PHS 415 Philosophy of God

PHS 415 Philosophy of God Spring 2016 Instructor Michel Legault legaultmsa@hotmail.com 860-632-3082 1. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is a philosophical investigation of the human knowledge about God and an examination of the existence of God, His nature and relation to the world and man. 2. ENVISIONED LEARNING OUTCOMES Students will find answers to the questions just above expressed about God. Students will articulate this information through an active and attentive class participation, personal readings and written reflections, as well as through an open dialog between students and teacher Students will acquire rich vocabulary and valuable information which will enable them to study theology and teach religion more fruitfully. In order to verify if the information acquired and the terms contained in the glossary are well assimilated, oral or written exams will be used by the teacher. 3. COURSE SCHEDULE The following schedule seeks to answer the following questions: What do philosophers teach about God? What our natural knowledge of God is? How can the existence of God be proved relying only on human reason? What can we know about God s essence? What are his attributes? What can we know about the knowledge and will of God? What is the relation of God to the universe? The program to be covered is the following: 1. The historical background of Thomist natural theology. What do main philosophers affirm about God? A general view of the opinions of Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Stoics and Epicureans, Pythagoreans, Augustine, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hume, Comte, Huxley, William James and Durkheim. 1

2. The possibility of a natural theology. God as its subject matter. The method used by natural theology and its content. Man s natural knowledge of God. Necessity for analogy. Possibility of forming an idea of God opposing Agnosticim. The origin of the idea of God. 3. Demonstrability of the existence of God. Atheism. Kant. The need of a demonstration of the existence of God. A posteriori demonstration. The ontological argument: Saint Anselm. The general character of the arguments of Saint Thomas Aquinas. 4. The five ways of St. Thomas: arguments from motion, contingency, causality, order, and finality in the universe. 5. Moral arguments from Aquinas and Kant: universal belief and moral obligation. 6. The essence of God and his infinity. 7. The attributes of God: unity and simplicity, immutability, eternity, immensity. 8. Divine knowledge, divine foreknowledge and human freedom. 9. The will of God and his omnipotence. The Creation of the universe. Panthesim. The end of creation. 10. Divine conservation and concurrence. Divine co-operation and human freedom. 11. The meaning and existence of Divine Providence. The government of the universe. Providence and existence of evil. The meaning and possibility of miracles. Lectures 2 Content 1 Jan. 11 1. The historical background of Thomist natural theology. What do main philosophers affirm about God? Opinions of Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Stoics and Epicurians, Pythagoreans, Augustine, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hume, Comte, Huxley, William James and Durkheim. (Gornall, p. 1-7) 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jan. 13 18 Jan. 20 25 Jan. 27 Feb. 1 2. The possibility of a natural theology, God as its subject matter, the method used by natural theology and its content. Man s natural knowledge of God. Necessity of analogy. Possibility of forming an idea of God, opposing agnosticism. Origin of the idea of God. (McCormick, p. 1-9) 3. Demonstrability of the existence of God. Atheism. Kant. The need of a demonstration of the existence of God. Demonstration a posteriori. The ontological argument: Saint Anselm. The general character of the arguments of Saint Thomas Aquinas. (p. 10-15) Five ways to prove the existence of God. (St. Thomas, Summa. Third article, Whether God exists? (p. 15A15B). R. Garrigou-Lagrange, Synthesis of St. Thomas Demonstration (p. 15C 15D) St. Thomas argument from motion and contingency. The cosmological argument: argument from causality. (p. 16-21) Etienne Gilson, God and Philosophy Assignment Find five important ideas in each of the four chapters and prepare an exchange on those chosen points with your teacher after the mid-term. 89 Feb. 3 8 The argument from order. The teleological argument. (p. 22-27) 1011 Feb. 10 15 1213 Feb. 17 22 14 15 Feb 24-29 Moral arguments. Argument from universal belief. The argument from moral obligation. (p. 28-33) The essence of God and his infinity (p. 35-40) Assignments: Oral exam on chapter 1 to 6, included. The divine knowledge: object of divine knowledge. (p. 48-50) Divine foreknowledge and human freedom, God s knowledge of the future. (p. 50-55) BREAK 16 17 March 2 14 The will of God: nature and attributes, the power of God, his omnipotence, the act of creation. (p. 56-63) Assignment: Personal reflection on one attribute of God (2 or 3 pages) 18 March The universe as the effect of the creative act: the universe explained by creation,

