falsification symposium

• What is Flew's criticism of Hare's view of religious language?


  Flew argues that Hare's non-cognitive view reduces religious claims to mere expressions of a world-view, making it unclear how they differ from non-religious claims.
• How do religious believers perceive their assertions according to the study material?


  Religious believers tend to believe their assertions are cognitive, viewing statements like 'Jesus rose from the dead' as facts.
• What is one argument in favor of Hare's non-cognitive approach to religious faith?


  A non-cognitive approach could make religious faith more personal and meaningful to the individual.
• What does the study material suggest about the value of a flawed parable in Hare's non-cognitive approach?


  Even if the parable is flawed, it does not mean that the non-cognitive approach itself lacks value.
• What is a criticism of Mitchell's parable regarding the partisan and the stranger?


  Mitchell's parable may not accurately represent the interaction between God and people, as the partisan's encounter is not typical of religious experiences.
• What point does Flew make about faith being falsifiable?


  Flew argues that while faith may be falsifiable in principle, we cannot determine when evidence against God might decisively impact belief.
• How does Mitchell's parable reflect the behavior of religious believers?


  It illustrates that religious people often place their faith in God despite insufficient evidence to prove their beliefs true.
• Who are two religious figures mentioned in the study material that exemplify faith despite lack of evidence?

  Archbishop Welby and Rowan Williams.
• What is a criticism of Flew's falsification principle?


  The falsification principle itself is not falsifiable.
• How does the study material describe God's existence in relation to empirical evidence?


  God's existence is described as a matter of logic rather than empirical evidence, making the question of evidence against God meaningless.
• How would Flew's supporters likely respond to the claim that 'God exists necessarily'?


  Flew's supporters would not find this claim a convincing rebuttal to his challenge.