CASRN450A1/850A1/CASPH483A1/TX850A1Philosophy of Religion
Michael Zank, STM PhDAssociate Professor of ReligionOffice address:147 Bay State Road, Room 407Tel: 353.4434Email: mzank@bu.eduOffice hours: Tuesday 2-4, Wed 10-11About this course
This seminar covers major sources in the modern Continental philosophical conversation on the philosophy of religion focusing on the writings of Kant, Schleiermacher, Hegel, and Kierkegaard. Assigned readings will be introduced by graduate student presentations at the beginning of the Tuesday sessions. Additional readings will be presented on by undergraduate participants at the beginning of the discussions on Thursdays. Each student will give at least one presentation during this semester. Sign-up sheets for these class presentations will be circulated at the first meetings.Grading
Students will be graded on attendance and participation (20%), and on their presentations (30%). Graduate students will write a term paper, following the attached guideline (50%). Undergraduate students will submit a midterm and a final exam. Both exams will be in a take-home format (25% each).Course texts
Immanuel Kant, Religion within the Limits of Mere ReasonDaniel Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion, Speeches to the Educated among its DespisersG. W. F. Hegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of ReligionSøren Kierkegaard, Fear and TremblingAcademic Code of Conduct
Undergraduate students, please see http://www.bu.edu/cas/academics/programs/conductcode.html.Graduate students, please see the Graduate School's Academic Discipline Procedures at http://www.bu.edu/grs/academics/resources/adp.html.
Course scheduleWeek I
Tuesday, January 16Introduction to the courseThursday, January 18Kant: What does it mean to orient oneself in thinking?Week II
Tuesday, January 23Kant, Religion within the boundaries of mere reason: Prefaces and Part IThursday, January 25Kant, Religion, Part I (discussion)Last Day to ADD Classes: Monday, January 29, 2007Week III
Tuesday, January 30Kant, Religion, Part IIThursday, January 1Kant, Religion, Part II (discussion)Week IV
Tuesday, February 6Kant, Religion, Part IIIThursday, February 8Kant, Religion, Part III (discussion)Week V
Tuesday, February 13Kant, Religion, Part IVThursday, February 15Kant, Religion, Part IV (discussion)Last Day to DROP Classes (without a 'W' grade): Friday, February 16, 2007Also: Last Day to Change from Credit to Audit StatusWeek VI: Midterm (take-home; due Tuesday, Febr. 27)
Substitute Monday Schedule of Classes Tuesday, February 20, 2007Thursday, February 22, no class: Prof. Zank in PhoenixWeek VII
Tuesday, February 27Schleiermacher, On Religion. Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers: EditorŐs introduction and First Speech.Thursday, March 1Schleiermacher, On Religion, First Speech (discussion)Week VIII
Tuesday, March 6Schleiermacher, On Religion, Second SpeechThursday, March 8Schleiermacher, On Religion, Second Speech (discussion)Last Day to DROP Classes (with a 'W' grade): Friday, March 9, 2007Spring Recess: Saturday, March 10, thru Sunday, March 18, 2007Week IX
Tuesday, March 20Schleiermacher, On Religion, Third SpeechThursday, March 22Schleiermacher, On Religion, Third Speech (discussion)Week X
Tuesday, March 27Schleiermacher, On Religion, Fourth SpeechThursday, March 29Schleiermacher, On Religion, Fourth Speech (discussion)Week XI
Tuesday, April 3 (Passover)Hegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion: EditorŐs introductionThursday, April 5Hegel, Lectures: HegelŐs introductionWeek XII
Tuesday, April 10Hegel, Lectures, Part I: The Concept of ReligionThursday, April 12Hegel,Lectures, Part I: The Concept of Religion (discussion)Week XIII
Tuesday, April 17Hegel, Lectures, Part II: Determinate ReligionThursday, April 19Hegel, Lectures, Part II: Determinate Religion (discussion)Week XIV
Tuesday, April 24Hegel, Lectures, Part III: The Consummate ReligionThursday, April 26Hegel, Lectures, Part III: The Consummate Religion (discussion)Week XV
Tuesday, May 1Kierkegaard, Fear and TremblingThursday, May 3Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling (discussion)