Winter 2013/Pasadena
PH530
Murphy
PH530: ANGLO-AMERICAN POSTMODERNITY. Nancey Murphy.
DESCRIPTION: The term ‘postmodern’ is used in a variety of ways: to refer to developments in art and architecture, in contemporary culture generally, in Continental philosophy, and in English-language (Anglo-American) philosophy. This course focuses on the last of these—radical changes in philosophical views of knowledge, language, human nature, and causation. The thesis of the course is that the modern worldview, as reflected in modern philosophy, was inhospitable to Christian faith and practice; thus these postmodern developments offer exciting opportunities for new approaches in theology, biblical studies, Christian ethics, apologetics.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: American Protestantism has long been sharply divided between liberal and conservative, and more recently by modern versus postmodern agendas. This course aims to help students understand the sources of these divisions so as to be able better to minister to Christians on other sides of these divides.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Knowledge: to increase students’ knowledge of recent Anglo-American philosophy and to see its relevance to the theological task, broadly construed. Skills: to increase skills in critical thinking and academic writing. Attitudes: to increase understanding of and appreciation for scholars and church members whose views and emphases differ from one’s own.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions, mostly lecture, but with sessions for small group discussion.
REQUIRED READING:
Cilliers, Paul. Complexity and Postmodernism: Understanding Complex Systems. (ISBN 978-0415152877; 148 pgs; $40.86).
Kallenberg, Brad. Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern Age. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2002 (ISBN: 978-1587430503; 138 pgs; $16.00).
Markham, Paul. Rewired: Exploring Religious Conversion. Wipf and Stock, 2007 (ISBN: 978-1-55635-294-2; 210 Pgs; $28.00).
Murphy, Nancey. Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism: How Modern and Postmodern Philosophy Set the Theological Agenda. Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1996 (ISBN: 978-1563381768; 162 pgs; $34.95).
Placher, William. Unapologetic Theology: A Christian Voice in a Pluralistic Conversation. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1989 (ISBN: 978-0664250645; 178 pgs; $29.95).
Course reader.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Murphy, Nancey. Anglo-American Postmodernity: Philosophical Perspectives on Science, Religion, and Ethics. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1997 (ISBN: 0-8133-2869-1; 288 pgs; $14.99).
Seech, Zachary. Writing Philosophy Papers. any edition, (ISBN: 0-534-52096-0; 142 pgs; $23.95).
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Regular attendance at lectures and participation in small-group discussion. Two 10-12 page (3000-3600 word) papers. Suggested paper topics will be provided. The first paper is worth 25% of the grade; the second 45%. In large measure, the papers will assess the student’s reading and comprehension of the assigned texts. In addition, three short written assignments preparatory to small-group discussions (500 words each) together worth 30%. Students taking the course pass/fail are expected to complete all written assignments.
PREREQUISITES: Students must have completed 48 units of courses.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in philosophy (PHIL).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.