PHH 4700: Philosophy of Religion

PHI 4700: Philosophy of Religion

Office Hours T, W, R 2-4, HC 146, x6-8651

Course Objectives: To develop a critical understanding of key questions in the philosophy of religion through reading of key texts, writing of critical essays, and class discussion. The questions will be framed in terms of historical and critical perspectives on religious texts and ideas. Ideas studied will include the nature of religion as a historical and anthropological phenomenon; the nature of religions experience; the concept of god; arguments for the existence of god; arguments against the existence of god; ontological, teleological, and moral dimensions of religions thinking; theistic, atheistic, and agnostic points of view; religious language; gender and religion; science and religion. Key European and selected perspectives from World philosophical traditions will be studied in translation. Different material may be selected in different semesters to provide diverse views of world discourses in philosophy of religion.

Grades:

Grades will be determined by performance on the following assignments:

1) A series of at least 8 written responses: 400 words minimum each = 50% of final grade;

2) 1 final essay, 1,500 words = 25% of final grade

3) 1 or more class presentation(s) = 25% of final grade; you will give at least one presentation introducing and discussing a thinker covered in the class; you should provide a handout summarizing key ideas and generating discussion on the topic of the day; your introduction should be 15-20 minutes, leading to class discussion.

4) Attendance is mandatory: unexcused absences will result in a reduction of final grade (if you must miss class, please request permission from me in advance).

5) Assignments must be completed on time: late work may be downgraded at my discretion.

Gordon Rule Writing (WAC) Requirement: 3,000 words minimum

4,700 words of actual writing will be done out of class (eight 400 word minimum) responses and a final (1,500 word minimum) essay: each of these assignments will be graded rigorously for content and composition (including organization, argumentation, grammar, mechanics, and style). A style guide is required appropriate to each student’s discipline (MLA & Chicago styles are the most common); also see Dr. Weisser’s Online Writing Handbook: http://wise.fau.edu/~weisser/handbook.htm.

Students enrolled in this course agree to abide by the Honors College Honor Code. http://www.fau.edu/divdept/honcol/students/honorcode.html.

Required Texts:

1) Al-Ghazali, Al-Ghazali's Path to Sufisim : His Deliverance from Error (al-Munqidh min al-Dalal) and Five Key Texts (Fons Vitae)

2) Augustine, The Essential Augustine (Hackett)

3) Aquinas, A Summary of Philosophy (Hackett)

4) Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy (online)/ Hackett

5) Immanuel Kant, Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason (Cambridge)

6) Dale S. Wright, Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism (Cambridge)

7) Friedrich Nietzsche, The Antichrist (online)

8) Martin Buber, I AND THOU (Scribner Classic)

9) David Hume Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (Second Edition) (Hackett)

10) Elaine Pagels, Adam, Even, and the Serpent