136-360 God and the Natural Sciences (Science 3)

Only available at Science third year, for other levels, see 136-260, God and the Natural Sciences. Students who have completed 136-260 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. This subject is based on 136-260 but involves additional work.

Two second-year HPS subjects.

This subject studies the complex relationship between religion, theology, and the natural sciences. Theological concerns guided the science of Kepler, Newton and many other early scientists. They held that studying the Universe demonstrated the attributes of God. After Darwin, this view was replaced by radically different ones: to some science and religion are necessarily antagonistic, to others they belong to different realms. We examine this change, the reasoning (good and bad) behind it and its residues, including modern debates such as: 'Anthropic Principle', multiple universes, and scientific/philosophical issues such as: Why are the laws of nature what they are? Finally, we explore the relationship between the 'personal God' of religious experience and the 'philosophers' God' posited to explain facts about the natural world.

• develop skills in written and oral communication;

• conduct independent research;

• make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument;

• form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.

Written work totalling 6000 words comprising a short paper of 750 words 13% (due week 5), a longer paper of 1250 words 21% (due week 8) and two final papers of 2000 words 33% each (due during the examination period).