Life After Death Flashcards
What is resurrection?
The Christian belief that the body dies but the soul survives. This soul is re-embodied in a replica body, or one renewed and transformed, not just a temporary reanimation.
What are philosophical issues that may arise regarding resurrection?
- Aquinas would agree. The person is a psycho-physical unity, so would need to be so after death. Being embodied matters.
- Hick defends qualitative identity in replica theory
- Timing of resurrection is unclear (instant? After judgement?)
- Why does resurrection need to be physical?
What is reincarnation?
The Hindu belief that the world and our bodily existence is an illusion, driven entirely by karma (result of actions, relative to our dharma/duty in life). It is the endless cycle of birth, death and reincarnation of the soul, which can be escaped in moksha (to become one with the Brahman)
What is rebirth?
The Buddhist belief that there is no ‘fixed self’ or persistent identity, and claims that a ‘self’ is illusory. It is the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth, but there is only a causal link between lives, not one continuity. Can be scaped through Nirvana (being extinguished/annihilated)
What is immortality of the soul?
The Christian belief in the indestructibility of the soul and that core identity consists of the soul. It is a dualist view that originated with Plato.
Define these key terms:
- Substance
- Material
- Immaterial
- Post mortem
- Mortality
- Embodied
- Substance: the “stuff” something is made of (physical or not)
- Material: made of matter
- Immaterial: not made of matter (e.g., spirit)
- Post mortem: after life (adjective)
- Morality: state of living, for a limited time
- Embodied: within a material body
Simply define what these mind-body theories are:
- Parallelism
- Substance dualism
- Materialism
- Idealism
- Philosophical behaviourism
- Property dualism
- Ephiphenomenalism
- Parallelism: realm of physical and mental state have no connection between each other
- Substance dualism: the body and soul are distinct from each other [Descartes]
- Materialism: only matter is in the world
- Idealism: we only exist in a mental state
- Philosophical behaviourism: mental and body states are both the same
- Property dualism: there are two properties in matter (mainly physical)
- Epiphenomenalism: physical events result in mental events
What mind-body theories would monists agree on?
- Property dualism (physical only)
- Philosophical behaviourism (physical only)
- Idealism (mental)
- Materialism (physical)
What mind-body theories would dualists agree on?
- Parallelism
- Cartesian dualism
Provide arguments in favour of substance dualism.
- Swinburne’s brain transplant scenario
- Descartes’ argument from doubt (body and thoughts are essentially different)
- Physical events are public and objective, immaterial are subjective and private
- Out of body experiences
Provide arguments in favour of materialism.
- Only physical evets can be verified empirically
- Diagnosis of death is physical - the human life has ended
- Dualists cannot explain how mental and physical INTERACT
Describe Swinburne’s two scenarios regarding the human brain.
1st scenario:
- Teo hemispheres of brains into two entities
- You do not identify a person through their physical identities/organs
- There is something immaterial that makes up the human brain instead
2nd scenario:
- Brain divided into two ~ one rewarded & one punished
- You cannot determine a person by physical appearance (there may be an immaterial explanation)
What does Swinburne conclude from these scenarios?
- “I must have a further essential immaterial part…”
- “I am my soul plus whatever brain (and body) it is connected to
Provide arguments supporting the criteria regarding bodily identity to continue.
- Recognition of others (physical appearance)
- Biometric passports
- DNA persists
Provide arguments against the criteria regarding bodily identity to continue.
- Physical characteristics change in a life time
- Cosmetic surgery
- Severe injury or disease
- Twins (identical)
