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Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy
Beginner
Online
2 Weeks
2,699 INR Quick Facts
| Medium Of Instructions | Mode Of Learning | Mode Of Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| English | Self Study | Video and Text Based |
Courses and Certificate Fees
| Certificate Availability | Certificate Providing Authority |
|---|---|
| yes | Coursera |
The Syllabus
Videos
- Overview of the course by Dr. Orestis Palermos
Reading
- Accompanying Textbook: Philosophy, Science and Religion for Everyone
Discussion Prompt
- Introduce yourself
Videos
- Introduction
- Study 1
- Study 2 and 3
- Problem 1
- Problem 2
- Problem 3
- Conclusion
Readings
- [YouTube video] The Libet Experiment: Is Free Will Just an Illusion?
- Free Will and Science
- Al Mele - Free Will and Neuroscience
- Free Will - The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Podcasts
Assignments
- Libet’s experiment
- Observing changes in the brain
- Is there a problem with the three studies presented?
- The point of no return
- Libet studies
Peer Review
- Does science show that there is no such thing as free will?
Discussion Prompt
- Does it matter if we have free will or not?
Videos
- Conflicting in Principle
- Non-Conflicting in Principle
- Potentially Conflicting
- Can Science Support Religious Beliefs?
- A Theoretical Challenge
- A Challenge from Evolutionary Psychology
- Summary
Readings
- Further Reading on Religion & Science
- [Video Lecture] Tom McLeish on the Theology of Science
Assignments
- Definition of science
- The relationship between science and religion
- Evolutionary psychology
Peer Review
- Peer-reviewed essay question
Videos
- What is Relativism?
- The Sociology of Science
- Kuhn and the Structure of Scientific Revolutions
- Relativism and Science
- The Future of Relativism in the Study of Science
Readings
- [Video Lecture] Stathis Psillos on Scientific Realism
- Further Reading on Relativism
- Podcasts, Interviews, and Videos
Assignments
- Relativists about morality
- Karl Popper and scientific rationality
- Paul Feyerabend and scientific experiment and theoretician
Peer Review
- Peer-reviewed essay question
Discussion Prompt
- Does disagreement about a subject constitute a good reason to be a relativist about the subject matter in question?
Videos
- Introduction
- The Creation of Creationism
- 'True Science'?
- The Concept of Evolution
- Genetic Variation
- Selection
- The Species Concept and Evolution
- Gradualism Versus Punctuated Equilibrium
- The Origin of Life
- The Origin of Animals
- Evolution of Behaviour; Sexual Selection and Co-evolution
- Evolution of Human Culture
- Creation, Evolution and Science
- Summary
Readings
- Science and Pseudoscience
- Harris & De Pomerai - Creationism and evolutionary biology
- Further Reading on Creationism and Evolutionary Biology
- Podcasts, Interviews, and Videos
Assignments
- The creation of creationism
- Earth Creationists
- What is scientific?
- Common ancestor
- Natural selection
- Convergent evolution
- Punctuated equilibria
- Evolution
- Ediacaran fossils
- Arms race
- DNA
Peer Review
- Optional essay question
Discussion Prompt
- How would you distinguish science from ‘pseudo-science’?
- How important is Darwin’s natural selection as an evolutionary mechanism in modern evolutionary biology?