WHAT IS A WORLDVIEW?WHAT IS A WORLDVIEW?

WORLD VIEWS: WHAT IS WORLD VIEWS: WHAT IS TRUE?TRUE?

MEANING OF “WORLDVIEW”MEANING OF “WORLDVIEW”

• ““An all-inclusive world-view or outlook. A An all-inclusive world-view or outlook. A somewhat poetic term to indicate either somewhat poetic term to indicate either an articulated system of philosophy or a an articulated system of philosophy or a more or less unconscious attitude toward more or less unconscious attitude toward life and the world” (Hunter Mead, life and the world” (Hunter Mead, Types Types and Problems of Philosophyand Problems of Philosophy).).

• ““A set of presuppositions which we hold A set of presuppositions which we hold about the makeup of our world” (James about the makeup of our world” (James Sire, Sire, Discipleship of the MindDiscipleship of the Mind).).

MEANING OR WORLDVIEW…MEANING OR WORLDVIEW…

• ““A worldview is a set of presuppositions A worldview is a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold (or assumptions) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world. Everyone has basic makeup of our world. Everyone has a worldview, whether he (or she) can a worldview, whether he (or she) can explain it or not. It can be likened to a explain it or not. It can be likened to a pair of glasses through which one views pair of glasses through which one views the world” (Jerry Solomon, the world” (Jerry Solomon, ProbeProbe))

DESCRIPTION OF DESCRIPTION OF WORLDVIEWWORLDVIEW• A Deeper Understanding of Worldview A Deeper Understanding of Worldview

Includes…theIncludes…the sensing, thinking, sensing, thinking, knowing, acting self that exists in the knowing, acting self that exists in the milieu of a world or a universe…i.e., milieu of a world or a universe…i.e., matter, energy, information.matter, energy, information.

REALITY AND WORLDVIEWREALITY AND WORLDVIEW

BASIC TENETS AND BASIC TENETS AND QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

REALITY AND WORLDVIEW: REALITY AND WORLDVIEW: BASIC TENETSBASIC TENETS

1.1. Something exists.Something exists.2.2. All people have absolutes.All people have absolutes.3.3. No statement can be both true and false at the No statement can be both true and false at the

same time (same time (law of non-contradictionlaw of non-contradiction)… a )… a statement that claims to be true cannot affirm statement that claims to be true cannot affirm and deny to “P” at the same time and with the and deny to “P” at the same time and with the same respect (e.g., blue and not blue).same respect (e.g., blue and not blue).

4.4. All people (though perhaps not claiming to be All people (though perhaps not claiming to be religious) exercise faith (or belief in/about religious) exercise faith (or belief in/about something). This is one’s “bank” or “library” of something). This is one’s “bank” or “library” of basic assumptions.basic assumptions.

REALITY AND WORLDVIEW: REALITY AND WORLDVIEW: MAJOR QUESTIONSMAJOR QUESTIONS

1.1. Why is there something rather than nothing Why is there something rather than nothing (Ontology)?(Ontology)?

2.2. How do you know that you know How do you know that you know (Epistemology)?(Epistemology)?

3.3. How do you explain human nature How do you explain human nature (Anthropology)?(Anthropology)?

4.4. How do you determine what is right and wrong How do you determine what is right and wrong (Ethics)?(Ethics)?

5.5. What is the meaning of history?What is the meaning of history?

6.6. What happens to a person at death?What happens to a person at death?

WORLDVIEW IN CONTEXTWORLDVIEW IN CONTEXT

• The Self and its Worldview in the The Self and its Worldview in the Context of the WorldContext of the World (i.e. our senses (i.e. our senses of sight, sound, etc.; the ability to of sight, sound, etc.; the ability to feel stimuli from the world around us feel stimuli from the world around us in a process by which sensed stimuli in a process by which sensed stimuli and existing knowledge are and existing knowledge are transformed into modified transformed into modified knowledge).knowledge).

WORLDVIEW IN CONTEXT…WORLDVIEW IN CONTEXT…

• Based on the Notion of Self and its Based on the Notion of Self and its Interaction with the World, a Interaction with the World, a Definition for Worldview Emerges…Definition for Worldview Emerges…

““A worldview is the set of beliefs about fundamentalA worldview is the set of beliefs about fundamentalAspects of Reality that ground and influence all Aspects of Reality that ground and influence all one’s perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing.”one’s perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing.”

