Philosophy of Religions
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHIL1016 | Philosophy | 1 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- PHIL1016
- School
- Philosophy
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module will explore thought about religion of a few key philosophical thinkers chosen from more than one tradition. For this session, the thinkers proposed are Augustine (Christian), Thich Nhat Hanh (Buddhist) and Nietzsche (atheist). Students will be required to engage in sustained study of primary texts in order to build up skills of interpretation. The texts will be used to raise issues of wider philosophical significance, such as the variety of conceptions of ultimate reality; memory and metaphysics; error and illusion; and means for transforming the mind.
Target Students
First year single honours and joint honours Philosophy students, including Liberal Arts students. Also available to subsidiary students from other Schools and exchange students.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 5 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 5 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 5 weeks
Students will have two timetabled hours per week: in the first week, a two hour lecture; in the second week, a one-hour lecture and one seminar.
Assessment
- 100% Portfolio: One portfolio of three (800 word) discussions.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
- To introduce students to philosophical expressions of religious life- To teach skills required for reading and interpreting philosophical textsLearning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of this module you should be able to understand, and demonstrate a clear grasp of, the main positions covered by this module.
Intellectual Skills
By the end of this module you should be able to (B1) identify the underlying issues in the texts discussed. (B3) Read carefully and interpret texts drawn from a variety of sources, with sensitivity to context.
Practical skills.
By the end of this module you should be able to (C1) identify textually-based arguments and subject their structure and implications to the rigorous assessment. (C3) Review unfamiliar ideas with an open mind and a willingness to change one's mind when appropriate.
Transferable skills.
By the end of this module you should be able to (D1) Express views on (abstract) issues clearly and concisely in writing. (D5) Think creatively, self critically and independently about new and unfamiliar problems.