DESCRIPTION:

This is a doctoral level seminar, open at the 500-level to a limited number of advanced master's students. The modern period has been a difficult one for theologians, largely due to modern philosophical presuppositions. It is the thesis of this course that Anglo-American philosophy itself has undergone a quiet revolution since the 1950s, and that the new philosophical climate offers exciting possibilities for theologians. We will read representative works by `revolutionaries' in philosophy of science, epistemology, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, and look at their consequences for theology, biblical studies, and theological ethics.

Many battles fought in both liberal and conservative churches are products of modern thought. This course should help future church leaders put the old issues into perspective. More importantly, it should provide a more helpful framework for creative and productive theologizing.

This is a bi-level course for advanced master's students and for PhD and ThM students. The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session, with class time divided between lectures and discussion of the readings.

Kerr, Fergus. Theology after Wittgenstein. SPCK, 1997.

Kuhn, Thomas. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. University of Chicago Press, 1970.

Lindbeck, George. The Nature of Doctrine. Westminster/John Knox, 1984.

MacIntyre, Alasdair. Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry. Notre Dame, 1990.

McClendon, James Wm. and James M. Smith. Convictions. Wipf and Stock, 1994.

Murphy, Nancey. Anglo-American Postmodernity. Westview, 1997.

Stout, Jeffrey. The Flight from Authority. photocopied.

Wittgenstein, Ludwig. The Blue and Brown Books. Macmillan, 1953.

Careful reading of texts; regular attendance; class participation. Master's-level students have the choice of writing eight two-page papers (one on each reading assignment) or one 20-page paper. Graduate students: 20-30 page paper.

For master's-level students: previous course work in philosophy; Fuller GPA of 3.5; permission of instructor.

Elective. (May fulfill core PHIL requirement for students with undergraduate major in philosophy.)

None.