Reference no: EM133176273

Social Science-Philosophy

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your comprehension of three classic topics in the philosophy of religion: the problem of evil, Pascal's wager, William's James's will-to-believe. Skills

Topic One:

1. Some philosopher believe that God's existence is incompatible with the evil we find in the world. Summarize their reasoning to the best of your ability. What it is about a world with evil it (like ours) that is supposedly incompatible with God's existence? Is God's existence incompatible with all evil or only some types of evil? Make sure to use the material in Vaughn's book to help you explain the reasoning. (30 points) Not all philosophers are convinced that the problem of evil proves that God doesn't exist. Explain how the free-will defense and the soul-making defense supposedly reconcile God's existence with the existence of evil. For each defense, explain what you find either most compelling or most objectionable about it, and why.

Topic Two:

1. Is it morally permissible to believe in God just because it is to your practical advantage to believe? Why or why not? Use the material in Vaughn's book to help you explain how Pascal argues for belief in God. Explain the strengths and weaknesses that other thinkers have identified in his reasoning.

2. William James argued that sometimes you can be justified in believing in God even if you don't have sufficient evidence to prove that God exists. What are the conditions that James claims justify believing in God without decisive evidence? Could those same conditions justify being an atheist if you could not prove that God doesn't exist, and, if so, how would one decide what to believe?