19 16 21 unproduced matter, pantheism and Spinoza. (64-71) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 March 2330 April 4 6 April 11 13 April 18 20 April 25 / 27 4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS The end of creation: Leibniz optimism, optimism in Scholastic Philosophy, meliorism and pessimism (p. 72-77) The divine conservation and concurrence: divine co-operation and human freedom, cooperation and moral evil. (p. 78-83) The meaning and existence of Divine Providence: the government of the universe, Providence and existence of evil. (p. 84-91) Notes on the problem of evil (Wallace-Legault, ( #48) Miracles: the natural order and the supernatural, the meaning and possibility of miracles, the purpose of miracles, the cognoscibility of miracles, objections against miracle. (p. 92-101) Final exam Take-Home and Written exam (without books and notes) Class attendance and active participation in the course during the semester: 10% Before March 2, oral examination on the existence of God [on lectures 2 to 6 (included)]: 25% Summary and oral presentation of Etienne Gilson s God and Philosophy: 20% (before April 4) Personal reflection on one attribute of God: 10% (for April 18). Final examination (written): 35 % 5. REQUIRED READINGS and RESOURCES: McCORMICK, John Francis, S.J., Scholastic Metaphysics, Part II, Natural Theology. Chicago, Loyola University Press, 1943. 291 p. This book is in the HACS Library [BD 125 / M 3] It can be also found on the internet as a used book, from 9 $ to more than 50 $.. It is not necessary to buy it; you can consult the copy that is in our library. A commentary of the text will be given you by the professor.] Etienne Gilson, God and Philosophy.2 nd edition, Yale Nota Bene, Yale University Press, New Haven and London. 147 p., 2002. ISBN 0-300-09299-7. $12.95 The same book can be obtained through the following link: http://books.google.co.in/books?id=m_pq5gzop3cc&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_sum mary_r&cad=0#v=onepa 6. SUGGESTED READINGS and RESOURCES: John F. McCormick. S.J., Scholastic Metaphysics, Part II, Natural Theology. Chicago, Loyola University Press, 1943. 291 p. $20.00 [A hard copy of this book is at the disposal of the students in the LibraryWebsite? AQUINAS, St. Thomas Treatise on God. Texts Selected and Translated by James F. Anderson. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, Inc.,1963. 180 p. [BT 100 / T 393] Robert J. Spitzer S.J., New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2010. ISNB 978-0-8028-6383-6. (19.04$) BAISNEE, Jules A. S.S. Readings in Natural theology, Selected with Introduction and Commentary. Coll. The College Readings Series, No.7. Westminster, Maryland, The Newman Press. 1965. 321 p. [BL 182 / B 6] 3

