DVPR35200:Modern Philosophy of Religion:
The Enlightenment
Fall Term, 2005
Swift Hall 208
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30-11:50
Instructor: Dan Arnold
Office hours: Swift 401A, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-2:30 (or by arrangement)
Office phone: 702-8276
E-mail: d-arnold@uchicago.edu
Objectives of the Course
This course is designed to introduce certain philosophical developments of the late seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries as decisive for the characteristically "modern" understanding of "religion" (and hence, of philosophy of religion) -- and of much else that defines modernity, as well. The course is, moreover, designed to introduce these developments in such a way as to orient students with respect to one of the bibliographies for doctoral qualifying exams in the Divinity School's program in Philosophy of Religion: "Philosophy of Religions 1: The Modern Background" (which is the one qualifying exam required of all doctoral students in the area). Accordingly, much of the assigned reading is also to be found on that exam bibliography, and it is to be hoped that this course will therefore constitute useful background preparation for those intending to do a qualifying exam in this area.
Required readings:
The following titles are available at the Seminary Coop Bookstore, and on reserve at Regenstein Library:
John Locke, An Essay concerning Human Understanding
John Locke, The Reasonableness of Christianity (abridged edition)
G. W. Leibniz, New Essays on Human Understanding
David Hume, Principal Writings on Religion, including Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and The Natural History of Religion
Immanuel Kant, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics
Immanuel Kant, Critique of Practical Reason
Immanuel Kant, Religion and Rational Theology (trans. Allen W. Wood and George Di Giovanni)
Winnifred Sullivan, The Impossibility of Religious Freedom
A few additional short readings are available for download from electronic reserve.
Course requirements:
In addition to regular attendance and spirited participation in discussion, two written exercises will be assigned. The first will be a 5-10-page paper, due at the beginning of the sixth week; the second will be a 10-15-page paper, due no later than December 9. (For helpful guidance on the kind of exercise I have in mind, consider philosopher James Pryor's "Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper.")
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Schedule of Class Topics, Readings
WEEK 1 (Tue., 9/27; Thur., 9/29):
Course introduction: On the "Enlightenment," "religion," and "philosophy of religion." Reading: Immanuel Kant, "What is Enlightenment?"; Jonathan Z. Smith, "Religion, Religions, Religious"; Merold Westphal, "The Emergence of Modern Philosophy of Religion".
WEEK 2 (Tue., 10/4; Thur., 10/6):
Tue., 9/3: Where it all begins: Religious conflict, and the empiricism of Locke. Reading: John Locke, An Essay concerning Human Understanding, Book IV (in the edition of Peter H. Nidditch, pp.525-721).
WEEK 3: (Tue., 10/11; Thur., 10/13):
Locke, continued. Reading: John Locke, The Reasonableness of Christianity (in this abridged edition, pp.24-77).
WEEK 4: (Tue., 10/18; Thur., 10/20):
A rationalist reply to Locke: Leibniz's commentary on Locke's Essay. Reading: G. W. Leibniz, New Essays on Human Understanding, Book IV (in the edition of Peter Remnant and Jonathan Bennett, pp.355-527).
WEEK 5: (Tue., 10/25; Thur., 10/27):
The skeptical challenge of David Hume. Reading: 1), Hume, The Natural History of Religion (Hume, pp.134-193); 2), Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (Hume, pp.29-130).
WEEK 6 (Tue., 11/1; Thur., 11/3):
Kant's attempt to split the difference between empiricism, rationalism. Reading: Kant, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (in this Cambridge edition, pp.3-134).
WEEK 7 (Tue., 11/8; Thur., 11/10):
Kant, continued: the second Critique. Reading: Kant, Critique of Practical Reason.
WEEK 8: (Tue., 11/15; Thur., 11/17):
Kant, continued: on "religion." Reading: Kant, Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason (in Religion and Rational Theology, pp.57-215).
(I am unable to meet for this week's Thursday session; the possibility of rescheduling will be discussed.)
WEEK 9: (Tue., 11/22; Thur., 11/24):
NO CLASS (AAR, Thanksgiving)
WEEK 10: (Tue., 11/29; Thur., 12/1):
A case study in the legacy of the Enlightenment. Reading: Winnifred Sullivan, The Impossibility of Religious Freedom; Stanley Fish, "Mission Impossible."
Final papers due by December 9.