PY427-6-SP-CO:
Topics in the Philosophy of Religion
2022/23
Philosophy
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
ReassessmentOnly
Monday 16 January 2023
Friday 24 March 2023
15
29 September 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module will focus on Islamic philosophy. In particular, we will look at some of the ways in which medieval Muslim thinkers have characterised human reason, and the relationship between this and religious faith.
This focus on the characterisation of human reason and the human intellect has a direct bearing on the way in which philosophy is seen to relate (or not) to religion and theology: What are the goals of each of these disciplines or practices? How do they differ in terms of the questions they seek to answer and the type of knowledge they promise to yield? Is philosophy compatible with religion? The aim of this module is to approach some of these very general and fundamental questions, and to do so through a close study of developments in Islamic philosophy from the ninth century onward. We will also draw on the thinkers covered in the course in order to discuss the treatment in Islamic philosophy of key ethical and political issues, such as the role of women, the good or virtuous life, and the limits of legitimate interference with the conduct of the individual.
The aims of this module are to:
1. Convey knowledge of selected classic texts in the history of Islamic philosophy, and their characterization of the human being, faith and reason.
2. Develop understanding of the ways in which Muslim thinkers have understood the relationship between Islam and philosophy.
3. Develop understanding of the ways in which insights from ancient Greek philosophy informed the work of early Muslim thinkers, on issues such as the nature of God, the soul, the human intellect, and the good life.
4. Explain and critically discuss the central points of controversy among the thinkers studied, and the main arguments advanced on each side.
By the end of the module, students should have acquired or further developed a set of transferable skills, and in particular be able to:
1. define the task in which they are engaged and exclude what is irrelevant;
2. seek and organise the most relevant discussions and sources of information;
3. process a large volume of diverse and sometimes conflicting arguments;
4. compare and evaluate different arguments and assess the limitations of their own position or procedure;
5. write and present verbally a succinct and precise account of positions, arguments, and their presuppositions and implications;
6. be sensitive to the positions of others and communicate their own views in ways that are accessible to them;
7. think 'laterally' and creatively - see interesting connections and possibilities and present these clearly rather than as vague hunches;
8. maintain intellectual flexibility and revise their own position if shown wrong;
9. think critically and constructively.
Study Abroad students should have already taken two philosophy modules at their home institution.
There will be a two-hour combined lecture and seminar each week and a separate one-hour class. Week 21 is Reading Week.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Lorna Finlayson, email: ljfinl@essex.ac.uk.
phiquery@essex.ac.uk
No
Yes
No
Dr Josiah Saunders
Durham University
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 667 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
631 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
36 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Philosophy
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