Quick Quiz

1. Quick Quiz Religious Ethics

2. Aquinas Aquinas identifies the end-directedness of nature that Aristotle recognized with • The light of nature that illumines morality • The love of nature that guides kindness • God’s purposes for human beings • God’s traits or perfections • The theistic concept of ‘entelechies’

3. Aquinas The word ‘natural’ in Natural Law refers to • Human Nature • God’s Nature • Our sinful nature • Our divine nature • Nature or God’s creation

4. Aquinas The word ‘law’ in Natural Law refers to • God’s commands • Man’s rules • Physical regularities • Psychic regularities • The world system

5. Aquinas We cannot pursue the good directly, according to Aquinas, because • It is unappealing to sinners • It is obscured by concern for happiness • It is “abundant” or everywhere equally • It is “abstract” or not findable in space and time • It is God, and no one can see God

6. The Problem of Evil The problem of evil is … • How can God prevent evil? • How can God permit us to do evil? • How can God exist given that evil exists? • How can God do evil? • How much evil will God allow?

7. The Problem of Evil The conclusion of the argument from evil says • No God exists • No God is good • No God is powerful • No all-good, all-powerful God exists • No all-knowing God exists

8. The Problem of Evil Why can’t God just restrain evil-doers? • Because God is not that powerful • Because God cannot look on evil, and so cannot know who does evil • Because God promised everyone, including evil people, freedom • Because then no one’s actions would be morally significant • Because restraining evil-doers is wrong

9. The Problem of Evil The problem with claiming evil is just a lack of goodness is … • Everyone knows evil exists • Evil is necessary for moral development • Fighting evil is the whole reason for religion • ‘Lack of goodness’ works just as well in the argument • It is insulting to folks who’ve experienced evil

10. The Problem of Evil The theistic response to the fact that there are possible worlds where creatures have free will but do right all the time is: • That is not a fact • Those worlds are boring • If creatures don’t sin, why would we need God? • God can’t create those worlds, only creatures can • Freedom implies disobedience

11. The Problem of Evil In the argument, unnecessary evils are those evils that … • Are consequences of our free choices • We can easily do without • We call ‘natural evils’, like earthquakes and tornados • Arise from mistakes and misunderstandings • The devil and his demons produce

12. The Problem of Evil The trouble with probabilistic arguments from evil is: • All probability is subjective • We can’t establish any associations between God and evil • Probability only results in opinion, not knowledge • Probability only works in mathematics, not religion • There is no trouble; that is the argument that works

13. Buddhism and Buddhist Ethics A ‘Buddha’ is someone who … • Has escaped the cycle of death and rebirth • Anyone over 50% bodyfat • Brightens the path of salvation • Overcomes contrary desires • Leads people to higher incarnations

14. Buddhism and Buddhist Ethics Tri-Laksana is … • Deanna Troi’s mother • A name for the three forms of evil • A name for the three characteristics of existence • A name for the three headed goddess, Vishnu • Gautama’s mother

15. Buddhism and Buddhist Ethics The five aggregates combine to form: • The physical world • The spiritual world • The empirical self • The transcendental self • Nirvana or ‘blessedness’

16. Buddhism and Buddhist Ethics Asceticism, strict denial of bodily pleasures, is accepted by the Buddha because … • Pleasures arouse desires, and desires cause suffering • Pleasures cause reincarnation, which is bad • Pleasures cause laziness; salvation requires work • It isn’t accepted; the Buddha allows some bodily pleasures to maintain a clear mind • It isn’t accepted; bodily pleasures are the best guide to a good rebirth

17. Buddhism and Buddhist Ethics The Noble 8 fold path is a path to … • Eliminate desire • Eliminate unhappiness • Establish virtue • Decrease existence • Increase existence

18. Buddhism and Buddhist Ethics Dukkha is which characteristic of existence? • Everyone must be reborn • Suffering is universal • Everything is unsatisfying • Everyone is selfish • No one knows what to do

19. Buddhism and Buddhist Ethics Anatta is which characteristic of existence? • Everything is in flux • Everyone is suffering • No one is real • Persons require salvation • Everyone can be reborn

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