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What do we really mean when you use the term ‘God’ or the ‘divine’? This module considers the origins of the term in the philosophical realm and how the concept has been understood by such philosophers as Descartes, Hume and Nietzsche.

What does it mean to believe in God? What does it mean when someone says they believe in a divine being and/or an immortal soul? How does such belief affect our attitudes towards truth or morality? Does it matter if belief in God is seemingly irrational? Where does our concept of God come from? This module will begin with the ancient Greeks, who engage in speculation over the existence of the soul, before moving on to Descartes who links a belief in the existence of the soul with the existence of God. Hume’s scepticism will then be examined, bringing us then into the twentieth century with existentialist responses and the rise of the new ‘militant atheists’ as well as theistic responses to this.

i. Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they:
a) have understood the range of ways in which the term ‘God’ can be understood
b) can critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of how various philosophical and religious traditions approach the topic
c) can effectively deploy specialist vocabularies

ii.  Skills

On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they:
a) can identify and critique the arguments and approaches of key traditions and thinkers
b) are able to present critical and coherent assessments of positions across a range of traditions
c) can reflect on their own behaviour in the context of their studies.
d) verbal and written communication.

Staff/Student contact time: 20%
Student private study: 80%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.