Philosophy of religion developed within Modern-Age thought between the 17th and the 18th centuries, as a reaction to the religious wars in Europe. It acquired the status of academic teaching in the Age of Enlightenment and German Idealism. Nevertheless, its object (a reflection on religion that moves from speculative assumptions) was already studied by Greek philosophy, which developed a rational criticism (based on logos) and applied it to mythical discourse since the Age of Pre-Socratic philosophers.
Students will learn to define, through a phenomenological and transcendental method, the peculiar nature and structure of the religious experience, independent and different from other domains of the spirit (ethic, aesthetic, metaphysic domain). Students will learn to explain how the independent status of religion is the result of a long, analytical work, and the result of a speculative process which started at the beginning of Modern Age; the outcome of this process is philosophy of religion becoming a unique field of knowledge.
Developing critical thinking towards the religious experience, moving from speculative assumptions, and showing its universal, ecumenic nature.
Lectures
Contents for students who are taking the 6-CFU course
Part I: Religion and freedom. Modern origins and contemporary developments of that issue
The course, on an ethical, theoretical and historical level, deals with the formation and the problematization of an idea of religion which, instead of obeying the logic of closure and intolerance, is inspired by the principle of religious freedom and recognition of the dignity of difference.
Contents for students who are taking the 9-CFU course
Part II: Benjamin Constant between religious liberalism and History of Religions
This part of the course analyzes a section of De la Religion, written by Benjamin Constant - one of the founding fathers of political liberalism -, which represents a fundamental document of the modern religious-liberal tradition.
The reading list for this course, together with the lecturer's suggestions and instructions are available on the Italian version of the web page.
Ricevimento: Thursday 3-4 PM (DAFIST, Philosophy Section via Balbi 4, 2nd floor)
ROBERTO CELADA BALLANTI (President)
FRANCESCO CAMERA
GERARDO CUNICO
DOMENICO VENTURELLI
September 24, 2019
Oral exam
The exam will take place in oral form, through a dialogue aimed at verify the contents discussed during the course. The expositive ability and the critical reasoning of the student will also be ascertained.
Attendance is reccomended
