PhD: Twitter quote 89

PhD: Twitter quote 89

Photo: Bell Tower in the middle of Resia Lake (South Tyrol)! Italian National Tourist Board Canada

ANDERSON, RAY S. (2001) The Shape of Practical Theology, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

Edited from my PhD

Twitter version I

The Church must work within the world without being worldly at the expense of being true to the Holy Spirit. This is no easy task for a large institution such as the Church.

June 15, 2021 

Twitter version II

And I will add, the Church must remain true to the Scripture in context.

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter 

PhD Full Version PDF

PhD: Twitter quote 88

PhD: Twitter quote 88

Photo: Amazing Switzerland Travel history

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter

PhD Full Version PDF 

Thursday, November 03, 2011 John S. Feinberg Sovereignty Theodicy/Defence: Eight Ways God Could Eliminate Evil (PhD Edit)

Edited from PhD 

John S. Feinberg Sovereignty Theodicy/Defence: Eight Ways God Could Eliminate Evil (PhD Edit) 

Twitter version I

Eighth, Feinberg notes that God could supernaturally prohibit wrong human actions. Feinberg (1994: 134). This would greatly change life as it is known. Feinberg (1994: 135).

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Twitter version II

Feinberg thought God prohibiting wrong human actions could leave the world non-functional, and not a better world than the one in existence, Feinberg (1994: 135). 

Twitter version III

Feinberg deduces that if God did have to miraculously intervene to prohibit all human immorality, God would seem unwise. Feinberg (1994: 135).

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June 10, 2021

Unwise, is a good point. If God was going to prohibit wrong human actions, at least all wrong actions, I would like to add, as God allows some and prevents others I reason; why not instead create human beings or human-like beings that would never commit wrong actions and therefore never disobey God? 

In my linked PhD thesis  (MPhil less so) and within the website archives I opine on why God willingly created human beings that  would fall. But, in short, the answer is for the chosen, the elect (Romans 8, Ephesians 1), to be through regeneration (John 3, Titus 3) covered within the applied atoning and resurrection work (completed post-mortem with and at the second advent) of Jesus Christ as justified and sanctified people. This was part of God's eternal plans before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1, Revelation 13). 

(Verses not exhaustive)

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 2 Peter 3: 8-9 Theological leanings so far

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books.

FLEW, ANTONY (1955) ‘Divine Omnipotence and Human Freedom’, in Antony Flew and A. MacIntrye (eds.), New Essays in Philosophical Theology, London, SCM, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.), A Modern Introduction To Philosophy, New York, The Free Press. 

FLEW, ANTONY (1955) ‘Theology and Falsification’, in Antony Flew and A. MacIntrye (eds.), New Essays in Philosophical Theology, London, SCM, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.), A Modern Introduction To Philosophy, New York, The Free Press. 

FLEW, ANTONY (1983)(1996) ‘The Falsification Challenge’, in Antony Flew and A. MacIntrye (eds.), New Essays in Philosophical Theology, in Michael Peterson, William Hasker, Bruce Reichenbach, and David Basinger (eds.), Philosophy of Religion, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

FLEW, ANTONY, R.M. HARE, AND BASIL MITCHELL (1996) ‘The Debate on the Rationality of Religious Belief’, in L.P. Pojman (ed.), Philosophy, The Quest for Truth, New York, Wadsworth Publishing Company. 

FLEW, ANTONY AND A.MACINTRYE (1999) ‘Philosophy of Religion’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd. 

GRIFFIN, DAVID RAY (1976) God, Power, and Evil, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.

MACKIE, J.L. (1955)(1996) ‘Evil and Omnipotence’, in Mind, in Michael Peterson, William Hasker, Bruce Reichenbach, and David Basinger (eds.), Philosophy of Religion, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

MACKIE, J.L. (1971)(1977)(2002) ‘Evil and Omnipotence’, in The Philosophy of Religion, in Alvin C. Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Another (rare) photo from yesterday. My progress against sleep apnea: 

Wednesday, June 09, 2021: Wednesday Bullets: Medical Report & The Price of Being Macho? 

