Philosophy of Religion

Module Code: PI3008

Module Name: Philosophy of Religion

• ECTS Weighting: 10
• Semester/Term Taught: Michaelmas Term
• Contact Hours: 22 hours of lecture
• Module Personnel: Lecturer – Professor Paul O'Grady

Module Content

This course develops the introductory material on philosophy of religion from the freshman years. Its focus is the philosophy of religion of Aquinas. He is treated as an exemplar of classical theism whose approach is amenable to analytic philosophical analysis. Topics include whether he is classifiable as a philosopher of religion, his account of faith and reason, his positive arguments for God's existence, the problem of evil, the problem of naturalism, perfect–being theology, God's nature, including simplicity, existence, eternity, omnipotence, omniscience and omnibenevolence. In the process Aquinas's work is brought into engagement with Kant, Hume, Darwin, Wittgenstein, Quine, Russell and a range of contemporary philosophers of religion.

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module, students will be able to:

• describe and evaluate the distinction between theistic and non–theistic religion;
• assess the significance of the existence of many religions;
• critically discuss theism and its relation to modern science.