Aims & Learning Objectives:
This unit examines the roles of religious and scientific traditions in western culture with particular reference to Christian theology, traditions and religious practices, in order to provide (1) an deeper understanding of the cultural context of the ways in which Christianity and western science interact and (2) an analytical basis to evaluate claims about the implications of religious beliefs and practices for science and of scientific developments for Christianity.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. Postgraduate degree students will understand and be able to explain the relevance of the interaction of western science and religious traditions to contemporary issues in the public understanding of science, particularly the popularisation of scientific theories as presented in popular books and films.
Content:
Studies of the cultural context of historical and philosophical views of the nature of religion and of science; critical analysis of theses about their interaction; examination and appraisal of historical and contemporary claims about the implications of science for religions and of religion for science; implications for Public Understanding of Science, esp. the place of science in post-modern culture.
Students will be expected to demonstrate through seminar discussion, an assessed oral presentation and an extended essay that they have mastered the arguments of the main authors or protagonists and can make a critical appraisal of their arguments.
| |
Fax: +44 (0) 1225 386366