Assessment

Continuous Assessment 40% + Final Examination: 60%

Module Aims

Aims

The aims and objectives of this module are:

• To introduce students to the nature of philosophy, its goals and methodology.
• To provide an overview of core theories, concepts, and methods of a range of philosophical schools of thought.
• To introduce students to a range of religious and secular responses to the question of human origins.
• To facilitate students to explore a range of philosophical responses to the search for meaning.
• To allow students to contrast secular and religious interpretations of desire, including the idea of desire for God.
• To develop the students’ analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• To foster the development of students’ writing skills by means of an academic essay and written examination.

Indicative Syllabus:

Over the course of twenty-four bi-weekly lectures, students will explore the following areas of study:

• Introduction to philosophy and philosophy of religion.
• Plato’s ‘Allegory of the Cave’.
• A Modern Cave Analogy? The Social Dilemma.
• Plato’s Symposium.
• Desiring the good (with a focus on Plato and Aristotle).
• Augustine’s Confessions.
• C. S. Lewis: The Four Loves.
• Nietzsche.
• Sartre.
• Human existence and the question of God.

Course Text:

Readings will be put up weekly on Moodle.

Texts will be put up weekly on Moodle.

Learning Outcomes

• — Describe the nature of philosophy, its goals and methodology.
• — Outline the core theories, concepts, and methods of a range of philosophical schools of thought.
• — Discuss a range of religious and secular responses to the question of human origins.
• — Explore a range of philosophical responses to the search for meaning.
• — Analyse the contrast between secular and religious interpretations of desire, including the idea of desire for God.
• — Apply their analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to the question of human existence.
• — Enhance their writing skills by completing an academic essay and an examination.

Bibliography

• — Annas, J. (1981). An Introduction to Plato’s Republic. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• — Ansell Pearson, K. & Large, D. (eds.). (2005). The Nietzsche Reader. London: Wiley-Blackwell.
• — Augustine. (2008). The Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford World’s Classics.
• — Barnes, J. (2000). Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• — Blackburn, S. (1994). Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• — Botton, A. de. (2013). Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion.
• — Cooper, J. M. (ed.). (1997). Plato: The Complete Works. Cambridge & Indianapolis: Hackett.
• — Copleston, F. C. (2003). History of Philosophy (Vols. 1-11). London: Continuum.
• — Davies, B. (1985). Thinking About God. London: Geoffrey Chapman.
• — Davies, B. (2004). An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• — Dawkins, R. (2007). The God Delusion. London: Black Swan.
• — Lewis, C. S. (2016). The Four Loves. London: Collins.
• — Magee, B. (2016). The Story of Philosophy. London: D.K.
• — Popkin, R. H. & Stroll, A. (1993). Philosophy Made Simple: A Complete Guide to the World’s Most Important Thinkers and Theories. New York: Broadway Books.
• — Roy, J. (2014). The God of Philosophy: An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion. London: Taylor & Francis.
• — Warnock, M. (1974). Existentialist Ethics. London & Basingstoke: Macmillan Press.
• — Williams, B. (1997). Plato (The Great Philosophers Series). London: Phoenix.