Phil. 102: Introduction to Philosophy
Test 2: The Philosophy of Religion
Fall, 2008 c
2005 license GFDL
1 Short Essay 50 pts.
Directions: Answer any five of the following seven short essay questions. All
answers must be in sentence and paragraph form and in standard English to
receive full credit.
1. Explain Aquinas’ Argument From Motion. How does that argument differ
from his Argument From Efficient Cause?
2. State Pascal’s Wager in detail (be sure to state the summary conclusion),
and explain two major objections to the Wager.
3. Explain clearly the distinction between natural and deductive theology.
4. What does Pascal mean when he writes, “The heart has its reasons which
reason does not know.”
5. Using the terms a priori and a posteriori, explain what it would mean to
say that the concept of God is a priori and the concept of a perfect island
is a posteriori. Is it possible that either the concept of God or the concept
of a perfect island could be an empirical concept?
6. Why does Pascal believe that God is incomprehensible?
7. Explain briefly two possible philosophical explanations which Dostoevsky
and/or Hick give to account for the death of an innocent child in a universe
created by an all-good God. From a philosophical point of view, give brief
reasons as to whether you think these accounts would be satisfactory to
most persons.
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