Locke Argues That in the Search for Truth We Must

question 3

Multiple Choice

Locke argues that in the search for truth we must beware the pitfalls of "enthusiasm" (passion or emotion) and always follow the lead of reason. Reason, he says, is a God-given faculty that demands we not entertain any proposition with greater assurance than is warranted by the evidence. We should not believe anything that reason does not support (although some mysteries such as immortality are beyond our understanding) . Even revelation (immediate communication of some sort from God) must be corroborated by reason; otherwise, we cannot be sure that a revelation is genuine. A prime disrupter of the workings of reason is enthusiasm, which arises "from the conceits of a warmed or over-weening brain." Through enthusiasm we can fall prey to wishful thinking, overwrought imagination (especially the religious kind) , and groundless feelings of certainty. "Reason," says Locke, "must be our last judge and guide in every thing."
-The question for people who believe they have received a revelation from God is:

• A) How strong is their faith in the truth of the revelation?
• B) How strong is their belief in God?
• C) How do they know that it is really a revelation from God?
• D) How psychologically certain are they that the revelation is true?

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Definitions:

Abbreviation

A shortened form of a word or phrase used for convenience.

SARS

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, notable for a global outbreak in 2003.

Paroxysmal Cough

A sudden and intense coughing fit, which can be characteristic of certain medical conditions, such as whooping cough.

Whooping Cough

A highly contagious bacterial infection of the respiratory tract characterized by severe hacking coughs followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop."