Courses / Module

• Distinguish and evaluate Kant’s religious, logical, metaphysical and epistemological reasons against previous attempts in philosophy of religion to prove the existence of God.
• Explain the emergence and centrality of the problem of arguing for the existence of God in post-Kantian philosophy of religion.
• Describe the historical development of modern philosophy of religion from Descartes down to the present and judge the value of key concepts and tenets elaborated by various thinkers for philosophy of religion after Kant’s critique (e.g., by Hegel, Kierkegaard, Schleiermacher, Levinas, Desmond).
• Appraise central tenets in modern philosophy of religion, such as: Descartes’s idea of the infinite; alienation and reconciliation in Hegel; faith as the crucifixion of the understanding (Kierkegaard); the feeling of absolute dependence on the infinite (Schleiermacher); the trace of the infinite in the presence of ‘other’ (Levinas); a metaxological approach to creation out of nothing by the Creator (Desmond).
• Recognise different positions and perspectives in the philosophy of religion through an examination of some of the main rejecters of Hegel’s account (e.g. by Kierkegaard, Schleiermacher, Levinas, Desmond).
• Recognise different versions, concepts and definitions of theisms, atheisms, polytheisms, deisms, nihilisms, finitude and infinitude and their relevance to the assessment of a particular philosopher of religion’s position.
• Articulate and demonstrate, through critical written communication skills and argument style in philosophy, an ability to address pivotal philosophical questions regarding some central concepts and tenets in the development of modern and contemporary philosophy of religion.

• 24 lecture hours (12 weeks x 2 lecture hours per week); 4 tutorial hours; directed reading, reflection, discussion and writing.

• Module Graded (numeric value) or Ungraded (Pass/Not Passed): Graded
• Continuous Assessment detail(s): 5% = attendance at tutorials; 15% = tutorial presentation; 20% = tutorial essay-assignment (c. 1,000 words); 60% = final essay-assignment (c. 2,000 words)

• Pass standard: 40%
• Could the result of this module be capped? No
• 5% = attendance at tutorials 15% = tutorial presentation 20% = tutorial essay-assignment (c. 1,000 words) 60% = final essay-assignment (c. 2,000 words) required to pass
• Penalties: As set out in the Department Student Handbook.

• Are supplemental/resit registrations permitted? Yes
• Essay Assignment (c. 2000 words)
• Is Supplemental Continuous Assessment registration permitted? No
• Is Supplemental Continuous Assessment capped? No

This timetable is not currently available, please contact the Philosophy Department.