Syllabus

Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy 134
Instructor: Meg Wallace
Syllabus

Office: Caldwell 206B
Office Phone: 919-926-3330
Office Hours:  MW 5-6pm and by appointment.

Email: megw@email.unc.edu
Course Webpage: http://www.unc.edu/~megw/Phil134S07
Where: Caldwell 105
When: MW 6-7:15pm

Required Texts

Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology, fourth edition. Edited by Louis Pojman
On the Genealogy of Morals, Frederick Nietzsche.

The above texts should be available in the student book store. Other required readings--if there should be any--will become available during the duration of the course, and will be posted up on my website. (In general, I will email the entire class when any changes have been made to any of the course related webpages.) Suggested on-line readings will be posted on the course main page here.

Course Description

This is an introductory course designed to give you a brief overview of some of the main issues in Philosophy of Religion. We will be addressing such questions as whether God exists, whether He even could exist (i.e., is the idea of God even coherent?), and what it would mean if he either did or didn't exist. In particular, we will be looking at some of the main arguments for and against the claim that God exists. We will also discuss what sort of attributes God has or might have, and why, as well as the connection between God and morality and God and the meaning of life. Finally, we will be addressing the difference and tension--if there is any--between faith and reason, religion and science, etc.

 
Course Requirements

(i) 2 Papers 

There will be 2 papers 4-6 pages in length. Due dates for the papers can be found on the reading schedule. Rough drafts for the papers, while not required, are strongly encouraged. I will be holding extra office hours the week the papers are due so that we can go over the rough drafts in person.

(ii) 1 Journal

Throughout the semester, you will make entries into a class journal. This will be a place for you to write summaries of lectures, to discuss particular arguments we cover, objections we raise, or any other topics that may come about in class discussion. There is no particular format you must follow, nor any set length for the journal entries. However, please keep in mind that this will be graded at the end of the semester. I will expect at least one entry per week, and I will be looking for a general understanding or grasp of the material, or at least an attempt to understand or grasp the material. This should also give you a chance to figure out what you do or do not understand. Journals will be due in class on the last day of class (April 25, 2007).

(iii) 1 Final

There will be 1 comprehensive final at the end of the semester. It will cover all of the material and will be in short answer/essay format. Date: Monday, April 30 6pm.

(iv) Participation

You are expected to read the assignments, think carefully about the readings, and come to class prepared. Part of what makes philosophy so engaging is being able to discuss various views with others. My hope is that this course will provide you with a forum where such discussion can take place. Thus, a small part of your grade will be allotted for participation, which includes coming to class, taking part in class discussions, turning in class assignments, coming to office hours, etc.

Grades

 Your final grade in this course will be broken down as follows:

First Exam                    25%
Second Exam               25%
Journal                          20%
Final                             25%
Participation                   5%


Caveat: You must pass the final exam, and you must turn in all of the required assignments, in order to pass the class.

Honor Code

It is expected that everyone in the class has read, understood, and obeys UNC's Honor Code, which you can read on-line here. For more general information about the university's honor system, go here.

General Advice

Philosophy is oftentimes difficult. You may find that you need to read an article several times before you even have a sense of what the article is about. Please don’t get frustrated—you’ll discover that having patience and working through such arduous material will be incredibly rewarding. However, chances are that even reading and re-reading the material will not be enough. That is why I encourage every single one of you to see me in my office hours whenever you feel you need the extra help. I have two hours a week specifically allotted for meeting with students, but feel free to make an appointment with me if another time would be more convenient. Also, I am open to having group meetings or study sessions outside of class time whenever you feel such a meeting would be beneficial.


Page Last Updated: January 3, 2007
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