DESCRIPTION:

This is a doctoral seminar for Ph.D. and Th.M. students, open to a limited number of advanced M.A. and M.Div. students. The aims of this course are: (1) to familiarize students with changing conceptions of the nature of philosophy and philosophical methods since the beginning of the Modern period; and(2) to investigate the consequences of methodological changes for philosophy of religion, philosophical theology (i.e., theological method), and apologetics. In the historical section of the course we examine Cartesian rationalism, empiricist foundationalism, and Kantian critical method. We then examine four current options: continental philosophy, analytic philosophy, post-analytic philosophy, and MacIntyre's tradition-constituted inquiry.

No direct relevance.

Class time will be divided between lectures and discussion of the readings. Lectures will address the background and significance of the philosophers whose works we read.

Critchley, Simon. Continental Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, 2001.

Descartes, René. Discourse on Method and the Meditations. Penguin, 1968.

Kant, Immanuel. Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics. Hackett, 1977.

MacIntyre, Alasdair. Whose Justice? Which Rationality? Notre Dame, 1988.

Moser, Paul and Dwayne Mulder, eds. Contemporary Approaches to Philosophy. Macmillan, 1994.

Careful reading of assignments, regular attendance, class participation. One 20-30 page paper as per CATS requirements; topics to be chosen in consultation with the professor. In addition, students will be assigned to prepare and lead class discussions.

Permission of instructor required for master's students.

Methods seminar for CATS students in philosophy of religion; elective for master's students. (May fulfill M.Div. core requirement in philosophy (PHIL) for students with undergraduate major in philosophy.)

None.