Philosophy of God (AP9210C)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

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, such as God's eternity and immutability. 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.

Unit code: AP9210C

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Philosophy

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically explain and appraise a range of proofs of God’s existence.
2.

Elaborate and appraise the critiques of arguments for the existence of God made, for example, in the medieval and the early modern periods.
3.

Critically characterise and appraise important accounts of certain divine attributes; for example, the accounts of God’s omniscience, freedom, eternity or simplicity.
4.

Critically assess and critique at least one problem for classical Christian theism; for example, the problem of evil, or the problem of divine foreknowledge.
5.

Develop a topic of research in a critical, rigorous, sustained and self-directed manner, in accord with the methodologies and conventions of research in philosophy of religion/philosophical theology.

Unit sequence

One foundational unit of philosophy

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Indicative 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. 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, Eleanore, and Michael Murray, eds. Philosophy of Religion: The Big Questions. Oxford: Blackwell, 1999.
  • Swinburne, Richard. The Christian God. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)

Variant 1

Essay

6,000-word essay

6000 90.0
Skeleton Argument

1,000-word skeleton argument

1000 10.0

Variant 2

Essay

4,000-word essay

4000 50.0
Skeleton Argument

1,000-word skeleton argument

1000 10.0
Written Examination

2-hour written examination

2000 40.0

Variant 3

Essay

4000 word Essay

 4000 50.0
Skeleton Argument

1,000-word skeleton argument

1000 10.0
Essay

2,000-word essay

2000 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 19 Jul, 2021

Unit record last updated: 2021-07-19 12:32:56 +1000