PHIL 359/459 (B1)
CONTEMPORARY ATHEISM:
A CRITICAL STUDY
(TOPICS IN CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY)
 
N.B. Please, note that the description of the topic for this course is a change from the focus previously posted.

To print a brief course syllabus in pdf format click here: 11Phil459.pdf


Winter Term (II) 2011
W: 13:00 - 15:50
Location: DP 6069
Course Registration:
   Phil 359 # 67713
   Phil 459 # 67507

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INSTRUCTOR

Joseph A. Buijs, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus (Philosophy)
Office: St. Joseph's College
Phone: 780-492-7681
Email: jbuijs@ualberta.ca
Homepage: www.ualberta.ca/~jbuijs/

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DESCRIPTION
This course will focus on THE GOD DELUSION by RICHARD DAWKINS. He is perhaps the most representative, as well as most popular, of the so-called new atheists. They are known for their sustained criticism of theistic religions. By way of a reflective reading of THE GOD DELUSION, this course will offer a critical assessment of new-atheists’ challenges to religion
        So-called new atheism refers to the views of Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennet and Victor Stenger, stated in a number of books all of which gained "best seller" status. They have become popular and pervasive in our cultural landscape. Their views variously critique religion in any and all of its forms: for its belief system rooted in tradition, revelation and faith, but above all for its pervasive and harmful influence in society. However, their views have not gone unchallenged.
      In this course we will take the opportunity to consider the contemporary atheistic viewpoint and challenge, systematically and critically, by way of Richard Dawkins' popular work, The God Delusion. We will consider what is new about these atheists, what is acceptable in their views, what is problematic in their critique of religion as well as in their defense of atheism. Despite allusions to, and reliance on, science in all of the new atheists, the issues they raise are inherently philosophical. Hence, the focus of this course is on a philosophical assessment of new atheism in general and of Richard Dawkins in particular.

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GENERAL OBJECTIVES
  1. To come to a fair understanding of the views and arguments expressed in The God Delusion
  2. To undertake a critical assessment of these views and arguments, as representative of new atheism

"An atheist in this sense of philosophical naturalist is somebody who believes there is nothing beyond the natural, physical world, no supernatural creative intelligence lurking behind the observable universe, no soul that outlasts the body and no miracles -- except in the sense of natural phenomena that we don't yet understand."
Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion (2006): 14

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RESOURCES/TEXT
     Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion is the single text required for this course. It is easily available in either hard-cover or paperpack. The paperback edition should be less than $ 20.00 (Chapters-Indigo lists the book at $ 15.16 for an on-line order.)
     Our reading of Dawkins may be supplemented by allusions to other books and articles. Most of these are conveniently available on-line and will be listed - and linked - on the eClass website for this course.

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EXPECTATIONS (WORKLOAD)

♦    A weekly series of brief quizzes on each of the chapters: 30%
♦    A critical book review (selected from a list of recent discussions on atheism), 3-5pp: 30%
♦    A critical essay (on a question/theme to be determined), 8-10 pp: 40%
♦    There is neither a mid-term nor a final exam; the essay takes the place of a final exam.

Written work is expected to be the student's own and specifically produced for this course. Any use of resources, whether merely drawing from the views and arguments of others or quoting verbatim, must be properly documented. For conventions on how to document resources see Documentation, References, Footnotes .

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PROGRAMME OF STUDY

The course will proceed by a discussing each of the chapters of The God Delusion, succesively from week to week as follows:

Week 1          Dawkins, Preface to The God Delusion
(Jan 12)               Overview

Week 2          Dawkins, 1: A deeply religious non-believer
(Jan 19)               Historical and sociological context of atheism

Week 3          Dawkins, 2: The God hypothesis
(Jan 26)               Belief and disbelief in God

Week 4          Dawkins, 3: Arguments for God’s existence
(Feb 2)                 Grounds for theistic belief

Week 5          Dawkins, 4: Why there almost certainly is no God
(Feb 9)                 Grounds for atheistic belief
 
Week 6          Dawkins, 5: The Roots of Religion
(Feb 16)               The origins of religious belief - in evolutionary development
 
Week 7          Dawkins, 6: The roots of morality: Why are we good?
(March 2)              The basis of morality - in evolutionary development
 
Week 8          Dawkins, 7: The ‘good’ book and the changing moral zeitgeist
(March 9)               Biblical morality
 
Week 9          Dawkins, 8: What’s wrong with religion? Why be so hostile?
(March 16)             The harmful consequences of religion and religious belief
 
Week 10        Dawkins, 9: Childhood, abuse and the escape from religion
(March 23)              Instilling faith and faith-based education
 
Week 11        Dawkins, 10: A much needed gap?
(March 30)               Atheism and life
 
Week 12        The possibility of dialogue
(Apirl 6)

Week 13         Summary and Conclusions
(April 13)

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Last updated: November 28, 2010