BITTLE, N. Celestine, O.F.M.Cap. God and His Creatures, Theodicy. Milwaukee, The Bruce Publishing Company.1953. 420 p [BL 200 / B 53] BONANSEA, Bernardino M., O.F.M. God and Atheism: A Philosophical Approach to the Problem of God. Washington, D.C., The Catholic University of America Press, 1979. 378 p. [BT 102 / B 55] GARRIGOU-LAGRANGE, R., O.P., God, His Existence and His Nature. A Thomistic Solution of Certain Agnostic Antinomies. Translated from French by Dom Bede Rose, O.S.B. Vol. I. 7 th printing. St. Louis, Mo. B. Herder Book Co. 1955. 392 p. [BT 101/ G 262 Vol. 1] GERRITY, Benigus, Brother, F.S.C., Nature, Knowledge and God, An Introduction to Thomistic Philosophy. The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee. 1947. 662 p. [B 765 / T 54 / G 39] GILSON, Etienne, The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. Translated from French by L.K. Shooks. C.S.B. New York, Random House. 1956. 502 p. [B 765 / T 54 / G 52] JOLIVET, Regis, Msgr, The God of Reason, translated from French by Dom Mark Pontifex. Hawthorn Books Publishers, New York 1958. 127 p., [BX 841 / T 85 / V 15] LONERGAN, Bernard, S.J., Philosophy of God, and Theology. Philadelphia, The Westminster Press, 1973. 74 p. [BT 102 / L 57] MARITAIN, Jacques, Approach to God. Translated by Peter O Reilly. Collection Word Perspectives, vol. 1. New York, Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1954. 128 p. [BT 101 / M 429] MARITAIN, Jacques, God and The Permission of Evil. Milwaukee, The Bruce Publishing Company, 1966. 119 p. [BT 160 / M 313] RENARD, Henri, S.J., The Philosophy of God. Milwaukee, The Bruce Publishing Company, 1951. 241 p. [BL 200 / R 4] SMITH, Gerard, S.J., Natural Theology, Metaphysics II. New York, 5 th printing. The Macmillan Company, 1963. 297 p. [BL 205 / S 56] STEENBERGHEN, Fernand van, Hidden God; How Do We Know That God Exists? Translated from French by Theodore Crowley, O.F.M. Saint Louis, B. Herder Book Co., 1966. 316 p. [BT 102 / S 713] TURRELL, Bernard, S.J., Bernard Lonergan s Philosophy of God. Notre Dame, Indiana, University of Notre Dame Press. 1974. 202 p. [BT 102 / T 9] 7. EVALUATION GRADING SCALE: A 94-100; A- 90-93; B 87-89; B 84-86; B- 80-83; C 77-79; C 74-76; C- 70-73 D 60-69; F 59 and below 4

Grading Rubric for the oral exams and personal reflection CONTENT 1 (F) 2 (D) 3 (C) 4 (B) 5 (A) Absence of Understanding Posting shows no awareness of the concepts addressed in the topic by shifting off-topic Misunderstanding a misunderstanding of the basic concepts addressed in the topic through an inability to re-explain them Adequate Understanding an adequate understanding of the basic concepts addressed in the topic by a re-explanation of them Solid understanding an understanding of the basic concepts addressed in the topic and uses that understanding effectively in the examples it provides Insightful understanding an understanding of the basic concepts of the topic through the use of examples and by making connections to other concepts 7. DISABILITIES ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY Holy Apostles College & Seminary is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunities and full participation in higher education for persons with disabilities who qualify for admission to the College. Students enrolled in online courses who have documented disabilities requiring special accommodations should contact Bob Mish, the Director of Online Student Affairs, at rmish@holyapostles.edu or 860-632-3015. In all cases, reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that all students with disabilities have access to course materials in a mode in which they can receive them. Students who have technological limitations (e.g., slow Internet connection speeds in convents) are asked to notify their instructors the first week of class for alternative means of delivery. 8. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY Students at Holy Apostles College & Seminary are expected to practice academic honesty. Avoiding Plagiarism In its broadest sense, plagiarism is using someone else's work or ideas, presented or claimed as your own. At this stage in your academic career, you should be fully conscious of what it means to plagiarize. This is an inherently unethical activity because it entails the uncredited use of someone else's expression of ideas for another's personal advancement; that is, it entails the use of a person merely as a means to another person s ends. Students, where applicable: Should identify the title, author, page number/webpage address, and publication date of works when directly quoting small portions of texts, articles, interviews, or websites. Students should not copy more than two paragraphs from any source as a major component of papers or projects. Should appropriately identify the source of information when paraphrasing (restating) ideas from texts, interviews, articles, or websites. Should follow the Holy Apostles College & Seminary Stylesheet (available on the Online Writing Lab s website at http://www.holyapostles.edu/owl/resources). 5

