Universität Wien

180089 PS Metaphysical Arguments for/against the existence of God (2015S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung

Is God dead, or was he never alive in the first place? Or is there perhaps a God who prefers fideism over rational presentation? The asking of such questions is in itself an endeavor and meaning that demands justification and legitimacy. From Aquinas’ impossible “Beneficial order” without intelligence, to Anselm’s “nothing greater to be conceived”, there is a rich intertwining history between metaphysics and such questions of God. Yet, the existence of God was not itself a common question for philosophy before Descartes. Attention in this course will be paid to the many attempts to argue for and against the existence of God, from Aquinas to Nietzsche, often with an eye towards how such existence/non-existence plays into the ultimate nature of reality -- metaphysics. The course will also venture into 20th century arguments posed by Antony Flew, Bertrand Russell, and Jean-Luc Marion.

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 45 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Donnerstag 19.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 26.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 16.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 23.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 30.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 07.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 21.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 28.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 11.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 18.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 25.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

English

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

1. Weekly questions --15%
2. Final Project (presentation or paper)--35%
3. 2 Quizzes – 25%
4. General class participation/discussion/attendance --25%

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

The course aims to familiarize the student with some of the central issues in the existence/nonexistence of God in order for the student to be better able to critically create his or her own construction of how such metaphysical arguments matter for philosophical thinking. Is the existence of the world convincing enough to imply a necessary cause or being (Cosmological argument)? Has the complex design of evolution displaced the need for a creator (Anti-ontological argument)? Or does intelligence in design of the world imply an intelligent creator (Teleological argument)? If we can answer these questions, it is still necessary to address the problem of evil, suffering, and the supposed fallacy of composition.

Prüfungsstoff

Course Requirements
1. Regular class attendance and active participation.
2. Reading of all the material assigned for the class sessions.
3. Completion of all agreed upon assignments on assigned dates.
4. Participation in organized in-class discussions.

Though there may be more than one reading per week, the readings are short, and usually coincide with one another nicely. However, the course discussions each week will generally center on only one thinker, while occasionally bringing other thinkers/essays into that specific context. While it is important for students to read the essays, the lecturer will usually give students one essay to focus on, so as to aid and supplement the overall seminar and conversation throughout.

Literatur

Books to be purchased:

Helm, Paul. (Editor). Faith and Reason. Oxford Readers, 1999.
Marion, Jean-Luc. God without Being. Any edition, translation, or language.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

BA M 5.1, PP 57.3.2

Letzte Änderung: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36