Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/philosophy-science-religion-2

Introduction

**Course Recommendation: Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion on Coursera** In an age where the intersections of philosophy, science, and religion become increasingly relevant, the Coursera course "Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion" offers a thought-provoking examination of these fundamental approaches to understanding the world. This six-week course is not just an academic endeavor; it's an invitation to engage with some of the most pressing questions humanity grapples with: Are philosophy, science, and religion inherently conflicting, or can they exist in a complementary relationship? **Course Overview and Content** Led by an esteemed group of instructors, the course presents a well-structured syllabus that promises a rich exploration of the themes at hand. Each week, participants delve into critical discussions and lectures that scrutinize the interactions and implications of philosophy, science, and religion. 1. **Introduction to the Course** - The journey begins with Professor Duncan Pritchard, who sets the stage for what learners can expect. This introductory module effectively engages participants, sparking curiosity about the multifaceted discussions that will unfold. 2. **Mind, Science, and Religion** - Dr. Sarah Lane Ritchie introduces the intriguing relationship between neurobiology and religious belief. This module discusses how brain sciences impact our understanding of faith and spirituality, making it one of the course's highlights. 3. **Science and Religion in the Public Realm** - Professor John Evans examines the sociological dimensions of the science-religion debate in contemporary society. Through insightful examples like human evolution, he clarifies how moral conflicts often overshadow factual disagreements, providing an essential contemporary context. 4. **Religious Disagreement and Friendly Theism/Atheism** - Delving into the complexities of religious epistemology, Professor John Greco tackles the common irrationality accusations that theists and atheists hurl at each other. This segment introduces fascinating social epistemological theories, enhancing the understanding of differing belief systems. 5. **The Hiddenness Argument and the Contribution of Philosophy** - Professor John Schellenberg presents the hiddenness argument for atheism, placing it against the backdrop of broader philosophical discourse. This module offers a critical examination of divine existence, engaging students to think deeply about the philosophical considerations involved. 6. **Religious and Scientific Fundamentalism** - Dr. Rik Peels raises awareness of the pitfalls of scientism and fundamentalism, drawing essential distinctions between them. His exploration of these concepts is crucial for understanding how both science and religion can embody rigid belief systems. 7. **Epistemic Virtues and Vices in Science and Religion** - Lastly, Professor Mark Alfano discusses the role of epistemic virtues and vices, shedding light on how they contribute to trust in both scientific and religious knowledge. This final lecture ties the themes of the course together, encouraging students to reflect on their own moral and intellectual dispositions. **Who Should Enroll?** This course is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in philosophy, science, or religious studies—be they students, educators, or curious lifelong learners wanting to expand their intellectual horizons. Those involved in fields like sociology, theology, or cognitive science will find particularly relevant insights. **Why You Should Take This Course** The "Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion" course is more than just a collection of lectures; it is an exploration of the human mind's greatest inquiries. Participants will emerge with a richer understanding of the interplay between these fundamental modes of thought and better equip themselves to navigate the complexities of modern discourse surrounding belief, knowledge, and morality. In conclusion, this course provides a comprehensive, engaging look at the relationships between philosophy, science, and religion. With a stellar lineup of instructors and a thoughtfully designed syllabus, it's a perfect fit for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of some of life's biggest questions. Enroll today on Coursera and join in this enlightening journey!

Syllabus

Introduction to the course

In this module Professor Duncan Pritchard welcomes you to the course and gives you a preview of our journey together over the next six weeks.

Dr. Sarah Lane Ritchie starts us off with a tour of the relationship between the various brain sciences and religious belief.

In this series of lectures, Professor John Evans describes a sociological approach to the question of religion and science that focuses on contemporary society. Using debates about fact claims and morality of human evolution as his continuing example, and with a focus on the relationship with science that religious and other citizens have with science, he describes three types of conflict. Unlike the philosophical and theological debate that focuses upon conflict over knowledge claims about the physical world, Evans shows how the contemporary debate for citizens is more likely to be about morality.

In this series of lectures Professor John Greco discusses the topic of religious disagreement. Part One considers two problems that we find in the epistemology of religion: The Problem of Evil (or Suffering) and The Problem of Divine Hiddenness. In these contexts, theists and atheists often accuse each other of irrationality. Even worse, each party of the debate explains that irrationality by positing some moral or intellectual flaw in the other. The basic idea is this: If you don’t see things the way I do, that must be due to some intellectual or moral flaw in you. Part Two introduces resources in social epistemology that help us to understand what is going on here. The main idea is that social location affects epistemic position-- that social location matters, epistemically speaking. This is a central lesson of contemporary social epistemology, and one that can be fruitfully adopted by religious epistemology as well. Part Three explores some further implications of a “social religious epistemology.” Most importantly, we see how moral and practical aspects of the social environment can have epistemic consequences.

In this series of lectures, Professor John Schellenberg introduces and explains a new argument for atheism known as the hiddenness argument. He highlights the self-imposed limitations of this way of reasoning, which is aimed at ruling out just one candidate for the status of a divine reality, the notion of a personal divine. He then clarifies the relations between this approach to the question of God's existence and other features of the contemporary landscape in philosophy and science – including the philosophical problem of evil, certain results of the cognitive science of religion, and recent moral changes suggesting cultural evolution.

In this series of lectures Dr. Rik Peels considers religious and scientific fundamentalism. Scientism is the currently popular thesis that only natural science gives rational belief or, alternatively, that there are no principled limits to science. In this lecture, I give several examples of scientism, such as scientism about free will. After that, I present seven reasons that have been given for scientism. Subsequently, I outline three arguments against it. Finally, I explain some crucial similarities and differences between scientism on the one hand and fundamentalism on the other. I argue that, even though some varieties of scientism resemble fundamentalism, most of them are more similar to religions or worldviews.

In this lecture, Professor Mark Alfano discusses the role of epistemic virtues and vices in science and religion. The lecture has three main sections. First, Alfano distinguishes four types of epistemic virtues and vices. Source virtues such as honesty make someone an excellent primary source of knowledge. Receiver virtues such as intellectual humility make someone an excellent recipient of knowledge provided by sources. Conduit virtues make someone an excellent conveyor of the knowledge they receive from others to third parties; these dispositions might include a willingness to gossip carefully in order to protect others from a sexual predator, as well as the virtues that journalists try to embody. Echo virtues make someone an excellent sounding board for others. Along the way, Alfano mentions various vices that can attach to people in the role of source, receiver, conduit, and echo. In the second part of the lecture, Alfano uses the notions of source, receiver, conduit, and echo virtues to make sense of scientific collaborations and trust in science by laypeople. In section three, he shows that unless we have unreasonably high credence in very long chains of conduit virtues, we should not accept testimony in favour of miracles or divine revelation.