Timetabling
Semester:
Second Semester
Does God exist? And can this be proved to the satisfaction of a non-believer, or even the doubter in myself? This unit looks at how philosophers – from Plato’s time to ours – have sought to answer these questions. It explores traditional moves, such as the ontological and cosmological proofs, Leibniz’ argument and Pascal’s wager, as well as more recent discussion, including that by Richard Dawkins. Gradually, great philosophers – Aquinas and Descartes, Hume and Kant – are seen to shine within an ongoing quest, to which we ourselves might be drawn: the search for a God whom philosophy can persuasively defend, but never enclose.
Description
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:
describe the five traditional types of proof of God’s existence, and give examples of each.
outline Anselm’s ontological argument, and Descartes’ variant of it, and discuss the objections to these.
explain the cosmological and teleological arguments for God’s existence involved in St. Thomas Aquinas’ “Five Ways.”
outline William Paley’s teleological argument, and discuss David Hume’s replies to Paley’s and other arguments for God’s existence.
outline, discuss and evaluate David Hume’s replies to Paley’s and the other arguments for God’s existence.
explain and discuss Immanuel Kant’s moral argument for God’s existence.
discuss the use and validity of religious experience, including especially that which is evidenced in religious art or poetry, in pointing to God’s existence.
outline and critique Richard Dawkins’ arguments against God’s existence.
Prerequisites:
Level 1 – nil
Level 2 – 15 points of Philosophy at level 1
Teaching Methods:
3 hours of lectures and tutorials weekly for 12 weeks
Assessment:
Level 1
2 x 1000 word essays (25% each)
1 x 2 hour written examination (50%
Level 2
1 x 1000 word essay (20%)
1 x 1500 word essay (30%)
1 x 2 hour written examination (50%)
Mode of Teaching:
Semester
Bibliography:
* = set texts recommended for purchase
Please format reading lists according to Turabian
Dawkins, Richard. The God Delusion. Paperback ed. Boston: Mariner Books, 2007.
Descartes, Discourse on Method and the Meditations. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1968.
*Hick, J.H. Arguments for the Existence of God. London: Macmillan, 1970.
Hume, David. Principal Writings on Religion including Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and the Natural History of Religion . Pref. J.C.A. Gaskin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Küng, Hans. Does God Exist? New York: Crossroad, 1991.
Mackie, J. L. The Miracle of Theism. Paperback ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Swinburne, Richard. The Existence of God. Rev. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.
Swinburne, Richard. Is There a God? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Unit Fields
Unit Level
