MODULE 9

Question 1

veil of perception

Answer 1

How a subjective mind perceives objective reality. The concept is that we will never truly know what the objective world is like since our brain has a limited subjective lens.

Question 2

egocentric predicament

Answer 2

the epistemological predicament in which we find ourselves upon coming to recognize the veil of perception. Coined by Ralph Barton Perry, this logical consequence of the veil of perception gave birth to solipsism.

Question 3

solipsism

Answer 3

the philosophical view that the existence of one’s own mind is the only thing that can be ascertained with certainty.

Question 4

determinism

Answer 4

the view that all events are effects of prior causes. Arguably, this claim extends to include all human actions.

Question 5

extension

Answer 5

in metaphysics, occupying two or more points in space. Concrete objects meet this criterion, and they are thus said to be extended in space.

Question 6

substance

Answer 6

substance is often understood to refer to physical matter in its most general sense, independent of form (and perhaps even as it exists independently from its perceivable qualities). Thus, we can speak of H2O generally, and independently of whether it is currently in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state. Note that in this sense, substance is necessarily extended in space.

Question 7

God of the Gaps

Answer 7

a way of using the idea of God to explain what we don’t yet know or understand

Question 8

ethical monotheism

Answer 8

One all-powerful god that recognizes the difference between moral right and wrong, and judges us.

Question 9

eternal/everlasting distinction

Answer 9

Eternal: Exists at all points in time, no change.
Everlasting: Exists at one point in time forever, can change.

Question 10

Cartesian Dualism

Answer 10

the dualistic conception of reality as posed by Descartes, who proposed that reality itself is comprised of the following two kinds of substance:

res extensa - Latin for “extended substance” – i.e., substance that is extended in space
res cogitans - Latin for “mental substance” – i.e., substance that is mental (which Descartes took to be unextended)

Question 11

Occasionalism

Answer 11

Malebranche proposes that for any action of any human body, God steps in and operates the given body in conjunction the wishes of the associated soul. Critics dismiss this as a God of the Gaps proposal.

Question 12

Malebranche, Nicolas

Answer 12

(1638-1715) - Catholic priest and philosopher who proposed to remedy Cartesian dualism with Occasionalism