Philosophy of God
Dr. Lee Spring, 2006
Office hrs: MWF 2-2:50; TR 2-3 E-mail: plee@franciscan.edu
Phone: 283-6245 x 2361 Website: www2.franciscan.edu/plee

OBJECTIVES
Jan 17 Pick Up Syllabus
     
  19 Faith and Reason

Grisez, Ch. 1; Peterson et. al., 1-3, 5-7, 80-94
     
  24 Faith and Reason

Grisez, Ch. 2
     
  26 Faith and Reason

Internet Reading #1 (Lee on Faith and Reason)

     
  31 Ontological Argument for God’s Existence

Peterson, 163-170; Aquinas, ST, Pt. I, q. 2, aa. 1-2 (Pegis ed., pp. 20-24; Grisez, Ch. 3
     
Feb 2 Cosmological Arguments for God’s Existence

Grisez, Ch. 4; pp. 59-67
     
  7 Cosmological Arguments for God’s Existence

Grisez, pp. 67-93; Peterson, 209-230;

     
  9 What God is Not

Grisez, Ch. 14-15
     
  14 God’s Perfection

Aquinas, ST, I, q. 4 (Internet Reading #4)
     
  16 Limits of Knowledge and Language About God

Peterson, 369-385; Grisez, Ch. 16
     
  23 Limits of Knowledge and Language About God

Grisez, Ch. 17
     
  28 God’s Knowledge
    ST, I, q. 14, aa. 1, 2, 5-8,
Mar 2 Mid-Term Exam
     
  7 God’s Will
    ST, I, q. 19, aa. 1-5
  9 God’s Will
    ST, I, q. 19, aa. 6-8
  21 Puzzles About Omnipotence
    ST, I, q. 25; Peterson, pp. 127-130
  23 Process Philosophy
    Peterson, 148-155
  28 Process Philosophy
    ST, I, q. 9; Internet Readng #5 (Lee on Process Philosophy)
  30 Process Philosophy
    Grisez, Ch. 21
Apr 4 Omniscience, Causality, and Human Free Choice
    Peterson, 130-136; ST, I, q. 19, a.8
  6 Omniscience, Causality, and Human Free Choice
    Bañez and Molina: TBA
  11 Omniscience, Causality, and Human Free Choice
    Bañez and Molina: TBA
  13 Omniscience, Causality, and Human Free Choice
    Grisez, Ch. 18, 20
  20 Omniscience, Causality, and Human Free Choice
     
  25 Evil and God
    Peterson, 301-326
  27 Evil and God
    Grisez, Ch. 19
May 2 Conclusion
     

READING ASSIGNMENTS: These are listed under the topic on the right hand side. On most of these reading assignments I would like you to at least begin the reading before the class in which that topic is discussed, and then read it carefully after the lecture and discussion in class on it. At times, however, I will specify that you need to read the text carefully before the discussion in class.

 

PAPER: Approximately 8-12 pp. long for undergraduates or graduate theology students, 16-20 pp. for graduate philosophy students. Suggested topics will be distributed; further instructions on its method will be given in class. An outline of the paper must be submitted by April 6. The paper is due April 25.

OTHER WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: At times I may ask you to write one or two paragraphs on the reading assignment as preparation for a discussion in class.

EXAMS: There will be two exams. The final will be cumulative. No make-ups will be given. If the first exam is missed then the second one will be worth proportionately more.

GRADES: The grade will be calculated as follows: About 30% for each exam, 30% for the paper, and 10% for participation.