2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL2532 Philosophy of Religion

20 creditsClass Size: 125

Module manager: Dr. Scott Shalkowski
Email: s.shalkowski@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Module replaces

PHIL2900 and PHIL2522

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

1. What is God supposed to be like? (If you don't know, how could you know whether God exists?). What is knowledge supposed to be like? (If you don't know, how could you know whether God exists?). So, who needs evidence to know anything, anyway? And, what about all those arguments for the existence of God? Is religious experience only for kooks (and unreliable, anyway)? These are some of the questions that are often discussed in Philosophy of Religion.2. This module examines some of the most important philosophical considerations that bear on rational (dis-)belief in God and may include discussions of common argument for the existence of God, common arguments against the existance of God, as well as the examination of quite general conditions on rational belief.The module is taught with lectures and seminars during Semester 2.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues in the philosophy of religion;
2. Critically assess arguments that have been important in the philosophy of religion;
3. Develop and defend their own positions on a range of issues in the philosophy of religion.

Syllabus

This module will introduce several issues in contemporary philosophy of religion, with an emphasis on metaphysical and epistemological issues. Suitable topics include: the nature of religion, realistic and anti-realisti interpretations of religious discourse, divine attribute, the nature of religious faith, evidentialism, traditional theistic and atheistic arguments as well as contemporary versions of those arguments, and religious pluralism.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Tutorial	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			181.00
Total Contact hours			19.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

9 hours preparation per seminar: 90 hours
Lecture preparation & further reading: 46 hours
Exam preparation: 50 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Tutorial Feedback
Sample examination questions

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	3 hr	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 20/07/2017

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD