Undergraduate Course: God in Philosophy: Plato to Hume (THET08010)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | An introduction to philosophical theology and some issues in the philosophy of religion, especially the question of how to inquire into 'God' philosophically. Lectures, seminars and set texts in this course treat a range of philosophers in the Western tradition from Plato to the Enlightenment. |
| Course description |
Academic Description:
The course aims to investigate the role that God plays in major philosophers between Plato and Hume. It also considers the role that key developments in philosophy play in theological speech about God. Lectures and tutorials will focus on primary texts from Plato to Hume; the two essays will require students to interpret the primary texts. Themes include analogy, metaphysics and existence.
Syllabus/Outline Content:
The set texts are excerpts from classic works from Plato's Republic to Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. There is recommended secondary literature to aid interpretation but the focus is on interpreting the primary texts.
Student Learning Experience Information:
The course has a programme of three one-hour weekly lectures plus a one-hour tutorial per week. There will be interactive elements to the lectures, and there is a schedule of reading to be carried out before each lecture and each tutorial. Through participation in lecture and tutorial discussions, as well as through the mid-semester essay and the final exam essay included in the assessment schedule, students will demonstrate their achievement of the intended learning outcomes.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students especially welcome. Students should usually have at least 1 introductory level course in theology or religious studies at grade B or above at university level. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an ability to rehearse the principal arguments of the set texts and to summarise concisely a substantial body of material
- Demonstrate an ability to differentiate the arguments of the set texts from the arguments of their interpreters, and to identify their strengths and weaknesses
- Show an ability to structure an argument, to use correct grammar in expressing philosophical ideas, and to support claims with reference to specific named primary and secondary texts.
- Demonstrate an ability to undertake independent research
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Reading List
All course readings are available online via Learn.
There are set primary texts each week as follows:
Plato Republic VI.506-513; VII 514-523
Aristotle Metaphysics XII (¿) 6-10
Augustine Confessions 1.4.4 (to start, and then) Confessions X; De Trinitate V
Anselm Proslogion: Preface, I-III
Aquinas Summa Theologiae 1a.2.3, 1a.12.12-13, 1a13 1-6
Scotus Ordinatio (selections)
Descartes Meditations III
Leibniz ¿Principles of Nature and Grace, Based on Reason¿
Locke ¿Of Faith and Reason¿
Hume An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding X
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, VII, IX |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.div.ed.ac.uk/courses |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Ability to summarise difficult material;
Ability to structure arguments logically;
Ability to interpret set texts;
Ability to produce a properly referenced essay. |
| Keywords | GodPhil |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lydia Schumacher
Tel: (0131 6)50 8962
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Katrina Munro
Tel: (0131 6)50 8900
Email: |
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