DESCRIPTION:

This is a doctoral level seminar, open at the 500-level to a limited number of advanced master's students. The modern period has been a difficult one for theologians, largely due to modern philosophical presuppositions. It is the thesis of this course that Anglo-American philosophy itself has undergone a quiet revolution since the 1950s, and that the new philosophical climate offers exciting possibilities for theologians. We will read representative works by `revolutionaries' in philosophy of science, epistemology, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, and look at their consequences for theology, biblical studies, and theological ethics.

Many battles fought in both liberal and conservative churches are products of modern thought. This course should help future church leaders put the old issues into perspective. More importantly, it should provide a more helpful framework for creative and productive theologizing.

This is a bi-level course for advanced master's students and for Ph.D. and Th.M. students. The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session, with class time divided between lectures and discussion of the readings.

Bloor, David. Knowledge and Social Imagery. (photocopied).

Hauerwas, Stanley, N. Murphy, and M. Nation, eds. Theology without Foundations. Abingdon, 1994.

Kerr, Fergus. Theology after Wittgenstein. SPCK, 1997.

Kühn, Thomas. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. University of Chicago Press, 1970.

McClendon, James Wm. and James M. Smith. Convictions. Trinity, 1994.

Murphy, Nancey. Anglo-American Postmodernity. Westview, 1997.

Rorty, Richard. Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature. Princeton, 1979.

Toulmin, Stephen. Cosmopolis. Free Press, 1990.

Additional photocopied materials.

Careful reading of texts; regular attendance; class participation. Master's-level students have the choice of writing four six-page papers or one 20-page paper. Graduate students: 20-30 page paper.

Permission of instructor for master's-level students.

Elective. (May fulfill core PHIL requirement for students with undergraduate major in philosophy.)

None.