PhD: Twitter quote 87

PhD: Twitter quote 87

Photo: Baja from trekearth

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter

PhD Full Version PDF 

Thursday, November 03, 2011 John S. Feinberg Sovereignty Theodicy/Defence: Eight Ways God Could Eliminate Evil (PhD Edit)

Edited from PhD 

John S. Feinberg Sovereignty Theodicy/Defence: Eight Ways God Could Eliminate Evil (PhD Edit) 

Twitter version I

Seventh, God could prohibit bodily movements that lead to immoral actions being committed. This could be done by natural or supernatural means. 

Twitter version II

In other words, human beings would have built within their bodies the inability to do actions that lead to immorality, or God could simply intervene supernaturally and prevent wrong actions from occurring.

Twitter version III

Even if Feinberg is correct and God could prohibit wrong bodily actions and does not, the mere prevention of bodily movement would be an indicator of deeper spiritual problems.

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June 7,2021

Ultimately problems of evil are ended for those post-mortem, within the Kingdom of God. These persons have the applied atoning work of Jesus Christ, and are eventually at the Second Advent resurrected to moral perfection (1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20-22, 1 Thessalonians 4, 2 Thessalonians 2). 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books.

FLEW, ANTONY (1955) ‘Divine Omnipotence and Human Freedom’, in Antony Flew and A. MacIntrye (eds.), New Essays in Philosophical Theology, London, SCM, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.), A Modern Introduction To Philosophy, New York, The Free Press. 

FLEW, ANTONY (1955) ‘Theology and Falsification’, in Antony Flew and A. MacIntrye (eds.), New Essays in Philosophical Theology, London, SCM, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.), A Modern Introduction To Philosophy, New York, The Free Press. 

FLEW, ANTONY (1983)(1996) ‘The Falsification Challenge’, in Antony Flew and A. MacIntrye (eds.), New Essays in Philosophical Theology, in Michael Peterson, William Hasker, Bruce Reichenbach, and David Basinger (eds.), Philosophy of Religion, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

FLEW, ANTONY, R.M. HARE, AND BASIL MITCHELL (1996) ‘The Debate on the Rationality of Religious Belief’, in L.P. Pojman (ed.), Philosophy, The Quest for Truth, New York, Wadsworth Publishing Company. 

FLEW, ANTONY AND A.MACINTRYE (1999) ‘Philosophy of Religion’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd. 

MACKIE, J.L. (1955)(1996) ‘Evil and Omnipotence’, in Mind, in Michael Peterson, William Hasker, Bruce Reichenbach, and David Basinger (eds.), Philosophy of Religion, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

MACKIE, J.L. (1971)(1977)(2002) ‘Evil and Omnipotence’, in The Philosophy of Religion, in Alvin C. Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Verecundiam, Argumentum, ad & Argumentum ad Populum

Verecundiam, Argumentum, ad & Argumentum ad Populum

Photo: Studt-in-Bangor-University 2021

Saturday, April 04, 2020 Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad/Appeal to false authority 

Friday, May 06, 2016 Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad/To My Friend In Regard To C.S. Lewis

search: ad populum

Preface

In a 2021 Zoom meeting, Dean (known as Deeaann by his lovely wife, An jela) pondered on the use of appealing to a false authority by those challenging the effectiveness of western COVID-19 vaccines.

Verecundiam, Argumentum, ad:

philosophy.lander.edu 

Cited

'Argumentum Ad Verecundiam (Argument from Authority) Abstract: The argument from appeal to authority, the ad verecundiam fallacy, is...shown to be a fallacy when the appeal is to an irrelevant authority and nonfallacious when the appeal is to a relevant authority.'

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Lander University documents an important distinction here. (Paraphrased) Appealing to an authority is not fallacious, but appealing to a false authority is fallacious.

