Philosophy 4320, Fall 2023

The Existence of God

 

Alexander R. Pruss

E-mail: alexander_pruss@baylor.edu

Course web page and schedule of readings: http://AlexanderPruss.com/classes/theism/

Class times: TuTh 11:00-12:15 in MH 110

Office hours: MW 10:45-noon or drop-in or by appointment

 

Abstract:

It is a common idea in our culture that the question of the existence of God is a matter for faith rather than knowledge and rational investigation.  Yet the first chapter of Romans tells us that GodÕs nature and existence can be known by means of the things he has created, and the history of philosophy includes many sophisticated arguments for the conclusion that God exists or for the conclusion that God doesnÕt exist.  We shall examine the main such arguments.

 

When we are undecided about an issue, we benefit from seeing the arguments on both sides, so that we can better make up our minds about it.  When we are wrong about something, seeing the arguments on the other side can help us change our minds.  But even when we are right about something, seeing the arguments on both sides can be helpful.  The arguments in favor of the truth we accept strengthen our conviction.  And arguments on both sides help us understand the content of what we believe.

 

Texts:

á       For schedule of readings, see course web page: http://AlexanderPruss.com/classes/theism/

 

Electronic device policy:

á       Except insofar as an electronic device is needed to support you in an OALA-registered disability or as an English as a second language student, the only thing you are allowed to have on your screen(s) during class are the class reading and items posted by the instructor (e.g., the syllabus and the list of readings). I recommend printing out readings, but understand if due to cost or environmental considerations you do not want to do that.

 

Grading and requirements:

á       You must write thirteen weekly papers during the course of the semester, with one paper handed every week during which there is a class except the first and perhaps last week of classes, during which I do not want to get papers.

á       Each paper is 1.5-2 double-spaced typed pages long.  The paper must be handed in by the beginning of class.

á       Unexcused late papers will result in a grade penalty (except as per next point). But they are welcome until December 8.

á       You are allowed to fall behind by one paper. If you do, and you want to avoid penalty, you will hand in a paper in the last week of class, on an argument for or against the existence of God that was not part of any of the reading we did for class. The paper will have a similar structure, except now the argument will not be from the assigned reading (it may be your own or from some other reading).

á       If you acquire no penalty, donÕt ever cheat, and you hand in all 13 papers, your lowest paper will be dropped and your best paper will be counted twice.

á       It is your responsibility to remember doing your weekly papers.

o      Every paper must contain a numbered argument.  The argument should either be validÑi.e., the conclusion should logically follow from the premisesÑor else you should explain why it is invalid.

o      The first four papers you hand in must do the following: They need to identify a philosophical argument in one of the readings assigned for the class during which the paper is handed in (if no reading was assigned for that class, you can respond to any of the readings from the preceding two classes, though without overlapping other papers youÕve written), and carefully explain this argument.  This explanation must be entirely in your own words, and must not include any direct quotations.  You must carefully state all the assumptions in the argument, including any that are implicit and not stated by the author, in such a way that a reader who did not read the paper could understand the argument.  You need to carefully and precisely explain what the conclusion of the argument is.  Finally, you need to explain why this argument may be seen as important (so donÕt choose an argument where you canÕt answer this part)Ñwhat larger philosophical issue would we make progress on if the argument were successful.  The focus of the paper is on the argument.

o      Starting with the fifth paper, the paper topics shift to original philosophical argumentation on your part.  These papers must also closely relate to the reading assigned for the class during which the paper is handed in.  The paper can be one of three types.  Please state at the top of your paper which kind you chose that week.

¤       Type I: The paper begins by giving a careful summary of one argument in the reading, and then gives an original argumentative attack on the argument, making clear which assumptions or steps in the argument are being questioned and why.  You are not to attack the conclusion of the paperÑonly the argument itself.  In your objection to the argument, you must explicitly state whether you are objecting to the argumentÕs validity or to its soundness or whether you agree that it is sound, but are concerned about some other argumentative fault (such as begging the question).

