Aims & Learning Objectives:
This unit provides an historical exposition of the changing relationship between major religious traditions and western science, and a critical discussion of theses about the ways in which religion and science interact.Students will be expected to demonstrate, through written assignments and seminar discussion, that they have mastered the arguments of at least two main authors or schools and can make a critical appraisal of these arguments.
Additionally, postgraduate degree students will understand and be able to explain the relevance of these positions and arguments to contemporary issues in the public understanding of science, particularly the popularisation of scientific theories.
Content:
Attention will be given to historical and philosophical views of the nature of religion and of science, theses about their interaction (e.g., conflict, independence, interdependence); each of the main theses will be examined in the light of recent historical and critical studies.
The application by popular science writers of core scientific theories to religious and metaphysical themes is also explored.
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