WORLDVIEW AS ONE’S WORLDVIEW AS ONE’S PERSONAL PHILOSOPHYPERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

• The Elements of One’s Worldview, The Elements of One’s Worldview, the Beliefs about Certain Aspects of the Beliefs about Certain Aspects of Reality, become One’s…Reality, become One’s…

EpistemologyEpistemology Beliefs about the nature and sources of Beliefs about the nature and sources of knowledgeknowledge

MetaphysicsMetaphysics Beliefs about the ultimate nature of RealityBeliefs about the ultimate nature of Reality

CosmologyCosmology Beliefs about the origins and nature of the Beliefs about the origins and nature of the universeuniverse

TeleologyTeleology Beliefs about the meaning and purpose of Beliefs about the meaning and purpose of the universe; its inanimate elements and the universe; its inanimate elements and inhabitantsinhabitants

TheologyTheology Beliefs about the nature and existence of Beliefs about the nature and existence of GodGod

AnthropologyAnthropology Beliefs about the nature and purpose of Beliefs about the nature and purpose of Man in general and, oneself in particularMan in general and, oneself in particular

AxiologyAxiology Beliefs about the nature of value, what is Beliefs about the nature of value, what is good (or, bad), what is right (or, wrong)good (or, bad), what is right (or, wrong)

EPISTEMOLOGYEPISTEMOLOGY

ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONSISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

EPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUESEPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUES

• What is Knowledge?What is Knowledge?

• What is Knowing?What is Knowing?

• What is the Basis for Knowledge?What is the Basis for Knowledge?

• What is the Difference between What is the Difference between Knowledge and Faith?Knowledge and Faith?

• Is Certainty Possible?Is Certainty Possible?

EPISTEMOLOGICAL EPISTEMOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

• Your epistemology, what you Your epistemology, what you believe about knowledge, affects believe about knowledge, affects what you accept as valid evidence what you accept as valid evidence and therefore what you’re willing to and therefore what you’re willing to believe about particulars.believe about particulars.

METAPHYSICSMETAPHYSICS

BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONSBELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

METAPHYSICAL BELIEFSMETAPHYSICAL BELIEFS

• What is the Ultimate Nature of What is the Ultimate Nature of Reality?Reality?

• What is Truth?What is Truth?

• What is the Ultimate Test for Truth?What is the Ultimate Test for Truth?

METAPHYSICAL METAPHYSICAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

• Your metaphysical beliefs Your metaphysical beliefs (assumptions) will be affected (assumptions) will be affected depending upon whether or not you depending upon whether or not you are a naturalist, admit to a spiritual are a naturalist, admit to a spiritual dimension to life or to an ultimate dimension to life or to an ultimate Reality (God), or depending on your Reality (God), or depending on your approach to truth.approach to truth.

COSMOLOGYCOSMOLOGY

BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONSBELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

COSMOLOGICAL BELIEFSCOSMOLOGICAL BELIEFS

• What is the Origin of the Universe?What is the Origin of the Universe?

• What is the Origin of life…Man?What is the Origin of life…Man?

COSMOLOGICAL COSMOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS• Your cosmological beliefs will dictate Your cosmological beliefs will dictate

whether or not you consider the whether or not you consider the universe is the result of chance, universe is the result of chance, whether or not life has meaning and whether or not life has meaning and significance and in turn human significance and in turn human thoughts and actions; i.e., “Does my thoughts and actions; i.e., “Does my life have meaning and significance in life have meaning and significance in the Big Picture or Grand Scheme of the Big Picture or Grand Scheme of things?”things?”

TELEOLOGYTELEOLOGY

BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONSBELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

TELEOLOGICAL BELIEFSTELEOLOGICAL BELIEFS

• Does the Universe have a Purpose?Does the Universe have a Purpose?

• If the Universe has a Purpose, whose If the Universe has a Purpose, whose Purpose is it ?Purpose is it ?

• What is the Purpose of the Universe?What is the Purpose of the Universe?

TELEOLOGICAL TELEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

• Your teleological assumptions Your teleological assumptions (beliefs, convictions) will be (beliefs, convictions) will be influenced by whether or not you influenced by whether or not you think you are accountable to think you are accountable to Someone-thing higher than yourself; Someone-thing higher than yourself; whether or not your consider your whether or not your consider your life as in conformance to a Plan.life as in conformance to a Plan.

THEOLOGYTHEOLOGY

BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONSBELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

THEOLOGICAL BELIEFSTHEOLOGICAL BELIEFS

• Is there a God?Is there a God?

• What is God’s Nature?What is God’s Nature?

• What is the Relationship of God to What is the Relationship of God to the Material Universe?the Material Universe?

• What is the Relationship of God to What is the Relationship of God to Man?Man?

THEOLOGICAL THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

• Your theological beliefs will affect Your theological beliefs will affect your sense of purpose and ultimately your sense of purpose and ultimately your reactions to events (behavior), your reactions to events (behavior), interpretation of events (outlook), or interpretation of events (outlook), or your sense of obligation to or need your sense of obligation to or need for a relationship with God (Other).for a relationship with God (Other).

ANTHROPOLOGYANTHROPOLOGY

BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONSBELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

ANTHROPOLOGICAL BELIEFSANTHROPOLOGICAL BELIEFS

• What is Man?What is Man?

• What is Man’s Place in the Universe?What is Man’s Place in the Universe?

• Does Man have a Free Will?Does Man have a Free Will?

• What ought Man to Do?What ought Man to Do?

