Learning Lab – OCR Course Units
Philosophy
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Section 1 Plato
Allegory of the cave, The Third Man Argument, Heraclitus and Parmenides, The Philosopher Kings.
Section 2 Aristotle
The four causes, Comparison with Plato, Nicomachean Ethics, Metaphysics
Approx. 8 hours of guided learning with 14 videos, lecture notes, original sources 2 multiple choice quizzes
Arguments for the existence and non-existance of God
Section 1 Ontological Argument classical: Anselm, Proslogion, The Fool, Gaunilo
Section 2 Ontological Argument Modern: Descartes, Kant, Bertrand Russel, David Hume
Section 3 Cosmological Argument Classical: Aquinas, Hume, Kant.
Section 4 Cosmological Argument contemporary: Leibniz, Russell & Copleston, Hume, Kant.
Section 5 Teleological Argument: David Hume, Analogy, Paley’s Watchmaker analogy
Section 6 Teleological Argument Contemporary: Behe, Intelligent Design, Anthony Flew, Wisdom’s parable of the Garden, John Stuart Mill.
Guest lecture Professor Tom Greggs, The ontological argument.
Approx. 30 hours of guided learning with 20 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 7 thought experiments, 6 multiple choice quizzes 1 guest lecture.
The Nature of God
Includes Omnipotence, Benevolence, Omniscience, Eternity, Boethius and Freewill.
Approx. 20 hours of guided learning with 19 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 5 multiple choice quizzes, guest speaker.
Life Death and Beyond
Unit includes: Swamp man challenge, Plato’s Dualism, Descartes and the Soul, Prince and Cobbler challenge, Split Brain by Derek Parfit, Dualism vs Materialism, Near Death Experiences, The ship of Theseus, Old Testament pictures of Life After Death, New Testament views of Life After Death including John’s Gospel, Process views of life after Death, Biblical views of Jesus’ resurrection, John Hick Replica Theory, Heaven, Hell Purgatory, Pascal’s Wager.
Approx. 25 hours of guided learning with 14 lessons, 21 videos, 3 podcasts, lecture notes, original sources, 12 multiple choice quizzes
The Nature and Impact of Religious Experience
Unit includes: Individual experiences, Reliability questions, Corporeal Experiences, Visions, Rudolph Otto and the Numinous, Mysticism, William James, Group experiences, The day of Pentecost, The Toronto Blessing, Medjugorje, Fatima.
Challenges to Religious experiences: from science, from psychology, Michael Persinger, Huston Smith, Max Weber, Physiological challenges, Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Michael Shermer Out of Body Experiment.
Approx. 35 hours of guided learning hours with 11 lessons, 37 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 3 podcasts, 9 multiple choice quizzes.
Religious Language Modern
Section 1. Verification principle, Hume’s fork, Language and meaning, A J Ayer.
Section 2. Language Games. Wittgenstein and his followers.
Section 3. Falsificationism, Karl Popper, The Parable of the invisible gardener, Anthony Flew, the Oxford Debate.
Section 4. Bliks. RM Hare. Hare vs Flew.
Approx 12 hours of guided learning with 13 videos lecture notes, original sources 3 podcasts, 4 multiple choice quizzes.
Religious Language Classical
Section 1. Via Negativa, kataphatic vs apophatic, Maimonides
Section 2. Aquinas, Analogy of proportion, Analogy of Attribution.
Section 3. Symbol, Paul Tillich, Barth, Bultman.
Guest lecture. Julie Arliss Religious language introduction.
Approx 12 hours of guided learning with 9 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 2 podcasts, 3 multiple choice quizzes, 1 thought experiment. 1 guest lecture.
The Problem of Evil
Section 1 The logical problem: David Hume, J L Mackie, The inconsistent triad, Stephen Fry, William Lane Craig.
Section 2 The relationship between the nature of God and the logical problem of evil. The Augustinian Theodicy and the nature of God. Evil a privation.
Section 3 The evidential problem of evil. John Stuart Mill, Dawkins, Fry. Hick’s Irenaean Theodicy.
Section 4 Gottfried Leibniz response. Can God permit evil to bring about good? Christian responses
Section 5 Augustine’s Theodicy. Evil a privation of good. Freewill defence
Section 6 Objections to Augustine – John Hick, Evil and the God of Love. The Freewill defence.
Section 7 John Hick’s Irenaean Theodicy (soul making), epistemic distance, eschatological verification.
Section 8 Evaluation of John Hick: Dewi Zephaniah Phillip
Approx. 20 hours of guided learning with 19 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 3 multiple choice quizzes
Normative Ethics
Kant
- Foundations. Key terms. The enlightenment & influences on Kant. Maxims, deontology, duty, summum bonum, motive, categorial and hypothetical imperatives, kingdom of ends, autonomy of ethics.
