Master
2026/2027
Philosophy of Religion
ID 1144177
Type:
Compulsory course (Religion and Society)
Delivered by:
School of Philosophy and Cultural Studies
Where:
Faculty of Humanities
When:
2 year, 2, 3 module
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors:
Vsevolod V. Zolotukhin
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Contact hours:
72
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This course is devoted to the study of the philosophical foundations of religious doctrines. Religious doctrine does not acquire philosophical foundations immediately; it is preceded by its establishment in various strata of society, especially among its privileged classes and intellectuals. Once this happens, religious doctrine is required to transform into a coherent worldview, a picture of the world. The good news about how to connect with the transcendent must be supplemented by confessional views on the structure of the world, the place and role of man in it, acceptable and unacceptable strategies of behaviour, the justification of a particular economic and socio-political order, etc. Here, philosophy comes to the aid of theology, and the two fields of knowledge merge situationally. Philosophical concepts and ideas are transformed and adapted within the framework of religious tradition, justifying its truth. Thus, the key questions of the course are: (1) How are philosophy and religion related? (2) What is philosophical theology? (3) How can philosophy serve as apologetics? (4) How can philosophy contribute to secularisation? (5) How can knowledge and faith be related within the framework of religious tradition? (6) Is it possible to rationally justify the existence of the transcendent?
Expected Learning Outcomes
- разбираться в вопросах темы
- уметь понимать тему
- работать с данными в области философии религии
- интегрально оперировать данными курса
Course Contents
- Philosophy and Religion
- The Final Review of the Course
- Science and Religion in the Public Realm
- Religious and Scientific Fundamentalism
- Epistemic Virtues and Vices in Science and Religion
- Mind, Science, and Religion
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 3rd module0.2 * Ответы на семинарах + 0.3 * Экзамен + 0.15 * Контрольное задание
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- A materialist theory of the mind, Armstrong, D. M., 2002
- An Introduction to the philosophy of religion, Murray M.J., Rea M., 2013
- An introduction to the philosophy of religion, Murray, M. J., 2008
- Burns, E. (2017). What Is This Thing Called Philosophy of Religion? (Vol. 1 [edition]). New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1628489
- Жизнь и учение Канта, Кассирер, Э., 1997
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Guttenplan, S. D. (1995). A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind. Oxford, OX, UK: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=44696