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Philosophy of Spring 2021

Instructor: James “J.P.” Andrew Email: [email protected] Office: Waggener 410A Office Hours: T/Th 1:00-2:00 and by appointment

Course Description: of religion is the philosophical study of fundamental religious ​ concepts and ideas. In this course, we will survey some of the perennial questions and issues in , focusing particularly (but not exclusively) on those pertinent to the great monotheistic traditions. Of particular interest will be: (a) classical arguments for the existence of , (b) the (can the existence of evil be reconciled with the ?), (c) the relationship between and reason (is religious faith rationally justifiable?), and (d) (what is a ? Is it ever reasonable to believe that a miracle has occurred?). ​ ​

Learning Objectives: Ideally, three objectives will be met in this course. First, you will ​ familiarize yourself with some perennial problems and topics in the philosophy of religion. Second, you will improve your analytical skills as you critically evaluate arguments and develop your own ideas. Finally, you will improve your written communication skills by generating thoughtful prose about challenging material.

Course Delivery: This course is listed as a “Hybrid”. Given that the university has determined ​ that all courses will be online only at least through January, we will begin by having class via synchronous Zoom sessions. When it is possible, I intend to hold at least some optional in-person sessions in our very large classroom, which will be broadcast via Zoom for those not wishing to attend in-person. Since the situation surrounding COVID-19 is fluid, we will inevitably have to do some adapting throughout the semester; however, student preferences will inform the adaptation process throughout, and I will ensure that in-person attendance is at no point a necessity for success in the course. Our classes will follow what I call an “Informal Lecture Model”: I will have a clear agenda each session, and I view my role first and foremost as that of a teacher; however, I will encourage discussion, questions, and student participation more generally (so, if things are going well, I will certainly not be the only one talking).

No Required Text: All readings will be made available on Canvas. There is no required ​ textbook. You should at least skim the assigned reading prior to each class meeting so that you’ll come to class with some understanding of the general items under discussion. Some of the readings will be challenging the first time around. This is to be expected (philosophy isn’t easy!); don’t be discouraged. You should plan to always revisit the readings more carefully after class once I’ve given you a general framework for understanding them.

Evaluation: There are 1000 points possible for this course. Your final score will be based upon ​ the cumulative score you receive on (i) ten response papers (worth 40 points each), (ii) one term paper (worth 300 points), and (iii) a final, comprehensive essay exam (worth 300 points). Grading will be done on the university's +/- scale, as specified below:

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lowest A: 93%, lowest A-: 90%, lowest B+: 87%, lowest B: 83%, lowest B-: 80%, lowest C+: 77%, lowest C: 73%, lowest C-: 70%, lowest D+: 67%, lowest D: 63%, F: less than 63%

**Note**: I do not round. So, for example, even an average of 89.99 is a B+. Bear this in mind ​ ​ from the outset.

A Word of Warning: We will be critically examining ideas in this course that many people hold ​ sacred. While our inquiry will be conducted respectfully and at a purely intellectual level (and while I have no personal agenda beyond the learning objectives stated above), just make sure that thinking critically about the existence of God and the rationality of religious is something that you’re up for. It’s my goal to represent both sides fairly, as it were, so regardless of your own religious commitments (or lack thereof), you should expect to feel (intellectually) challenged at various points throughout the term. Term Paper: You will be required to write one term paper, 5-7 pages in length (given standard ​ formatting). Prompts will be posted on Canvas early in the semester. You will also have the option of writing your own prompt, but you must submit it for my approval no later than Late papers will not be accepted except in extenuating circumstances (e.g., severe illness or family emergency), of which I should be made aware at the earliest date possible. Final Exam: There will be a comprehensive final exam that will cover material discussed ​ throughout the semester. It will be a “take home” exam that you will be able to complete over multiple days. This is your opportunity to synthesize and demonstrate your general mastery of the course material. Short Response Papers: You will write ten short (1 page) response papers over the course of ​ the term. A response paper should consist of a brief summary of one of the assigned readings, of ​ ​ a particular section of an assigned reading and an objection or a (developed) critical question. ​ ​ It’s up to you which readings you write on, but you must submit five before Spring Break and ​ ​ ​ five after Spring Break. You may not submit a response paper for a reading that has already ​ ​ ​ ​ been covered in class. You are free to submit more than ten response papers (so, you can keep ​ going until you receive the average response paper grade you desire). Attendance: There is not an attendance portion of your grade, but attendance is prudentially ​ required, in the sense that you cannot hope to do well in the course if you do not attend class consistently. It’s the information conveyed during lecture for which I will hold you chiefly responsible on the final exam, and this information will often go well beyond that conveyed in the readings (sometimes, we will be examining the assigned reading very closely; other times, the reading will only be meant to orient you towards a much more general discussion). Classroom Conduct: You are expected to be respectful towards others at all times in the ​ classroom. This not only means being courteous during classroom discussions but also refraining from such disruptive behaviors as talking to others, texting, preparing for other classes, and leaving class early or entering class late. Inappropriate classroom conduct may ​ result in points being deducted from your final grade, without your being notified. Cell phones ​ should be silenced and out-of-sight at all times during class. When we meet in-person, you may take notes on a laptop if you have a strong preference for doing so, but please try to sit toward 3 the back of the classroom, if you do, so that others are not distracted by your screen. You may ​ not use a recording device in class unless you’ve provided me with documentation of a disability necessitating that you do so. In such a case, the recording may be used only for your personal ​ study needs. This is to respect the privacy of your peers. When classes meet in-person, you ​ should of course never attend if you have any reason to believe that you are ill. When meeting ​ via Zoom, I encourage (but do not require) you to turn on your camera; it’s easier for me to gauge comprehension during lectures if I can see faces, and it helps to create a sense of familiarity. University Policies Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty ​ are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial Services website: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs. Plagiarism: If you use words or ideas that are not your own you must cite your sources. ​ Otherwise, you will be guilty of plagiarism. To learn more, go to the following URL: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis_plagiarism.php. Religious Holidays: By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least ​ fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) ​ who requires academic accommodations, should contact the Services for Students with ) Disabilities area of the Office of the Dean of Students at 512-471-6259 (voice) or 512-471-4641 (TTY for users who are deaf or hard of hearing), as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations.

