ATS2860 - After the death of God: Continental philosophy of religion from Nietzsche to today - 2018

This unit deals with the way in which 'continental' philosophers have sought to deal with the question of the divine in modernity, in the face of the growth of scientific modes of explanation and the decline of religious institutions and belief. In doing so, it furthermore introduces the continental approach to philosophy. Taking our lead from Nietzsche's provocative claim that 'God is dead', we will look primarily at French and German philosophers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Examples of figures who may be studied include Soren Kierkegaard, Martin Heidegger, Immanuel Levinas, and Jacques Derrida.

Upon successful completion of this unit students will:

1. Understand the major developments in Continental philosophy of religion
2. Appreciate the distinct contribution of major Continental thinkers to the critique of philosophical theology and to its renewal
3. Be able to analyse seminal texts from Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Heidegger and others
4. Have gained an introduction to the methods of continental philosophy and appreciate their usefulness for the philosophy of religion and philosophy generally
5. Demonstrate the capacity to interpret and evaluate important concepts, arguments and texts, as well as to put forward ideas and arguments of their own in a clear and cogent way.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Philosophy

Religious studies