REQUIRED TEXT
 
 
 

Rowe, William  Philosophy of Religion  3rd Edition  (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth  Publishing Company, 2001).

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS
 
 

This course is an introduction to the philosophy of religion.  During this term we will discuss several traditional arguments for the non-existence of God and several traditional arguments for the existence of God -- a series of discussions in which you will have the opportunity to think rigorously about many of the central issues in the philosophy of religion.

Reading assignments are listed in the course outline below.  Students should attend each meeting of the course ready to discuss the assigned reading material.  (A word of warning:  Despite its role as an introduction to philosophy, this is not an easy course.  The topics are difficult, and the pace is demanding.  Thinking hard about these issues, however, can be very rewarding.  I encourage you to keep current on the reading assignments, to discuss the arguments with friends outside of class, to have the courage to participate in class discussions, and to have fun doing some serious philosophy!)

There will be two essay examinations.  The midterm will be given in class on Monday, October 24.  The final will be given according to the final exam schedule.  A week before each exam, I will distribute a list of questions, and the exam will consist of some (but not all) of the questions appearing on that list. Each exam will be "closed-book," and will be worth one-half of the final grade for the course.
 
 

COURSE OUTLINE
 
 
 

09/21	Introduction
09/23	The Idea of God  (Rowe, Ch. 1)
09/26
09/28
09/30	The Problem of Evil  (Rowe, Ch. 7)
10/03
10/05
10/10
10/12	Foreknowledge and Freedom  (Rowe, Ch. 11)
10/14
10/17
10/19
10/21	Review For Midterm Exam
10/24	Midterm Exam
10/26	The Cosmological Argument  (Rowe, Ch. 2)
10/28
10/31
11/02	The Ontological Argument  (Rowe, Ch. 3)
11/04
11/07
11/14
11/16	The Teleological Argument  (Rowe, Ch. 4)
11/18
11/21
11/28
11/30
12/02	Review For Final Exam
12/09	Final Exam (10:30-12:30)