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Bahnsen's Basic Training for Defending the Faith, Part II: Introduction to Worldviews

Page history last edited by Jairus Lansang 13 years, 12 months ago

Introduction to Worldviews

 

Dr. Bahnsen presents three categories of questions that every worldview must answer. The categories are listed and defined, with accompanying questions, as follows:

 

  • Metaphysics - Study of the origin, structure, and nature of reality. What is real? What is the world like? Metaphysical question go beyond and account for the physical world. Questions include the following: 1) What is the nature of man? What is he like? Is he free? Basically good? Simply an exalted animal? What is his place in the universe? 2) What is the nature of the universe? Its origin and structure? 3) Does God exist? What is he like? How does he relate to man and the universe? 4) What is the nature of change and development? (Dr. Bahnsen called this the question of history.) How and why do things change? Is development possible? Where is history going, and does it have any meaning? 5) What is the character of laws or concepts or universals and uniformity? In other words, do unchanging things exist? What is the nature of unchanging things, and does the universe have elements of both constancy and development?
  • Epistemology - The theory of knowledge. This deals with the nature and limits of knowledge, as well as methods used to pursue knowledge. It asks how one justifies and accounts for knowledge and explores concepts such as truth and beliefs. Questions include the following: 1) What is the nature of truth and objectivity? 2) What is the nature of belief and knowledge? How do these interact? Can we know something without believing it or vice versa? 3) What are the standards and procedures for justifying one's beliefs? What proof or evidence is acceptable? 4) What is the nature of science and discovery? How should we devise and evaluate scientific standards for discovering things about the world?
  • Ethics - The study of good and bad, right and wrong. It deals with attitudes and actions, moral responsibility and obligations. Questions include the following: 1) What is the nature of good and evil, and how should we use language in ethical judgments? What does the word "good" mean, and how does it function? 2) What is the standard for ethics and ethical evaluation? 3) How do we evaluate such things as guilt, atonement, and personal peace? 4) How should the social order and the state function? 5) How do we attain or produce moral character? How do we conduct ourselves ethically?

 

I think these are what Dr. Bahnsen used to defend on what he believed in defending the faith. He though that metaphysics, epistemology and ethics are the keys to know how to defend. Using metaphysics he questions what is the real purpose of man in the universe and why are we made. Through epistemology he asks how man was able to acquire the knowledge we have today. By ethics he says that about how we are capable of differentiating what is good and bad.

 

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