Self, Death And The Afterlife

Question 1

Define dualism

Answer 1

The belief that we have 2 elements
•The body
•The soul

Question 2

Define substance dualism

Answer 2

The belief that we have 2 elements that are made from two different substances

Question 3

Define monism

Answer 3

One substance, not two

Question 4

Define materialism

Answer 4

Only one substance that is a material one

Question 5

What does Plato believe?

Answer 5

Everything is already in existence but we just don’t realise, remember it.

Question 6

Arguments from knowledge

Answer 6

This is shown by the fact that we have knowledge that is remembered and not learned. Eg young boy understanding Pythagoras.

Question 7

Arguments from opposites

Answer 7

All things have an opposite, light has dark, life has death, body has soul.

Question 8

The analogy of the chariot

Answer 8

A house pulls in different directs because it is their desire to do so.

Question 9

What does Descartes believe about personal identity?

Answer 9

There is no doubt that he believed in life after death, and this was due to his dualistic understanding of life

Question 10

Swinburne’s main arguments

Answer 10

• light bulb analogy
• God is omnipotent
• He is a substance dualist
• The soul requires a body

Question 11

Explain the light bulb analogy?

Answer 11

If you plug the lightbulb in then it lights up however if you unplug it then the light goes off, essentially this is the same with the soul- it needs to be attached to the body to be able to work.

Question 12

Aristotle’s beliefs

Answer 12

• Four causes
• Vegetative, sensuous, intellectual soul
• No separation of body and soul
• No life after death

Question 13

Plato’s beliefs

Answer 13

• World of forms
• Argument from knowledge
• Analogy of the chariot
• Dualist

Question 14

Ian Stevenson’s beliefs

Answer 14

• past life memories
• scars and birth marks
• Buddhist past life tests
• Reincarnation

Question 15

Hicks’ beliefs

Answer 15

• replica theory
• John smith
• resurrection world
• personal continuity

Question 16

Price’s beliefs

Answer 16

• disembodied existence
• silver covered brass coin
• lucid dreaming
• ESP

Question 17

Descartes quote

Answer 17

“And so, my soul, you have been captive for a long time. This is the hour at which you must go out of prison and leave the encumbrance of this body behind you.”

Question 18

John lock says:

Answer 18

The mind defines who we are.

Question 19

Thomas Reid says:

Answer 19

The body as well as the mind is needed

Question 20

Locke’s justification of the Christian view of life after death

Answer 20

God can only be fair if the mind has memories of its time in its body. At death the body is left behind but the mind, the thing which defines us, goes on to eternal life.