PHI1015 : Philosophy and Religion
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Miriam Baldwin
- Owning School: School X
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To introduce students to themes and perspectives in philosophy and theology. The Philosophy and Religion module aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and issues in philosophy and religion. Students will be encouraged to critically analyze and evaluate different arguments and perspectives, and to develop their own philosophical and religious perspectives. Through the module, students will gain an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of philosophical and religious traditions, and will be able to engage in informed and respectful dialogue with those philosophical and theological concepts from diverse traditions and perspectives.
Outline Of Syllabus
The aim of this module is to introduce students to new ways of thinking about God and religion in the revolutionary social and theological time-period spanning the late 15th/16th centuries. This is the Protestant Revolution of Martin Luther and Jean Calvin, whose impact is still felt across the world today. After this, students will explore a radical critique of religious ideas and institutions by examining key thinkers in the European Enlightenment such as Voltaire (18th century) and Nietzsche (19th century). The module also explores a selection of the gods of Ancient Egypt, the status of animals in that theological system, and the relation of humans to those gods. Students engage with texts from different periods. At the end of this module students will have developed:
• A broad based knowledge and understanding of some of the key texts. Knowledge of key shifts in philosophical/theological thought.
• An awareness of diverse accounts of what words such as ‘god’ might mean.
• An insight into relations between humans and deities.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Essay preparation and completion |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Specific research or reading activities developed and directed by academic staff |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Tutorials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 52:00 | 52:00 | Review lecture material, prepare for small group teaching and assessment |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide students with broad introductions to various texts/thinkers/themes, while seminars provide the opportunity for closer textual engagement and discussions with lecturers/tutors and fellow students.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | A | 100 | 2000 word essay |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The essay is based on the material covered in the module and provides students with the opportunity to further research topics of interest. The essay tests the ability to think creatively, self-critically and independently. This assessment method also gauges students’ ability to move between generalisation and appropriately detailed discussion, to cite relevant texts and interpret them adequately, to discover examples in support of or to challenge a position, and to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant considerations.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHI1015's Timetable