¤       Type II: The paper begins by giving a careful summary of one argument in the reading, as in a Type A paper, and then briefly shows an important weakness in the argument.   The paper then modifies the argument in an original way, improving it in such a way that it avoids the weakness.

¤       Type III: The paper describes an important conclusion reached by one of the papers in the reading, and produces an original argument directly for or against that conclusion.  If the original argument makes use of claims that some of our reading argued against, you will need to respond to at least some these objections.  In general, a better Type III paper takes up at least one objection to some point in its argument.

á       Class participation is required and counts towards the grade. 

 

Grading:

The individual papers will be given grades, either zero (not turned in, cheating, etc.) or between F and A+.  These letter grades will be turned into numbers using the following scale:

A+

100

A

96.67

A-

93.33

B+

90

B

86.67

B-

83.33

C+

80

C

77.67

C-

73.33

D+

70

D

67.67

D-

63.33

F

55

zero

0

In-between grades will be interpolated.  E.g., B+/B (or, equivalently, B/B+) will yield approximately 88.34.  The numbers will be averaged (taking into account any dropping and double-counting), and a class participation bonus of up to 2% will be added.  Then the number will be turned back to a letter grade, using the rule that the lower cutoff for a grade other than F and A+ is 1.67% below the gradeÕs value in the upper table.  Thus, an A requires 95%, an A- requires 91.66%, and so on.  There is no A+ at Baylor and anything below 61.66% will be an F.  The cutoffs will be sharp.  Thus, if the cutoff for an A is 95%, then 94.99% is still an A-.

 

An optional final exam is an option.  If you want to avail yourself of this, please let the instructor know by the last lecture day (December 5).

 

Late papers will be accepted up through the date of the final exam, but unless a good excuse is given, each late paper will be discounted by two subdivisions on the above table (e.g., from B to C+, from D to F, or from D- to zero).

 

Academic integrity:

Credible suspicions of lack of academic integrity will be typically reported to the University for further investigation. 

Plagiarism is one of the most serious of the violations of academic integrity and consists in presenting the work or thought of another as oneÕs own.  If you are using someone elseÕs literal words, even if only a short phrase of two or three words, you need to put them in quotation marks (or in the case of a longer quote, in block-quote format which is single-spaced and with every line indented on the left) and give the source.  If you are paraphrasing or merely using someone elseÕs ideas, you still need to give the source explicitly.  The only exception to the last rule is that you do not need to specifically give the source for ideas that you got in my lecture when writing papers for this course.

Plagiarism is not only immoral but foolish.  My default penalty for a failure in academic integrity is an F in the class.  If you just hand in a mediocre but honest paper you will very likely (though I do not make guarantees) get at least a D on the paper, and anyway there are other papers in the course to pull up your average.  And remember that IÕll drop the lowest two grades if you never fall behind.

However, if you confess to plagiarism before I give you any sign of my suspicions (before I email you asking you for sources, before I ask you to meet with me, etc.), I will let you rewrite the paper and not proceed any further.  (If someone has no sense of shame and uses this as a strategy to get an extension, I may take adverse action.)

The remaining sections of the syllabus are adapted from Baylor boilerplate.

COVID-19 and other illness:

If you are sick with a respiratory illness (COVID, flu, etc.), please do not attend in person. Let me know two hours ahead of class and I will try to make sure that you can participate via Zoom.

 

You are required to abide by all University-established rules regarding COVID, including masking in the classroom.

The remaining sections of the syllabus are adapted from Baylor sources.

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Except for Confidential Resources, all University Employees are designated Responsible Employees and thereby mandatory reporters of potential sexual and interpersonal misconduct violations. Confidential Resources who do not have to report include those working in the Counseling Center,  Health Center and the University Chaplain, Dr. Burt Burleson.

 

Students Needing Accommodations

Any student who needs academic accommodations related to a documented disability should inform me immediately at the beginning of the semester. You are required to obtain appropriate documentation and information regarding your accommodations from the Office of Access and Learning Accommodation (OALA). Stop by the first floor of Sid Richardson, East Wing in the Paul L.  Foster Success Center or call (254) 710-3605 or email OALA@baylor.edu.