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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Philosophy

Postgraduate Course: Philosophy of Religion (PHIL11026)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course will cover a range of issues in contemporary philosophy of religion. Topics covered will include reason and faith; the nature of religious language; issues connected with the idea of God, including the concepts of eternity and omnipotence; arguments for belief in God (including ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments); the problem of evil; the relation of religion to morality.

Shared with the UG course Philosophy of Religion PHIL10007.

For courses co-taught with undergraduate students and with no remaining undergraduate spaces left, a maximum of 8 MSc students can join the course. Priority will be given to MSc students who wish to take the course for credit on a first come first served basis after matriculation.
Course description Topics for the course:

Concepts of God - An Introduction
Eternity
Omnipotence
Omniscience and free will
Ontological Arguments
Cosmological Arguments
Arguments from Design
Religious Experience
Problems of Evil
Religion and morality
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. an understanding of some major issues in the philosophy of religion
  2. an understanding of how these issues relate to continuing debates
  3. an ability to read closely, analyse and criticise philosophical texts
  4. the ability to present and defend arguments
  5. the ability to understand and analyse arguments.
Reading List
Peter van Inwagen, The Problem of Evil.
William Rowe, The Cosmological Argument.
Fischer and Todd, Freedom, Fatalism, and Foreknowledge.
William Hasker, God, Time, and Knowledge
Additional Information
Course URL Please see Learn page
Graduate Attributes and Skills Development of general analytical and problem solving skills, and an ability to do independent writing and research.
KeywordsGod,concept of God,arguments for theism,problem of evil
Contacts
Course organiserDr Patrick Todd
Tel: (0131 6)51 5179
Email: ptodd2@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Becky Verdon
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Rebecca.Verdon@ed.ac.uk
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