Course Schedule Notes: (1) This schedule is tentative and subject to change. (2) The readings associated with each session should be done prior to class. ​ ​

Introduction 1/20 Syllabus; Course Introduction 1/22 Introduction to Philosophical Argument 1/25 Natural : Aquinas’s

Cosmological Arguments 4

1/27 , “The Kalam ” 1/29 Graham Oppy, “Kalam Cosmological Arguments: Reply to Professor Craig” 2/1 Richard Gale and , “A New Cosmological Argument” 2/3 Graham Oppy, “On A New Cosmological Argument”

Teleological Arguments 1/29 , “The Watch and the Watchmaker” 2/1 , excerpt from Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion ​ 2/3 , “Arguments From Design”

Moral Arguments 2/3 Plato, “The Euthyphro” 2/5 Robert M. Adams, “Moral Arguments For Theistic Belief” 2/8 William Lane Craig, “The Indispensability of Theological Meta-Ethical Foundations for Morality” 2/10 Wes Morriston, “God and the Ontological Foundation of Morality”

Ontological Arguments 2/12 St. Anselm, “The ” 2/15 Gaunilo, “On Behalf of the Fool” 2/17 , “The Ontological Argument” 2/19 Graham Oppy, “The Ontological Arguments”

The Problem of Evil 2/22 David Hume, excerpt from Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion ​ 2/24 Gottfried Leibniz, excerpt from ​ 2/26 J.L. Mackie, “Evil and Omnipotence” 3/1 William Rowe, “The Inductive Argument From Evil against the Existence of God” 3/3 Paul Draper, “Evolution and the Problem of Evil” 3/5 Bruce Schellenberg, “Divine Hiddenness and Human Philosophy” 3/8 Alvin Plantinga, “The Defense” 3/10 , “Evil and -Making” 3/12 Eleanor Stump, “The Problem of Evil and the Desires of the Heart” 3/15 Laura Waddell Ekstrom, “Suffering as Religious Experience” 3/17 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Skeptical ” 3/19 Alvin Plantinga, “Supralapsarianism, or ‘O Felix Culpa’” 3/21 Summary/Review

Spring Break 3/24 Spring Break 5

3/26 Spring Break 3/29 Spring Break

The Epistemology of Religious Belief 3/31 Alvin Plantinga, “Is Belief In God Properly Basic?” 4/2 Continued 4/5 Richard Swinburne, “Plantinga On Warrant”

Miracles 4/7 David Hume, “Against Miracles” 4/9 J.L. Mackie, “Miracles and Testimony” 4/12 , “Of ‘’” 4/14 Daniel Bonevac, “The ”

The Evolutionary Argument Against 4/16 Alvin Plantinga, “An Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism” 4/19 Paul Draper, “In Defense of Sensible Naturalism”

Believing Beyond the Evidence 4/21 William Clifford, “The Ethics of Belief” 4/26 , “The Will to Believe” 4/28 , “The Wager” 4/30 Graham Oppy, “Pascal's Wager Is A Possible Bet (But Not A Very Good One): Reply To Harmon Holcomb” 5/3 Lara Buchak, “Can It Be Rational to Have Faith?”

Open 5/5 5/7

5/15 **Final Exams Due** (by the end of the day) ​ ​ 5/20 Final Grades Posted