The course will address the issue of the relationship between morality and religion from the perspective of the philosophy of religion. The first part of the course will deal with the relationship between morality and religion in the history of Western thought, the modern secularization of morality, the epistemological problems connected to the problem of the relationship between religion and morality. In the second part, the course will offer a theistic justification and motivation of morality. The learning objectives of the course are to make students acquire adequate knowledge of the topics, skills of critical analysis, argumentation, and objective discussion.

- Morality and religion: preliminary definitions

- The relationship between morality and religion: models in comparison.

- The modern secularization of morality

- The presumption of atheism and morality.

- The theistic justification of morality

- The theistic motivation of morality.

None.

Students must demonstrate:

a) Concerning knowledge and understanding: the awareness of the issues raised by the relationship between morality and religion in contemporary age; the ability to conceive the complexity of the religious phenomenon; the ability to understand the theoretical reasons that underlie a religious worldview and the possibility of a productive dialogue among religion, culture, and science.

b) Concerning applied knowledge and understanding: the ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills in the discussion about the main topic of the course.

c) Concerning the autonomy in making judgments: the ability to analyze and scrutinize the key topics of the course, especially about the relationship among religion, individuals, society.

d) Concerning communication skills: the ability to communicate in a clear and coherent way the acquired knowledge as well as to discuss the topics of the course together with other students.

e) Concerning learning skills: the ability to evaluate the complexity of the religious phenomenon, by pointing out its relevance for individual and social life and its issues as well.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Attendance

Attendance at 2/3 of the lessons.

Course books

A. Aguti, Morale e religione. Per una visione teistica, Morcelliana, Brescia 2021.

Assessment

The assessment of the student is carried out by an oral examination, considered as the best tool for assessing the level of linguistic competence and the level of learning. The precise knowledge of the subjects of examination, the ability to establish the appropriate connections between the latter, and the linguistic property of their exposure are the basic criteria for determining the grade to be given to the student.

 Attending students can elaborate a brief essay about the main topics of the course, with the aim of improving the knowledge concerning relevant issues of the course. An intermediary examination will be possible, in order to test the reached level of knowledge.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Individual study.

Attendance

Full study of the suggested text.

Course books

H. J. Gensler, Ethics and Religion, Cambridge University Press, New York 2016

J. Rist, On Inoculating Moral Philosophy Against God, Marquette University Press, Milwaukee 2000

Assessment

The assessment of the student is carried out by an oral examination, considered as the best tool for assessing the level of linguistic competence and the level of learning. The precise knowledge of the subjects of examination, the ability to establish the appropriate connections between the latter, and the linguistic property of their exposure are the basic criteria for determining the grade to be given to the student.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.