Assessment

Two minor essays, each worth 25%, one final essay worth 50%

Module Aims

This module treats the historically difficult and tenuous relation between philosophy, politics, and religion. It does so via Augustine’s foundational treatment of this tryptic within his Christian philosophy of history as presented in the City of God. This foundational Augustinian philosophy of history is then used to critical evaluate the reemergence of the discipline of Political Theology in the 20th century, centred around theses of secularization and the various philosophies of history contained therein.

The focus of the module is twofold. First, it seeks to establish that politics and political concepts do not occur in a vacuum. Rather, in keeping with the classical thesis of Schmitt, it is shown that political concepts are secularized theological concepts and that they are further dependent on metaphysical worldviews and philosophies of history. The second focus seeks to critically evaluate 20th figures within the discipline of Political Theology from the foundational Augustinian perspective. Figures treated include Carl Schmitt, Eric Peterson, Johann Baptiste Metz, Moltmann, Joseph Ratzinger, and Rowan Williams.

This module aims to aid learners by:

-rooting learners in a key figure of the Catholic intellectual heritage

-aid in the development of ethical values

Learning Outcomes

• — Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of primary texts under discussion.
• — Read and explicate primary philosophical texts.
• — Conceptually explain the Augustinian philosophy of history of two cities.
• — Conceptually compare aforesaid philosophy of history with 20th century theories of history and secularisation in relation to philosophy, politics, and religion.