Content

Does God exist? And can this be proved to the satisfaction of a non-believer, or even the doubter in myself? This unit looks at how philosophers – from Plato’s time to ours – have sought to answer these questions. It explores traditional moves, such as ontological and cosmological proofs, Leibniz’ argument and Pascal’s wager, as well as more recent discussion, including the intelligent design argument, and Richard Dawkins’ characterisation of this and other proofs as “deluded”. Gradually, great philosophers – Aquinas and Descartes, Hume and Kant – are seen to shine within an ongoing quest, to which we ourselves might be drawn: the search for a God whom philosophy can persuasively defend, but never enclose.

Unit code: AP3859P

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Philosophy

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Analyse and assess arguments comprising various traditional proofs for God’s existence

2.

Expand knowledge of particular proofs to encompass reasoning patterns or "types" which those proofs identify

3.

Construct and/or critique modern versions of the traditional proofs

4.

Sustain reasoned debate on the question of whether a given philosophical proof enhances faith claims for God’s existence

5.

Reflect at meta-level on the question of the philosophical meaning of "proof" when applied to the question of divine existence

Pedagogy

Lectures and Tutorials; Online module with guided online discussion fora.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Davies, Brian. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1982.
  • Davies, Paul. The Mind of God. London: Penguin Books, 1992.

  • Dawkins, Richard. The God Delusion. Paperback ed. Boston: Mariner Books, 2007.

  • Descartes, René. Discourse on Method and the Meditations. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1968.

  • Hick, J.H. Arguments for the Existence of God. London: Macmillan, 1970. (recommended for purchase)

  • Hume, David. Principal Writings on Religion including Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and the Natural History of Religion. Pref. J.C.A. Gaskin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

  • Küng, Hans. Does God Exist? New York: Crossroad, 1991.

  • Levering, Michael Proofs of God: Classical Arguments from Tertullian to Barth. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2016.

  • Mackie, J. L. The Miracle of Theism. Paperback ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

  • Melchert, N. The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002.

  • Spitzer, Robert J. New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2010.

  • Swinburne, Richard. The Existence of God. Rev. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

  • Swinburne, Richard. Is There a God? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Essay (2000 words)

0 40.0
Essay

Essay (2000 words)

0 40.0
Essay

Online Participation (1000 words)

0 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 1 Jan, 2012

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-04 13:26:35 +1100