Universität Wien

010085 VO Atheism (2022S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 1 - Katholische Theologie
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Register/Deregister for this course

Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 02.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 09.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 23.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 30.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 27.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 04.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 11.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 18.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 25.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 01.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 08.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 15.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 22.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Aim:
The aim is to introduce students to the academic study of atheism and to the main ideas and arguments promoted by exponents of atheism. The course will cover examples from antiquity and the modern period.

Students will:
• acquire knowledge of what constitutes ‘atheism’, and how can be studied in a comparative context and in relation to ‘theism’;
• acquire knowledge of the different approaches to atheism; will identify the sometimes complex nature of atheistic argumentation; and will be able to compare this vivid movement from antiquity to the modern times.

Description:
Atheism is as old as theism. Contrary to the traditional modern view that sees atheism as a modern accomplishment, humans have doubted, challenged, and scrutinized the religious ideas of their own societies ever since the emergence those ideas. The course will examine such theories from different and diverse cultural and historical contexts, ranging from Ancient Greece to the modern period and the so-called ‘New Atheism’ of the 21st century.

Method:
Lectures with visual and textual material in English.

Assessment and permitted materials

Oral exam (in English). For students to pass the course they will need to answer correctly at least 50% to each question asked. Failing to achieve the required threshold will result in failing the exam.
Permitted Instruments: None.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

(Beurteilungskriterien) und der Beurteilungsmaßstab (nach Maßgabe von § 59 Abs. 6 UG).
Oral exam (in English). For students to pass the course they will need to answer correctly at least 50% to each question asked. Failing to achieve the required threshold will result in failing the exam.

Examination topics

Lecture content

Reading list

(1) Tim Whitmarsh. 2015. Battling the Gods: Atheism in the Ancient World. New York: Knopf Publishing.
(2) Michael Martin, ed. 2007. The Cambridge Companion to Atheism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
(3) Stephen Bullivant, ed. 2013. The Oxford Handbook of Atheism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
(4) Richard Dawkins. 2006. The God Delusion. London: Bantam Press.

Association in the course directory

066 800 M1; M3, M15; 066 795 M2b; A 033 195 (BRP 09rwb)

Last modified: Th 02.02.2023 12:28