Argumentum ad Populum

philosophy.lander.edu

Cited

'Sometimes, the ad verecundiam and the ad populum fallacies overlap and are said to occur together. 

Ad Populum: Appeal to Popularity Abstract: The Argumentum ad Populum is an argument, often emotionally laden, that claims a conclusion is true because most, all, or even an elite group people irrelevantly think, believe, or feel that it is. This argument is characterized here with many examples and shown to be sometimes persuasive but normally fallacious if there is no direct relevant evidence presented for the truth of its conclusion.'

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As example, within the Church, is when people quote the well-known pastor and/or well-known teacher as an expert, as if he/she is obviously so highly regarded that his/her views cannot reasonably be challenged. 

At a church apologetics conference once a proponent of libertarian free will implied there was no point in me disagreeing with his famous expert because this expert was like LeBron James.

I replied that I did not play basketball...

In contrast to ad populum, anyone can be reasonably challenged by a reasonable premise (s) and conclusion in disagreement.

Pirie

Cited

'The argumentum ad populum appeals to popular attitudes instead of presenting relevant material. In other words, it is based on prejudice. It exploits the known propensity of people to accept that which fits in comfortably with their preconceptions. The popular prejudices may or may not be justified, but the speaker who makes his case depending solely upon them is guilty of an ad populum fallacy. Pirie (165). Pirie explains that this fallacy can inflame passions and prejudices more appropriate to mass hysteria than to rational discourse. (165). Those that use this fallacy 'take the easy way out'. (165).

Blackburn

Blackburn, similarly to Pirie, states that this fallacy is 'appealing to the prejudices of the people.' (24). 

My own relevant and obviously non-exhaustive examples: Significantly accepting the views of a known teacher over critiques of a less known teacher, because the known teacher is more popular. Not primarily because of the merits of argumentation. Considering one person in a romantic context over another significantly because it is more socially and culturally acceptable, not mainly based on character and other positive attributes.

Verecundiam, Argumentum, ad continued

Pirie

Cited

Pirie explains this is an appeal to false authority. (210). A key, quote '...it is a fallacy to suppose that an expert in one field can lend support in another. Unless one has special expertise, he is a false authority.' (210). Pirie explains that 'Knowledge is specialized, and we have to accept the views of authorities to some extent.' (2010). There is a general reluctance to challenge the view of someone who appears much more qualified than ordinary people. (2010). When this person (s), the source, is not reasonably qualified, this is an appeal to authority, Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad. (2010-2011). 

A related fallacy is an appeal to an identified authority. (2011). Supposedly, a highly qualified anonymous source (2011), would qualify as an appeal to an identified authority. These sources may or may not, be reliable, but as they are anonymous, Pirie explains, 'All we can do is to accept the apparent authority they have.' (2012). Or not, I would add... 

Blackburn

Blackburn states: 'A person, institution, or organization is said to have authority when the power it exercises is supposed legitimate...'(30). Blackburn mentions there is a system of 'norms' by which authority is assumed and asserted. (30). Blackburn acknowledges that there is 'scepticism about particular claims of authority...' (30). Based on his comments: Blackburn indicates that human society cannot function adequately without a significant acceptance of professional authority guiding that society. (30). 

Embracing and stating arguments from non-experts, those without specialized, research, knowledge and evidence that are highly reliant on types of speculation, is Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad/Appeal to false authority. This done without reasonable true premise (s) leading to a reasonable and true conclusion is fallacious.

These are informal fallacies. Langer's work, that I have been reviewing deals more with formal logic.

search: symbolic logic

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

CONWAY DAVID A. AND RONALD MUNSON (1997) The Elements of Reasoning, Wadsworth Publishing Company, New York. 

LANDER.EDU (1997-2020) Licensed under GFDL 

https://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/authority.html

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy).

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

SAMPLES, KENNETH (2014) How to Evaluate an Abductive Argument, Reasons to Believe, Covina, California.