Study Guide for Ninian Smart's Worldviews

V. "The Doctrinal Dimension" (p.90-106)

1. What are the five functions of the doctrinal dimension

of religion? Choose one and discuss it in detail.

2. What is philosophy, and how is it different from

religion?

3. Why does Smart speak of a doctrinal "scheme" rather

than a doctrinal "system"?

4. Is religious language the same as scientific language?

5. Describe: the ontological argument

the cosmological argument

the teleological argument

Study Guide for Ninian Smart's Worldviews

VI. "The Ethical Dimension" (p.107-120)

1. What is the relationship between a worldview or

religion and its ethical dimension?

2. Smart states [p.116] that "the study of religious ethics

can deal either with the facts about morality and

structures of moral thinking [a descriptive analysis],

or else it can reflect on what is right and wrong from

a normative stance [an evaluative analysis]"., What

approach does Smart take in this chapter?

3. What is the "dilemma about power" at the heart of

Buddhism? Does Islam have the same dilemma?

Describe Christianity's dilemma.

4. What is Kant's categorical imperative? How does it

reflect Kant's desire to establish the independence of

morals?

5. What is utilitarianism?

6. On what ideas does Smart base his normative view?

Do you agree with his position? Why or why not.