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Phil 214-01:
Philosophy
of Religion
Second
Essay
Due November 3, 2009
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Instructions
Can reason establish the existence or nonexistence of divine
beings (e.g. God)? If so, how (and why have others
held the contrary opinion)? If not, why not (and why have
others held the contrary opinion)? Include sustained, focused
discussion of at least three of the following focal
points (clearly identifying each).
- Plato's analysis
of religious belief and reason (as presented in Euthyphro
and Apology)
- The Ontological
Argument (as presented by Anselm, but criticized by Gaunilo, Aquinas,
and Kant)
- The Cosmological
Argument (as presented by Aquinas, but criticized by Hume)
- The Teleological
Argument (as presented by Aquinas and Paley, criticized by Hume, and
critiqued in Shrader's "Religion in America")
- The Problem of
Evil (as presented by Aquinas, Dostoyevsky, Shrader's "Religion in
America," "Exodus Decoded," and "The Science of Evil")
- Evidence and
Experience (as presented by Pascal, James, Schloem, Davis,
and Shrader's "Seven Characteristics of Mystical Experiences")
- Empirical investigation
(as presented in "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," "UFOs in the
Bible," "Exodus Decoded," "Digging for the Truth," and "Has Science
Discovered God?")
Your
essay should be informed, articulate, and reflective. This means you
must: (1) demonstrate understanding of the assignments, (2) analyze and
evaluate those materials, and (3) express and explore your own ideas
and opinions.
You
may discuss issues with other people (including classmates), but use
standard considerations of academic integrity when preparing your
papers: if you use an insight or argument suggested by another person,
reference the indebtedness. Outside sources are allowed, but not
required.
Length: 7-10 pages of text: typed, double-spaced,
12 point font, one inch margins. For those who wish, papers may be
submitted on disk, flash, or via Email (shradedw@oneonta.edu
). Late papers will not be accepted without advance arrangement and
adequate justification.