• Is Man Basically Good or Evil?Is Man Basically Good or Evil?

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

• Your anthropological beliefs will affect Your anthropological beliefs will affect whether or not you consider yourself whether or not you consider yourself and others as mere mechanistic and others as mere mechanistic elements of the universe, or as a elements of the universe, or as a stewards of God’s creation; whether or stewards of God’s creation; whether or not you are a moral agent with the not you are a moral agent with the capacity for right and wrong and capacity for right and wrong and needing to look to Someone-thing needing to look to Someone-thing higher for forgiveness, redemption and higher for forgiveness, redemption and moral strength.moral strength.

AXIOLOGYAXIOLOGY

BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONSBELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

AXIOLOGICAL BELIEFSAXIOLOGICAL BELIEFS

• What is Value?What is Value?

• What Kinds of Value are There?What Kinds of Value are There?

• Is Value Objective or Relative?Is Value Objective or Relative?

• Is Value Absolute or Relative?Is Value Absolute or Relative?

• What is the Source of Value?What is the Source of Value?

• What is the Highest Good?What is the Highest Good?

• What is Right?What is Right?

AXIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSAXIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

• It is impossible to overstate the importance of It is impossible to overstate the importance of your axiology in determining your behavior. It your axiology in determining your behavior. It is the foundation for is the foundation for all all of your conscious of your conscious judgments and decisions and therefore the judgments and decisions and therefore the basis for basis for all all purpositive thought and action purpositive thought and action (related to designed activity, plans). Although (related to designed activity, plans). Although some acts are reflexive or instinctive (not some acts are reflexive or instinctive (not ascribed to a conscious reference to your ascribed to a conscious reference to your beliefs), any action based on even the most beliefs), any action based on even the most cursory reflection has its foundation in your cursory reflection has its foundation in your standards of what is good or bad, right or standards of what is good or bad, right or wrong.wrong.

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

• In summary, your worldview is the set of In summary, your worldview is the set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of beliefs about fundamental aspects of Reality that ground and influence all your Reality that ground and influence all your perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing. perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing. Your worldview consists of your Your worldview consists of your epistemology, your metaphysics, your epistemology, your metaphysics, your cosmology, your teleology, your theology, cosmology, your teleology, your theology, your anthropology, and your axiology. Each your anthropology, and your axiology. Each of these subsets of your worldview is highly of these subsets of your worldview is highly interrelated with an affects virtually all of interrelated with an affects virtually all of the others.the others.

EpistemologyEpistemology Beliefs about the nature and sources of Beliefs about the nature and sources of knowledgeknowledge

MetaphysicsMetaphysics Beliefs about the ultimate nature of RealityBeliefs about the ultimate nature of Reality

CosmologyCosmology Beliefs about the origins and nature of the Beliefs about the origins and nature of the universeuniverse

TeleologyTeleology Beliefs about the meaning and purpose of Beliefs about the meaning and purpose of the universe; its inanimate elements and the universe; its inanimate elements and inhabitantsinhabitants

TheologyTheology Beliefs about the nature and existence of Beliefs about the nature and existence of GodGod

AnthropologyAnthropology Beliefs about the nature and purpose of Beliefs about the nature and purpose of Man in general and, oneself in particularMan in general and, oneself in particular

AxiologyAxiology Beliefs about the nature of value, what is Beliefs about the nature of value, what is good (or, bad), what is right (or, wrong)good (or, bad), what is right (or, wrong)

THE MAJOR WORLD VIEWSTHE MAJOR WORLD VIEWS

THEISM, NATURALISM, THEISM, NATURALISM, PANTHEISMPANTHEISM

THEISMTHEISM

• MonotheismMonotheism

• Creation Ex NihiloCreation Ex Nihilo

• SupernaturalismSupernaturalism

• RevelationRevelation

• Man’s NatureMan’s Nature

• Man’s NeedMan’s Need

• Man’s DestinyMan’s Destiny

GOD

Man

NaturalismNaturalism

1.1.ModernismModernism– EvolutionEvolution– AutonomyAutonomy– Human ReasonHuman Reason– ScienceScience

2.2.PostmodernismPostmodernism– Truth is culturally basedTruth is culturally based– Reality if in the mind of the beholderReality if in the mind of the beholder– We can’t think independently because we are defined We can’t think independently because we are defined

by our cultureby our culture– There is no “trans-cultural objectivity”There is no “trans-cultural objectivity”– There is no progress.There is no progress.– Nothing is ever proven.Nothing is ever proven.

Culture

PANTHEISMPANTHEISM

• MonismMonism

• PantheismPantheism

• Human DivinityHuman Divinity

• Cosmic ConsciousnessCosmic Consciousness

• ReincarnationReincarnation

• Moral RelativismMoral Relativism

god

WORLDVIEW TESTSWORLDVIEW TESTS

1.1. Consistent?Consistent?

2.2. Coherent?Coherent?

3.3. Comprehensive?Comprehensive?

4.4. Correspondence?Correspondence?