PHIL30830 Reason and Faith: A Comparative Approach from Plato to Galilei

Academic Year 2020/2021

Is there a conflict between reason and faith? For many today, the answer is obvious. Yet do our assumptions (positive or negative) reflect reality - or at least, a historical reality? In other words: how did the great minds of past centuries consider this question? In order to challenge our received views and deepen our understanding about this topic, we will study texts from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions. Over the centuries, original and influential thinkers found ways to overcome the limits of their traditions by reflecting both on ideas inherited from the pagan Greek philosophy and on the frontiers of their disciplines.

Adopting a comparative and historical approach, this module intends to broaden our perspectives and to provide the framework for thinking on this topic critically. The module will introduce a certain number of major concepts and will situate them within their relevant historical debates. It will study both canonical and neglected authors, discussing about censorship and free thinking, about freedom, causality and about "philosophy as a way of life".

The course is delivered in the form of 12 two-hour lectures and 8 one-hour tutorials.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

* critically assess arguments and ideas about reason & faith
* acquire a historical understanding on a topic relevant for our times
* engage great minds of past centuries
* reflect on texts and concepts from various cultural traditions
* broaden our perspectives on Christianity, Judaism and Islam

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Tutorial

8

Autonomous Student Learning

93

Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures and tutorials. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Short Online MCQs Week 4 n/a Graded Yes

30

Essay: 3,000 words essay Week 10 n/a Graded No

70


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

One-on-one meetings with registered students in weeks 3, 5 and 8 in order to identify problems of comprehension and enhance written skills for final essay. Individual feedback in tutorials related to the MCQs in advance of the essay. Individual feedback on essay within two two weeks of assignment.

Pierre Hadot, Philosophy as a Way of Life
Name Role
Alvaro Campillo Bo Tutor
Matthew Vanderkwaak Tutor