PHIL136 CM - Belief, Justification, and Religion

This course will explore various justifications that have been offered for religious belief. We will begin with a general survey of the ways in which beliefs can be justified. We will then ask whether religious belief fits one or more of these categories. We will look at traditional approaches to justifying religious belief—such as the design argument and Pascal’s wager—as well as modern approaches—such as Plantinga’s “reformed epistemology” and appeals to research on happiness. We will conclude by asking whether belief per se is really a core part of being religious.

Prerequisite: One prior course in philosophy or permission of instructor

Offered: Every other year

Credit: 1

Course Number: PHIL136 CM