Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2011 - 2012

Module Title	Philosophy of Religion and Metaphysics
Module Code	PHIL5
School	Oscail
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Mr James Brunton	Office Number	D102
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	15
Pre-requisite	PHIL1
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

Part 1 of this module examines philosophical justifications for religious beliefs and analyses the philosophy of religious experience. Part 2 of this module explores the philosophy of metaphysics.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically appraise philosophical justifications for religious belief
2. Critically evaluate several traditional arguments which claim to prove the existence of God
3. Critically analyse the relationship between science and religion
4. Explain the nature of religious experiences such as worship, religious love and prayer
5. Critically reflect on metaphysic's attempt to study the ultimate nature of reality
6. Critically analyse the concept of personal identity from a metaphysical perspective
7. Critically reflect on the concept of 'free will' and whether or not it is an illusion
8. Evaluate, in a critically way, the metaphysical approaches to the properties of individual objects

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Tutorial	15	No Description
On-line learning	15	No Description
Independent learning time	345	No Description
Total Workload: 375

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Part 1: Philosophy of Religion.
Unit 2: The Ontological Argument.

Unit 3: The Cosmological Argument.
Unit 4: The Design Argument.

Unit 5: Religious Experience.
Unit 6: Science and Religion.

Unit 7: Life after Death.
Part 2: Philosophy of Metaphysics.

Unit 1: Personal Identity: Minds, Brains and Persons.
Unit 2: Personal Identity: Locke on the question of Personal Identity.

Unit 3: Personal Identity: Physical Criteria of Personal Identity versus Mental Criteria.
Unit 4: Personal Identity: Are there any Persons; and does it matter?.

Unit 5: Free Will: Is Free will compatible with Causal Determinism?.
Unit 6: Free Will and the Concept of a Person.

Unit 7: Properties: Realism about Properties.
Unit 8: Properties: Against Realism.

Unit 9: Properties: Nominalism.
Unit 10: Properties: Tropes.

Unit 11: Properties and Objects.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	50%	Examination Weight	50%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assignment	Assessment takes a variety of forms, including essays, reports, learning journals, presentations and group assignments.	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

Anselm: 0, Proslogium, Available online at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library,
Laurence, S. and MacDonald, C. (eds.): 1999, Contemporary Readings in the Foundations of Metaphysics, Blackwell,
0: For more readings and online resources (some of the above can be accessed online) please see details in moodle,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

Diploma/BA in Humanities

BASM

BA Single Module

Timetable this semester: Timetable for PHIL5

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