Miracles and reasonable belief

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Briggs ◽  
Hans Halvorson ◽  
Andrew Steane
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Human Experience ◽  
Scientific Understanding ◽  
Philosophical Reflection ◽  
Reasonable Belief ◽  
Definition Of

What does it mean to say that something is miraculous, and is it reasonable to form the opinion that such things can happen? The chapter combines human experience and philosophical reflection. It is difficult to formulate a tight definition of miracles, yet we have some pragmatic notion of what we mean by the term. The same can be said of ‘laws of nature’. Attempts to show that it is never reasonable to think that a miracle occurred are themselves faulty. This includes Hume’s argument about human testimony, as well as more recent philosophical attempts. But this does not deflect our intellectual duty to be cautious, to care about truth, to seek scientific understanding, and not be gullible. A miraculous event is out of the ordinary, but not arbitrarily so; it exhibits a larger pattern. Human life involves a combination of complimentary modes of thinking.

INEVITABILITY OF REVIVAL: PRO AND COUNTER ANTINATALISM

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-88
Author(s):  
Nikolay S. Savkin
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Arthur Schopenhauer ◽  
Expected Effect ◽  
Philosophy Of Life ◽  
Active Subject ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Natural Way

Introduction. Radical pessimism and militant anti-natalism of Arthur Schopenhauer and David Benathar create an optimistic philosophy of life, according to which life is not meaningless. It is given by nature in a natural way, and a person lives, studies, works, makes a career, achieves results, grows, develops. Being an active subject of his own social relations, a person does not refuse to continue the race, no matter what difficulties, misfortunes and sufferings would be experienced. Benathar convinces that all life is continuous suffering, and existence is constant dying. Therefore, it is better not to be born. Materials and Methods. As the main theoretical and methodological direction of research, the dialectical materialist and integrative approaches are used, the realization of which, in conjunction with the synergetic technique, provides a certain result: is convinced that the idea of anti-natalism is inadequate, the idea of giving up life. A systematic approach and a comprehensive assessment of the studied processes provide for the disclosure of the contradictory nature of anti-natalism. Results of the study are presented in the form of conclusions that human life is naturally given by nature itself. Instincts, needs, interests embodied in a person, stimulate to active actions, and he lives. But even if we finish off with all of humanity by agreement, then over time, according to the laws of nature and according to evolutionary theory, man will inevitably, objectively, and naturally reappear. Discussion and Conclusion. The expected effect of the idea of inevitability of rebirth can be the formation of an optimistic orientation of a significant part of the youth, the idea of continuing life and building happiness, development. As a social being, man is universal, and the awareness of this universality allows one to understand one’s purpose – continuous versatile development.

Erkundungen Von Gegenwelten: Zur Orientierungsleistung «mythischer» Reisen Am Beispiel Zweier Mesopotamischer Texte Erkundungen Von Gegenwelten: Zur Orientierungsleistung «mythischer» Reisen Am Beispiel Zweier Mesopotamischer Texte

Numen ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-254
Author(s):  
Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Religious Orientation ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Religious Symbol ◽  
Symbol Systems ◽  
Literary Sources ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Gilgamesh Epic ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractThe present article focuses on the function of mythic journeys with regard to the problem of death and the transience of human life in two selected Mesopotamian literary sources: the Gilgamesh-Epic IX–XI and the Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld. The selected texts are analysed and compared from the perspective of a functionalist definition of religious symbol systems, with particular attention to the transformation involved in travelling through different cosmic regions. The structure of the journey, the characterisation of the different regions visited by the protagonist, and the changes provoked by the mythic travel evince similarities and differences in the strategies employed to produce a religious orientation dealing with the ineluctable limits of life.

scholarly journals Trauma and Sacrifice in Divided Communities: The Sacralisation of the Victims of Terrorism in Spain

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Eliana Alemán ◽  
José Pérez-Agote
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
The State ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
Institutional Discourse ◽  
Divided Societies ◽  
The Us ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Public Demonstrations ◽  
The Way

