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Phil 201-Unit 3 (Metaphysics)
Philosophy and Contemporary Ideas (Liberty
University)
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Phil 201—Unit 3
•Metaphysics is the study of the ultimate nature of reality
oPhilosophical anthropology
oPhysicalism vs materialism
▪The view that the body is entirely physical
▪No ghostly element
oMind-body is essential to Christian faith
▪If there is no immaterial, then there is no afterlife
oWhy do humans have value if they are just a complex assortment of atoms
•Arguments for Physicalism
oThe evolutionary argument
▪If evolution is true then we are highly evolved forms of an inert
material, and therefore we are constitutively material
oEmergent property theory is the view that as levels of complexity increase,
new properties sometimes emerge.
▪Water—wetness is a new property that comes with the combination
of oxygen and hydrogen
•Arguments for Dualism
oThe Introspection argument
oThe Discernibility argument
oThe Cartesian argument
oThe Freedom argument
▪If you have free will, then you need a mind and body
oThe Parapsychology argument
▪There are various parapsychic phenomena that can be best explained
on dualism and not explained on physicalism
oThe Platonic argument
▪The soul exists before the body, embodies the body, and then moves on
•Theism works best with dualism and libertarianism (free will)
oHumans have a physical body reflecting God’s universe, but also an immaterial
mind reflecting his
•Naturalism works best with physicalism and determinism
March 5, 2019
•Determinism
oAll choices are determined by causes that are external to the one making the
choice
•Causal Determinism
oThe view that all choices result from chains of antecedent external causes (we
are puppets controlled by the physical world).
•Theological determinism
oThe view that all choices are ultimately caused by God
•The Causality Argument
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o(Inductive) All other events that we see taking place in the world around us
have causes, therefore, events involving choice have causes
•The Divine Sovereignty Argument
oIf God is sovereign then God is in control of all things, even human choices.
•The Foreknowledge Argument
oIf god knows that some specific event is going to happen tomorrow, then it is not
possible for it not to happen, therefore, since God knows everything that is ever
going to happen, everything in the future is already predestined
March 19, 2019
•Pro-determinism
oCausality argument
oDivine Sovereignty argument
oForeknowledge argument
•Pro-libertarianism
oReductio from morality
oReductio from evil
•Are Humans Free?
oThe Bible talks about human choice: Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to
serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods
which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods
of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord.”
oThe Bible also teaches that humans are morally responsible for their actions:
Romans 2:6-8, “God who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds,’
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory,
honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the
truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and
anguish, on every soul of man who does evil.”
oThe Bible indicates that humans even have the ability to resist God himself:
Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kills the prophets, and
stones them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under wings, and you
would not.”
•If humans can resist God, is God omnipotent?
oThe Bible teaches that God is omnipotent: Job 42:2: “I know that you can do
everything, and that no thought can be withheld from you.”
oThis leads us to two questions:
▪Is it possible for God to force a free will that is actively resisting him?
▪If it is, is it possible for Him to do so without destroying that
will’s freeness?
oGod can influence people through a variety of providentially arranged
circumstances so that they freely choose to do what He wills (See
Saul’s conversion in Acts 9:1-5)
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oGod can override human freedom, so that humans are forced to do His will:
Exodus 8:32 “And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would
he let the people go.” Exodus 9:12 “And the Lord hardened the heart of
Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them.”
oSometimes God chooses not to override human freedom
