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Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion

Approx. 24 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course explores the intersection of philosophy, science, and religion, and how they shape our understanding of the world around us.

Key Learning Points

Gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between philosophy, science, and religion
Explore the different ways in which these fields approach questions about reality, knowledge, and meaning
Develop critical thinking skills and learn to evaluate arguments and evidence

Learning Outcomes

Develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between philosophy, science, and religion
Enhance critical thinking skills and learn to evaluate arguments and evidence
Explore new perspectives and challenge existing beliefs

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic understanding of philosophy, science, and religion
Willingness to engage in critical thinking and open-minded inquiry

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online, Self-paced
Video Lectures
Readings and Assignments
Discussion Forums

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World Religions Through Their Scriptures

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Richard Dawkins
Sam Harris
Karen Armstrong

Related Books

Description

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

This course, entitled ‘Philosophy and Religion’, is the second of three related courses in our Philosophy, Science and Religion Online series, and in this course we will ask important questions about the age-old debate between science and religion, such as: • What kind of conflicts are there between religion and science? • Does current cognitive science of religion effectively explain away God? • If there is a God who has made us so that we can know him, why do some people not believe? • Is belief in science also a kind of fundamentalism? • What makes us good at getting, giving, or sharing, knowledge? Is this different when it is religious knowledge? The first course in the Philosophy, Science and Religion series, 'Science and Philosophy' was launched early in 2017 and you can sign up to it at any time. The third course —‘Religion and Science’—will be launched early in 2018. Completing all three courses will give you a broader understanding of this fascinating topic. Look for: • Philosophy, Science and Religion I: Science and Philosophy https://www.coursera.org/learn/philosophy-science-religion-1/ • Philosophy, Science and Religion III: Religion and Science Upon successful completion of all three courses, students will: (1) Understand the main parameters at stake in the current debate between science and religion. (2) Have some familiarity with the relevant areas of science that feature in the debate—including cosmology, evolution, and the neurosciences—and will have begun to engage with them conceptually. (3) Have encountered key philosophical approaches to the interface between science and religion, and will have had the opportunity to engage them in practice. (4) Have embarked constructively in cross-disciplinary conversations. (5) Have demonstrated an openness to personal growth through a commitment to dialogue across intellectual and spiritual boundaries. You can also follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EdiPhilOnline and you can follow the hashtag #psrmooc

Outline

Introduction to the course
Course overview
Professor Duncan Pritchard introduces the course
About this course
Course assessments and exercises
Course textbook
Introductory Reading: Faith and Rationality

Mind, Science, and Religion
Lecture 1.1: Introduction
Lecture 1.2: Religious Belief and Embodiment
Lecture 1.3: Neural Correlates of Religious Belief
Lecture 1.4: Religious Belief and the Cognitive Science of Religion
Lecture 1.5: Religious Belief Disproved?
Introductory Reading: Does Contemporary Neuroscience Debunk Religious Belief?
Find out more...!
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Module Quiz

Science and Religion in the Public Realm
Lecture 2.1 - Overview
Lecture 2.2 - Possible conflict between religion and science
Lecture 2.3 - Official Christian stances on the conflict
Lecture 2.4 - Views on human origins
Lecture 2.5 - Is the religious public in moral conflict with science?
Religion and Science: Beyond the Epistemological Conflict Narrative
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Module Quiz
Assess the reading critically

Religious Disagreement and Friendly Theism/Atheism
Lecture 3.1 - Two problems in the epistemology of religion
Lecture 3.2 - Social epistemology
Lecture 3.3 - Implications for religious epistemology
Lecture 3.4 - Conclusion
Introductory Reading: Are Theism and Atheism Totally Opposed?
Further reading
Testimony and the Transmission of Religious Knowledge
Test your understanding!
Test your understanding!
Module Quiz
Assess the reading critically

The Hiddenness Argument and the Contribution of Philosophy
Lecture 4.1 - What is the hiddenness argument?
Lecture 4.2 - Main objections to the argument
Lecture 4.3 - Responses to the objections
Lecture 4.4 - The relationship between religion and science
Lecture 4.5 - Philosophy's contribution to the theism debates
Introductory Reading: Is God Hidden, Or Does God Simply Not Exist?
Divine Hiddenness and Human Philosophy
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Module Quiz
Test your understanding
Assess the reading critically

Religious and Scientific Fundamentalism
Lecture 5.1 - What is scientism?
Lecture 5.2 - Varieties of scientism
Lecture 5.3 - Arguments for scientism
Lecture 5.4 - Arguments for scientism (continued)
Lecture 5.5 - Arguments against scientism
Lecture 5.6 - Scientism, religious belief, and fundamentalism
The Folly of Scientism
Is Fundamentalism Just a Problem for Religious People?
The Fundamental Argument Against Scientism
A Conceptual Map of Scientism
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Module quiz

Epistemic Virtues and Vices in Science and Religion
Lecture 6.1 - Overview of the lecture
Lecture 6.2 - Introduction to epistemic virtues and vices
Lecture 6.3 - Case studies from science: scientific collaborations
Lecture 6.4 - Case studies from science: trust and distrust of science by laypeople
Lecture 6.5 - Case studies from religion: miracles
Lecture 6.6 - Case studies from religion: transmission of revelation
Further reading: Virtues For Agents in Directed Social Networks
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
Module quiz

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the intersection of philosophy, science, and religion in this highly-rated course on Coursera. Many users praise the course's in-depth exploration of complex topics, providing a well-rounded understanding of the relationship between these three fields.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course provides an in-depth exploration of complex topics, providing a well-rounded understanding of the relationship between philosophy, science, and religion.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
Interactive and thought-provoking lectures
Great introduction to the intersection of philosophy, science, and religion
Clear and concise explanations of complex topics
Well-organized course structure

Cons from User Reviews

Some sections can be too dense and difficult to understand
Limited discussion and interaction with other students
Not enough focus on practical applications of the concepts learned
Some lectures can be repetitive and redundant
Requires a significant time commitment to complete

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