This work aims to show that the sacrificial status of the victims of acts of terrorism, such as the 2004 Madrid train bombings (“11-M”) and ETA (Basque Homeland and Liberty) attacks in Spain, is determined by how it is interpreted by the communities affected and the manner in which it is ritually elaborated a posteriori by society and institutionalised by the state. We also explore the way in which the sacralisation of the victim is used in socially and politically divided societies to establish the limits of the pure and the impure in defining the “Us”, which is a subject of dispute. To demonstrate this, we first describe two traumatic events of particular social and political significance (the case of Miguel Ángel Blanco and the 2004 Madrid train bombings). Secondly, we analyse different manifestations of the institutional discourse regarding victims in Spain, examining their representation in legislation, in public demonstrations by associations of victims of terrorism and in commemorative “performances” staged in Spain. We conclude that in societies such as Spain’s, where there exists a polarisation of the definition of the “Us”, the success of cultural and institutional performances oriented towards reparation of the terrorist trauma is precarious. Consequently, the validity of the post-sacrificial narrative centring on the sacred value of human life is ephemeral and thus fails to displace sacrificial narratives in which particularist definitions of the sacred Us predominate.

Consciousness: The Most Critical Moral (Constitutional) Standard for Human Personhood

1987 ◽  
Vol 13 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 233-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Cranford ◽  
David Randolph Smith
Keyword(s):  
Medical Profession ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Persistent Vegetative State ◽  
Major Premise ◽  
Definition Of Death ◽  
The Past ◽  
Appropriate Care ◽  
Life Itself ◽  
Definition Of

For the past two decades, the medical profession and society have debated the definition of death. Some reasonable consensus has been reached on this issue, in theory and in practice. In the last few years, however, a far more important debate has been evolving — the definition of human personhood. Human personhood has been discussed extensively in the past with respect to the abortion question and other issues concerning the beginning of life. More recently, however, the definition of personhood has been raised with respect to termination of treatment decisions at the end of life and, in particular, on the appropriate care of patients in a persistent vegetative state.Our major premise is that consciousness is the most critical moral, legal, and constitutional standard, not for human life itself, but for human personhood. There is nothing highly original in our approach to this particular issue; others have advanced similar arguments in recent years.

Life and Death

2016 ◽  
pp. 422-442
Author(s):  
Jana Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Death Penalty ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Scientific Understanding ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Artificial Reproduction ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Salvation History ◽  
The Creation

This chapter places Catholic teaching on questions of life and death against the background of a Catholic vision of salvation history, emphasizing that Catholics see no necessary opposition between Christian faith and progress in scientific understanding of the creation. The chapter then considers questions concerning abortion, contraception, and techniques for artificial reproduction. The second half of the chapter focuses on questions concerning death. Catholic teaching views human life in this world as finite, and thus sees death as intrinsic to the current human condition. After considering Catholic teaching on euthanasia, the chapter considers Catholic discussion of war, the death penalty, and care for the environment.

scholarly journals CONTENTS AND SYSTEM OF EXPERT ACTIVITY IN THE FIELD OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES: DEFINITION PROBLEMS

2019 ◽  
pp. 158-162
Author(s):  
S. M. Korniiko
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Computer Technology ◽  
Information Search ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Human Life ◽  
General System ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Computer Technologies ◽  
Definition Of

The article is devoted to the definition of the content and the system of expert activity in the field of computer technologies, which is based on the results of determining the general system of expert activity. Expert activity should be understood as the implementation by authorized agents on the basis of special knowledge in the field of science, technology, art, crafts, etc. Studies of objects, phenomena and processes in order to provide scientifically substantiated conclusions on the diverse issues that arise in the process of life of society. Such a definition of expert activity includes both judicial and non-judicial expert examination. At present, more than 500 laws are adopted in Ukraine, which in one way or another concern the conduct of expert assessments (most of them are valid at 2019). But no any among that laws directly devoted to the expert work in the field of computer technology. So the system and content of the expert work in the field of computer technology should be established, based on knowledge of the object of expertise – computer technology. It is considered as synonymous with the concept of “information technology” or “information and communication technologies”. Information technology – it is a purposeful organized set of information processes using computer facilities, which provide high speed data processing, rapid information search, dispersal of data, access to information sources regardless of places of their location. The system of expert activity in the field of computer technologies includes examinations belonging to a group of judicial (engineering, commodity, forensic, etc.) and non-judicial (scientific and scientific and technical expertise; examination of issues of quality and conformity of goods (products) to certain requirements; examination of issues of information security; examination of issues of environmental impact and the environment of human life, etc.), as well as presented by different kindsand species examinations that have different goals focused on the study of computer technology in their various aspects and provides solutions to diverse issues.

