In this course, we consider traditional arguments for and against the thesis that there is a single, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good God, such as:
- (The Argument from Design) Positing a perfect God makes the best sense of the appearance of design and the highly ordered nature of the universe, and hence provides good evidence that such a God exists.
- (The Problem of Evil) Since a perfect God would create the best of all possible worlds, the immense evil in the world shows that there is no such God.
We ask whether/how we ought to change our own religious opinions in light of the wide range of differing opinions held by other well-informed, reasonable people. We also consider whether modern science discredits the religious picture of the world, or whether science and religion provide compatible, complimentary pictures. Along the way, we develop skills at reading, evaluating and writing philosophy, which are critical for working in other sub-disciplines of philosophy, and also widely applicable outside of philosophy.Course Requirements:
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Intended Audience:
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Class Format:
2 - 3hr sessions with lecture & discussion/week