Philosophy & Religious Studies

In this course, Professor John Cottingham (University of Reading) explores the teleological argument. In the first module, we introduce Aquinas’ teleological argument from regularity in the universe. In the second module, we examine various...

In this course, Dr Anna Plassart (Open University) explores the Scottish Enlightenment. In the first module, we think about the Enlightenment as a whole—why it happened when it did, its principle goals and central doctrines—before moving on in the...

In this course Jeremy Carrette (University of Kent) explores William James and religious experience. In the first module we introduce William James, and his classic 1902 text ‘The Varieties of Religious Experience’. After that, we explore some of...

In this course, Professor Simon Oliver (University of Durham) explores negative, positive, analogical and symbolic religious language. In the first module, we consider the problem of talking about an infinite God as finite creatures. In the...

In this course Dr Chris Deacy (University of Kent) explores death and the afterlife. In the first module, we think about some questions raised by the fact of death and the prospect of an afterlife. After that, we look at the role of Heaven,...

In this course Dr Bethany Sollereder (University of Oxford) takes us on a theological journey into theodicies: attempts to justify God’s existence in light of the problems of evil and suffering. We begin by asking the question: what is theodicy?...

In this course, Professor John Cottingham (University of Reading) explores the cosmological argument. In the first module, we introduce the a posteriori and inductive methods involved in cosmological arguments for God’s existence, and outline...

In this course Dr Stephen Plant (University of Cambridge) explores the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In the first module, we look at the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the historical context in which his theology emerged. In the second...

In this course, Dr Sacha Golob (King’s College, London) explores the relationship between ethics and aesthetics. Must a work of art be morally good in order to qualify as ‘great’? Can morally bad works of art ever be considered great?...

In this course Dr Rupert Read (University of East Anglia) explores Wittgenstein’s language games, with special reference to religious language and belief. In the first module, we introduce language games in the context of Wittgenstein’s...

In this course Professor Gavin D’Costa (University of Bristol) explores religious pluralism in Christian thought. In the first module, we examine John Hick’s arguments for religious pluralism. After that, in the second module, we look at the...

In this course, Dr Ema Sullivan-Bissett (University of Birmingham) explores the limits of knowledge (scepticism). In the first module, we contrast normal incredulity to philosophical scepticism, and examine various ways to remove grounds for...

In this course, Professor John Marenbon (University of Cambridge) explores Medieval Philosophy through seven key thinkers. In the first module, we explore the philosophy of Avicenna, thinking in particular about his proof of existence of God and...

In this course Professor John Marenbon (University of Cambridge) examines Boethius and the problem of prescience, and how Boethius’ response to this problem shapes our understanding of divine eternity and human free will. In the first module, we...