scholarly journals APPROACHES TO DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ INFORMATION CULTURE IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

2021 ◽  
Vol 101 (2(Ч.1)) ◽  
pp. 83-93
Author(s):  
M. M. Кабанець ◽  
В. М. Алфімов
Keyword(s):  
Professional Training ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Information Value ◽  
Information Culture ◽  
Significant Information ◽  
Nature Of Information ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Definition Of Information

The article focuses on the importance of information culture as an integral part of professional culture of engineers, which affects the quality and safety of engineering solutions. The main two approaches to the definition of "information culture" are determined, which include an information approach when the information culture is reduced to the concept of computer or information literacy and a culturological approach when the concept "information culture" is seen as a way of human life in the information society. Development of the information culture acts as a process of harmonization of the inner world of man in the acquisition of socially significant information. The main components of information culture of engineers are highlighted, including literacy and competence in understanding the nature of information processes and relationships, humanistically oriented information value-semantic sphere, developed information reflection, creativity in information behaviour and socio-information activity. Based on a broad understanding of information culture as a qualitative characteristic of the life of a specialist in terms of receiving, transmitting, storing and using information, where universal moral values are the main priority, basic methodological approaches to forming information culture of future engineers are proposed, namely: system, personal, activity, integrative, culturological, axiological and reflexive approaches. The process of developing future engineers’ information culture in the process of professional training in higher educational institutions will be effective providing that it is based on the substantiated methodological approaches.

scholarly journals Universální život a život lidský. K ontologii přírody u Jana Patočky a Maurice Merleau-Pontyho

REFLEXE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (60) ◽  
pp. 29-63
Author(s):  
Martin Rabas
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Human Experience ◽  
The Other ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Inorganic Matter ◽  
The World ◽  
The One

The present article has two objectives. One is to elucidate the philosophical approach presented in the so-called Strahov Systematic Manuscripts of Jan Patočka in terms of consciousness and nature. The other is to compare this philosophical approach with Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s theses on nature, as elaborated in 1956–1961, and to point out some advantages and limitations of both approaches. In our opinion, Patočka’s philosophical approach consists, on the one hand, in a descriptive analysis of human experience, which he understands as a pre-reflective self-relationship pointing towards the consciousness of the world. On the other hand, on the basis of this descriptive analysis Patočka consequently explicates all non-human life, inorganic matter, and finally the whole of nature as life in its own right, the essence of which is also a certain self-relation with a tendency towards consciousness. The article then briefly presents Merleau-Ponty’s theses on nature, and finally compares them with Patočka’s overall theses on nature. The advantage of Patočka’s notion of nature as against Merleau-Ponty’s is that, in Patočka’s view, nature encompasses both the principle of unity and individuality. On the other hand, the advantage of Merleau-Ponty’s understanding of nature as against Patočka’s lies in the consistent interconnectedness of the infinite life of nature and the finite life of individual beings.

scholarly journals The Breath of Sense: Language, Structure, and the Paradox of Origin

Konturen ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Paul M. Livingston
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Analytic Philosophy ◽  
Unsuccessful Attempt ◽  
Philosophical Reflection ◽  
Linguistic Turn ◽  
Philosophical Writing ◽  
Nature And Culture ◽  
Language Structure ◽  
Important Sense ◽  
History Of

Within contemporary analytic philosophy, at least, varieties of “naturalism” have attained a widespread dominance. In this essay I suggest, however, that a closer look at the history of the linguistic turn in philosophy can offer helpful terms for rethinking what we mean in applying the categories of “nature” and “culture” within a philosophical reflection on human life and practice. For, as I argue, the central experience of this history—namely, philosophy’s transformative encounter with what it envisions as the logical or conceptual structure of everyday language – also repeatedly demonstrates the existence of a fundamental aporia or paradox at the center of the claim of language upon an ordinary human life. I discuss the occurrence of this aporia, and attempts to resolve it, in the philosophical writing of Carnap, Quine, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, and McDowell. I conclude that the prevailing naturalistic style in analytic philosophy, whatever its recommendations, is itself the outcome of an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the central aporia of twentieth-century philosophical reflection on language. Closer attention to this aporia reveals that language, as we find it in both theoretical and everyday reflection, is in the most important sense, neither essentially “natural” nor “cultural.”

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document