Omnibenevolence and Eternal Damnation”, I consider whether it is consistent to hold both that God is omnibenevolent and that he infinitely punishes human beings for the commission of finite transgressions. In exploring this problem, I discuss the utilitarian and retributive notions of punishment and justice, the possible mitigating effect of forewarning, and differing conceptions of the nature of the relationship of God to human beings. My conclusion is that it is inconsistant to hold both of these beliefs.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the extreme but well-argued-for thesis that the indirect object of an aesthetic experience of serious art is the human soul of the person having the experience.
Abstract: This paper explores the extreme but well-argued-for thesis that the indirect object of an aesthetic experience of serious art is the human soul of the person having the experience. The author of the thesis was Fr. Arthur Little S.J. a mid twentieth-century Irishman, professional philosopher and philosophical popularizer. The paper treats Little’s thesis seriously: comparisons are drawn with Kant, which may be of interest even to those hostile to Little’s central assertion. Little makes a brilliant analysis of a ‘free-beauty’, making the sharpest contrast between this and the most serious art, tragedy. Tragedy, Little holds Kant not able to cope with. One agrees.
1 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, a training and development proposal of the research that permits students to face the learning and the new challenges that are required by the future society is presented, which is based on the methodological vision that has been used to define it.
Abstract: In this paper there are some intelligence developmente conditionns about research such as the institucional an social process of knowledge generation in order to fin approach to the methodological vision that has been use to define it. This is a training and development proposal of the research that permits students to face the learning and the new challenges that are required by the future society.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that such a theodicy is inadequate because the strategy of behavior modification constitutes punishment (in the psychologists' sense), and punishment is not the most effective strategy of behaviour modification.
Abstract: Some philosophers of religion claim that one reason God permits suffering is to make people dissatisfied with their lives so they will turn to him. That theodicy is inadequate because 1) that strategy of behavior modification constitutes punishment (in the psychologists’ sense), and 2) punishment is not the most effective strategy of behavior modification. Since God can be expected to use the most effective strategy available to him, such a theodicy is inadequate.