Course Director: Ariane Bakhtiar

Email: arianelbakhtiar@gmail.com

Office Hours: Wednesdays 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

This is not a course on philosophy in religion, i.e., it does not treat any or all of the various world religions and their philosophical viewpoints.  Rather, this course provides a survey of some central topics in the philosophy of religion. In other words, this course deals not with any specific religious tradition or text, but with philosophical questions regarding the general nature of religious belief, experience and practice.

Through a selection of classic readings, we will explore four fundamental ‘religious’ questions: 1) Does God exist? 2) What is the relationship between faith and reason? 3) Can we prove the existence of miracles? 4) Does the body have a soul?

Philosophy of Religion, ed. Michael Peterson et al, 5^th Edition, OUP

Medieval Islamic Philosophical Writings, ed. Muhammad Ali Khalidi, CUP

Online sources (various)

First Test 20%

Second Test 20%

First Paper 25%

Take Home Exam (paper) 35%

Lecture/Reading Schedule:

Section 1: The Existence of God

Lecture 1 – January 12

Course Intro.

Anselm, “The Classical Ontological Argument”; Gaunilo, “Critique of Anselm's Argument”

Lecture 2 – January 19

Plantinga, “A Contemporary Modal Version of the Ontological Argument”

Lecture 3 – January 26

Aquinas, “The Classical Cosmological Argument”; Mackie, “Critique of the Cosmological Argument”

Section II: The Problem of Evil

Lecture 4 – February 2

Hume, ‘Evil Makes a Strong Case Against God’s Existence’; Rowe, “The Evidential Argument from Evil”

Lecture 5 – February 9

Mackie, ‘Evil and Omnipotence’; Plantinga, “The Free Will Defense”;

Lecture 6 – February 16

*Test 1

READING WEEK (February 19-25)

Lecture 7 – March 2 (the problem of evil contd.)

Hick, “Soul-Making Theodicy”; Khayyam, selections from Rubaiyat (online source)

Section 2: Faith and/or Reason?

Lecture 7 – March 2

Pascal, “The Wager”; Kierkegaard, “Truth in Subjectivity”; Evans, “Critical Dialog in the Philosophy of Religion”

Lecture 6 – March 9

Locke, selections from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (online); Ibn Rushd, selections from The Decisive Treatise (online)

Section 3: Miracles

Lecture 7 – March 16

*Submit First Paper

Al-Ghazali, selections from “The Rescuer from Error”; Ibn Rushd, selection from “The Incoherence of the Incoherence”

Lecture 8 – March 23

Hume, “The Evidence for Miracles is Weak”; Spinoza selections from Tractatus Theologico-Politicus (online)

Lecture 19 – March 30 (miracles contd.)

*Test 2

Section 4: The Soul

Lecture 10 – March 30

Aristotle, selections from Nicomachean Ethics; Ibn Sina, “On the Soul”

Lecture 11 – April 6

Descartes, selections from Meditations on First Philosophy; Bohemia, selections from The Correspondence between Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia and René Descartes (online)

Final Exam

*Final exam (paper) due no later than April 29 (deadline TBD)

*Assignment/Test deadline

Course Requirements (contd.):

The written tests require students to demonstrate sufficient exegetical knowledge of the course material in preparation for the final essay. These tests include a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. The first paper is not standard in that it consists of a short version of the final paper to be submitted at the end of the term. This shorter “paper” includes a thesis statement, brief summary of main arguments, and bibliography. With feedback received on the first paper, the students will be able to revise their project for the final exam per standard paper format guidelines, which will be provided in class.

Assistance with Writing - http://www.yorku.ca/laps/writ/

It takes time and practice to become a better writer. Invest some time into your writing skills while you are enrolled in York courses. The Writing Centre is currently offering its services remotely. You might be interested in: (a) one-on-one online video chat with a writing instructor regarding an assignment you are working on (by appointment only, book online); (b) eTutors who will read over and comment on essays you submit to them; or (c) general online writing workshops. You are paying for these services through your tuition, so take advantage of them!

Assistance for ESL Learners - http://www.yorku.ca/eslolc/keele/default.asp!

At the ESL Open Learning Centre (OLC), students can ask for help in any aspect of learning English (e.g. writing, speaking, listening, etc.). There are group workshops and individual tutoring sessions available. There is a multimedia library, where you can review materials the OLC has that relate to supporting you in learning and practicing English. There is also a movie and discussion night - great practice for gaining confidence in speaking English. These services are available to any student who identifies themself as ESL (International or Canadian student) who is enrolled in courses at York University.

Assistance with Special Needs - http://www.yorku.ca/cds/

It is important that students with special learning needs, requiring accommodations of any sort in connection with their successful completion of a course, contact the appropriate office(s). Contact the Counselling and Disability Services (CDS) for specifics. Notify your instructor of any special needs on the first day of class. Often the CDS will provide a letter outlining your learning needs, and you should submit a copy to your instructor as soon as possible.

Academic Integrity:

You commit plagiarism when you use someone else’s ideas and present them as your own. This could take several forms: cheating on a test; letting someone copy from you during a test; having someone write your paper; copying parts or all of the paper off the internet; buying a paper; summarizing ideas from any source without properly citing this source. For further information on plagiarism see:  http://www.yorku.ca/academicintegrity/

It is also a violation of academic honesty to represent another's artistic or technical work or creation as one's own. Just as there are standards to which one must adhere in the preparation and publication of written works, there are standards to which one must adhere in the creation and presentation of music, drawings, designs, dance, photography and other artistic and technical works.

It is also a violation of academic honesty to forge another student’s signature on an attendance sheet, submit a fraudulent medical excuse, or collaborate on work with classmates or peers which is assigned individually.   

It is your responsibility as a student to be informed about academic integrity. No level or form of plagiarism or academic dishonesty will be tolerated. Penalties for academic dishonesty range from a grade of zero on the specific assignment, to failing the course, to having an official note of academic dishonesty on your university record.