REL 3493: Science and Religion

Syllabus

Advice on writing papers


Preliminary Examination: Revision Guide  
Sample from a previous semester (with a link to the correct answers)

Schedule of Readings:

Please note, the date given is the date by which you should have completed the reading. For some readings a link is given. * indicates that, in order to access the link, you will need your FSU username and password. If no link is given, then the reading will be distributed by the bookstore.

12th January: David Hume, The Natural History of Religion Introduction by J. M. Robertson, and Books I-VIII
17th January: David Hume, The Natural History of Religion, IX - XV
19th January: Extracts from Edward Wilson, Human Nature and Jonathan Marks, Why I Am Not A Scientist
24th January: Brian Zamulinski, "Religion and the pursuit of truth", Religious Studies, 39, (2003)*
26th January: Justin Barrett: "Exploring the Natural Foundations of Religion", Trends In Cognitive Science, Jan 2001, pp.29-34*
2nd February: Joseph Bulbulia: "The Cognitive and Evolutionary Psychology of Religion" Biology and Philosophy, November 2004, 665-686*
7th February: Preliminary Examination

Popular Articles:

In the class, we are focussing on academic articles aimed at people carrying out scientific studies of human nature. There is also a growing popular awareness of this work. The articles below are aimed at the general public, and offer an easy introduction to current thinking:

The Moral Instinct Steven Pinker reviews the case for supposing ethics has a biological basis, and examines the implications. Useful guide for the latest thinking on whether ethics can be grounded in a universal human nature.

The Social Animal David Brooks explains how a scientific understanding of human nature can help us live a better life.

Presentations:

If you are late, or fail to turn up for your own presentation, you will be penalized. If you know in advance that you cannot give a presentation on the date scheduled, you may arrange a swap with someone else. I will be grading you on your comments on other students' presentations.

The aim is to set out the following:
Explain your choice of topic for a paper, and the line of argument you intend to take. What is your thesis, and what methods will you need in order to establish it?
Remember, the paper must be an examination of how recent work in cognitive science of religion and/or evolutionary psychology might alter our way of thinking about some religious matter. You may, of course, criticise work carried out in either of those two fields. The presentation itself should last for about fifteen minutes.

Plagiarism is Prohibited

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