Postgraduate Course: Hume's Philosophy of Religion (PHIL11205)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course will introduce Hume's principal works on religious topics, discussing the major elements of his critique of religion, and the various interpretations that have been given of his religious position. |
| Course description |
The course will be based on a systematic coverage of Hume's central works on religious topics, including the sections of the first Enquiry dealing with religious questions, the Natural History of Religion, and the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. It will consider his arguments against religious positions, the grounds for his critique of religion, his scepticism, and the question whether he should be seen as an atheist.
Provisional list of topics.
1. Enquiry Sec. 10: Miracles.
2. Enquiry Sec. 11: Natural Religion and Morality.
3. 'On the Immortality of the Soul'.
4. 'On Suicide'.
5. 'The Natural History of Religion'.
6. Dialogues 2-3: The Argument from Design.
7. Dialogues 4-5: The Concept of God.
8. Dialogues 9: The Cosmological Argument.
9. Dialogues 10-11: The Problem of Evil.
10. Dialogues 12: Hume's Scepticism.
11. Overview of Hume's position on religion.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Essay plan 15%«br /»
Final 3000 essay 85% |
| Feedback |
Guidance will be given in advance of each assignments. Depending on the year, this may be in the form of an in-class discussion, a handout, or a formative work, or discussion of a component of the assessed work. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of central topics in Hume¿s critique of religion
- critically review how issues in Hume¿s critique relate to contemporary debates
- read closely, analyse and criticise early modern philosophical texts
- analyse materials independently and critically engage with other interpretations
- demonstrate the ability to actively engage in critical analysis through synchronous and asynchronous seminars
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Reading List
Primary Reading (all works by David Hume):
Enquiry concerning Human Understanding !0 and 11
Treatise of Human Nature I.4.5
'On the Immortality of the Soul'
'On Suicide'
'The Natural History of Religion'
Dialogues concerning Natural Religion.
Recommended Secondary Reading.
N. Kemp Smith, Introduction to Hume, Dialogues.
R. Swinburne, 'The Argument from Design', Philosophy 1968.
J. Gaskin, Hume's Philosophy of Religion.
J. Earman, Hume's Abject Failure.
R. Fogelin, A Defense of Hume on Miracles.
D. O'Connor, Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Hume on Natural Religion.
A. Bailey and D. O'Brien, Hume's Critique of Religion: Sick Men's Dreams. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Mindsets: Enquiry and Lifelong Learning
Skills: Research and Enquiry, Personal and Intellectual Autonomy |
| Keywords | hume,philosophy of religion,religious position,david hume |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Andrew Mason
Tel:
Email: A.S.Mason@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Becky Verdon
Tel: (0131 6)50 3860
Email: Rebecca.Verdon@ed.ac.uk |
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