Philosophy of God

AP9210C
Winter Intensive, 2020
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
29 June, 1, 3, 6, 8, 10 July + one examination
9.30am – 4.30pm

This unit explains the differences between the classical Christian position in comparison with alternatives (for example, the Hellenic concept of God of Plato and Aristotle). It then examines classical proofs for the existence of God in the history of western philosophy and considers various classical divine attributes, and our use of language to describe God. It also discusses various problems or issues in relation to the classical Christian conception of God, for example, the problem of evil, or the problem of divine foreknowledge.

Census Date

Tuesday 14 July

Prerequisites

one foundational unit of philosophy

Mode

intensive mode: 9.30am – 4.30pm

Assessment

  • one 6,000-word essay 90%
  • one 1,000-word skeleton argument 10%
or
  • one 4,000-word essay 50%
  • one 1,000-word skeleton argument 10%
  • one 2-hour written examination (2,000 words) 40%
or
  • one 4,000-word essay 50%
  • one 1,000-word skeleton argument 10%
  • one 2,000-word essay 40% 

Bibliography

  • Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologiae. Part 1, questions 2–25.
  • Craig, William L., ed. Philosophy of Religion: A Reader and Guide. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2002.
  • Davies, Brian. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
  • ———, ed. Philosophy of Religion: A Guide and Anthology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
  • Hughes, Gerard J. The Nature of God. London: Routledge, 1995.
  • Murray, Michael, and Michael C. Rea. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
  • Palmer, Michael, ed. The Question of God: An Introduction and Sourcebook. London: Routledge, 2001.
  • Quinn, Philip L., and Charles Taliaferro, eds. A Companion to Philosophy of Religion. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997.
  • Stump, Eleonore, and Michael Murray, eds. Philosophy of Religion: The Big Questions. Oxford: Blackwell, 1999.
  • Swinburne, Richard. The Christian God. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994.