Consequences of Academic Dishonesty: Because of the nature of this class, academic dishonesty is taken very seriously. Students participating in academic dishonesty may be removed from the course and from the program. 9. ATTENDANCE POLICY Students are expected to attend class during its scheduled times. Excessive absence may result in a lowered course grade. 10. INCOMPLETE POLICY An Incomplete is a temporary grade assigned at the discretion of the faculty member. It is typically allowed in situations in which the student has satisfactorily completed major components of the course and has the ability to finish the remaining work without re-enrolling, but has encountered extenuating circumstances, such as illness, that prevent his or her doing so prior to the last day of class. To request an incomplete, distance-learning students must first download a copy of the Incomplete Request Form. This document is located within the Shared folder of the Files tab in Populi. Secondly, students must fill in any necessary information directly within the PDF document. Lastly, students must send their form to their professor via email for approval. Approval should be understood as the professor responding to the student s email in favor of granting the Incomplete status of the student. Students receiving an Incomplete must submit the missing course work by the end of the sixth week following the semester in which they were enrolled. An incomplete grade (I) automatically turns into the grade of F if the course work is not completed. Students who have completed little or no work are ineligible for an incomplete. Students who feel they are in danger of failing the course due to an inability to complete course assignments should withdraw from the course. A W (Withdrawal) will appear on the student s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the first week of a semester to the end of the third week. A WF (Withdrawal/Fail) will appear on the student s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the third week of a semester and on or before the Friday before the last week of the semester. 11. ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR Father Michel Legault, priest of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles 6

Life and activities Born in Montreal in 1935, Fr. Michel Legault studied first to become a teacher in the Province of Quebec, Canada. He taught 13 years as a Brother of Christian Instruction in public primary schools (1954-1958) and private secondary schools (1958-1964) [physics, chemistry, mathematics, Latin, Philosophy and music]. From 1964 to 1967, he taught philosophy at Normal School (College). In 1967, he entered the Society of the Holy Apostles and studied theology at St. Paul University in Ottawa. While studying theology, he taught General Ethics and Social Ethics at Ottawa University. He was elected as representative of the students on the Senate of Saint Paul University. In 1970-1971, he spent one year at the Institut d Études sociales de Institut Catholique de Paris. He was ordained a priest on July 10, 1971. Then he taught philosophy, sciences and music while being dean of studies at Holy Apostles Seminary, in Otele, Cameroon (1971-1982). From 1982 to 1984, he completed his doctoral dissertation (The Philosophy of Education of UNESCO) at Institut Catholique de Paris. In August 1984, he was elected on the general council of this religious family. During his sojourn in Montreal he taught philosophy at Saint John Vianney College and was the director of the Vocational Residence (students discerning for priesthood and religious life). From 1984 to 1988, he was member of the General Council of the Society of the Holy Apostles. He returned to Cameroon from 1988 to 1997. He was rector of Holy Apostles Seminary in Otele. He founded a Major Seminary of Philosophy for the religious of Central Africa, Institut de Philosophie Saint- Joseph-Mukasa. He organized the propaedeutic year of spiritual formation before the Major Seminary for the Ecclesiastical Province of Yaoundé. He was one of the first teachers of philosophy who opened the Faculty of philosophy at Catholic University of Central Africa (Yaounde, Cameroon), and he initiated the teaching of Philosophy of Education and Pedagogy at the same University. Since 1998, Fr. Michel teaches philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, in Cromwell, Connecticut. Studies Baccalaureate of Arts (University of Montreal) Baccalaureate in Education (University of Montreal) Baccalaureate in Theology (University St. Paul, Ottawa) Licentiate in Philosophy (University of Ottawa) Master in Philosophy (Institut Catholique de Paris) Master in Divinity (Holy Apostles College and Seminary) Doctorate in Philosophy (Institut Catholique de Paris) Studies in Sociology (Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and Institut d Études sociales, Paris) Doctorate Honoris Causa from Holy Apostles College and Seinary. Publications La conception démocratique de l'éducation : John Dewey dans Démocratie et éducation] Yaoundé, Cameroun : Presses de l'université catholique d'afrique centrale, [2002] Pour une philosophie de l éducation, Cahiers Jacques Maritain, no 14, Déc. 1986, pages 5-58 Une éducation libérale pour la démocratie: Jacques Maritain : pour une philosophie de l'éducation, Presses de l Université catholique de l Afrique centrale (Yaoundé, Cameroun), 2002, 62 pages Communication at the symposium on Jacques Maritain, Montréal, 1988, Métaphysique et éducation http://maritain.nd.edu/ama/knasas/knasas14.pdf 7