| CODE | PHI1100 | ||||||
| TITLE | Philosophical Paradigms for Theology | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Philosophy | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit shows that philosophy has a vital role to play in laying the foundations for acceptance of revelation and so in providing the essential groundwork for theological activity. Philosophy is vital to what is called the “preamble of faith” which is the way in which we epistemically justify our acceptance of revelation in the first place. This study-unit will therefore be an exercise conducted through the historical and systematic examination of various models around which theological reflection has taken shape. Among these are the following: the Propositional Model; the Transcendental Model; the Anagogical Model; the Fiducial Model; the Affective-Experiential Model; the Obediential Model; the Praxis Model; the Personalist Model. The discussion of each model will be supplemented by reference to salient philosophers and theologians taken to be representative of that genre. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit is not intended to offer an introduction to the material content of philosophy, its subject matter, its themes and topics, but to the form which that content enables with respect to theological discourse: the basic patterns, the constituent elements, the way or ways in which the assertions of Catholic theology are arrived at with particular attention to philosophical positions, presuppositions and terms in use. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to possess a fuller awareness of the philosophical assumptions present in contemporary theological research as well as in traditional or classical theology, not least in ecclesiastical pronouncements regarding theological truths together with a knowledge of concepts, theoretical systems and aporiai necessary to acquire the intellectual confidence required when engaging with academic texts of philosophical theology. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to possess the required critical skills to assess the validity and philosophical cogency of theological research and of dogmatic truths, together with the intellectual stimulation desirable in a budding theologian. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Allen, D., and Springsted E.O., Philosophy for Understanding Theology, WJK Press, 2007. - Kenny, A., What is Faith? Essays in the Philosophy of Religion, Oxford University Press 1992. - Kerr, F., Theology after Wittgenstein, Blackwell Publishing, 1997. - Kerr, F., Immortal Longings: Versions of Transcending Humanity, Notre Dame University Press, 1997. - Levering, M., Scripture and Metaphysics, Blackwell Publishing, 2004. - McInerny, R., Preambula Fidei, Catholic University of America Press, 2006. - Swinburne, R., The Coherence of Theism, Oxford Clarendon Press, 1977. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is offered only to Theology students. | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Mark Sultana |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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