- Application. The metaphysics of morals. Universalisation. 3 forms of the Categorical Imperative with Kant’s examples and 6 practical applications, including the Crazy Axeman.
- Evaluation. James Rachels, Pope John Paul II Louis Pojman. David Hume, Benjamin Constant, Peter Singer, Maria Von Herbert, Bernard Williams
Guest lecture Keith Ward, University of Oxford. Kantian Ethics.
Approx. 15 hours of guided learning with 8 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 3 podcasts, 2 thought experiments, 3 multiple choice quizzes, guest lecture.
Natural Law
- Foundations. Key terms. Aristotle, Eudaimonia, Aquinas, The Four Tiers of Law, Cicero, John Paul II
- Application to practical issues, with reference to synderesis rule, primary precepts, subtraction, double effect, intention, real and apparent goods. Applied to the preservation of life, euthanasia, reproduction.
- Evaluation. The is-ought fallacy. Objective purpose. Calvin, Hobbes, Barth, Hume Moore Hans Kung, Kai Nielson, Dawkins, CS Lewis.
Role of the Bible in Natural Law, St Paul, Hugo Grotius, Samuel von Pufendorf,
Guest Speaker Dr Andrew Pinsent University of Oxford. Natural Law and its application in the Roman Catholic Church.
Approx. 15 hours of guided learning with 11 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 2 podcasts, 3 multiple choice quizzes, guest speaker
Situation Ethics
- Foundations. Key terms. Fletcher, St Paul, Agape, Conscience, John Robinson
- Application. 6 propositions. 4 working principles. Fletchers examples. End of life decision making, Hiroshima, sex before marriage, adultery.
- Evaluation. William James, William Temple, Rudolph Bultmann, Paul Tillich, Karl Barth, Bonhoeffer, Bishop John Robinson, Papal Encyclicals, Barclay, Macquarrie, John Kovach.
Approx. 15 hours of guided learning with 11 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 2 podcasts, 4 thought experiments, 3 multiple choice quizzes.
Utilitarianism
- Foundations. Key terms. Epicurus. John Priestley. Bentham. Empiricism. Principle of Utility, hedonic calculus, quantitative/qualitative pleasure, Act & Rule Utilitarianism, Teleology, Consequentialism. John Stuart Mill.
- Application. Act Utilitarianism, relative, consequentialist, egalitarian. Universalisation. Mill’s challenge. The harm principle. Social virtues, rules. Application to practical ethics including the drowning child by Peter Singer.
- Evaluation. Robert Nozick, Philippa Foot, Bernard Williams, Louis Pojman, Lord chesterfield, Richard Brandt, Alasdair MacIntyre, Ruut Veenhoven.
Approx. 15 hours of guided learning with 16 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 5 podcasts, 5 thought experiments, 3 multiple choice quizzes.
Applied Ethics
Business Ethics
Section 1 Responsibility. Capitalism, shareholders, corporate social responsibility, Milton Friedman, whistleblowing, Norman Bowie, globalisation, stakeholder, Crane and Matten, Kantian and Utilitarian responses to CSR and whistle-blowing, consumerism. Adam Smith.
Section 2 Practice. The ethical challenges of globalisation. Alan Sugar – is good ethics good business? Application of Kantian and Utilitarian ethics. Andrew Crane, Dirk Matten, Alan Greenspan. Effects of globalisation. Norman Bowie.
Section 3 Case Studies and evaluation. Ford Pinto Case, Whistle Blowing case, The fall of Enron, Nike sweatshops, Union Carbide. Milton Friedman and the profit motive. Pepsi and use of aborted fetal cells.
Approx. 15 hours of guided learning with 10 videos, lecture notes, original sources, case studies, 3 multiple choice quizzes.
Euthanasia
- Section 1. The nature of life. Sanctity of life. Religious origins. Human rights. Quality of life. Kevin Smith, Jack Kevorkian, Hans Kung, Gregory Pence, John Glover. Personhood. Autonomy. Dignity. Palliative care. Active Euthanasia, Voluntary euthanasia, non-voluntary euthanasia. The Utilitarian Doctor.
- Section 1. The Nature of Consent. Active/passive euthanasia. Helga Kuhse. Legal perspectives. Tony Bland. Act and Omission. The law of Double Effect. Dr Roni Rosenberg. James Rachels. RC Church response to Rachels. Non-voluntary euthanasia. Liverpool Care Pathway. John Glover, Peter Singer, the Alkmaar case.
- Section 3. Evaluation. Fletcher, Assisted suicide, Slippery Slope, Christian views. Case Studies. Diane Pretty, Betty Rolin, Daniel James, Tony Bland. Catholic Euthanasia Declaration and Catechism, House of Commons Report on Euthanasia, AC Grayling.
Approx. 15 hours of guided learning hours with 12 videos, lecture notes, original sources, case studies, 1 Thought experiment, 3 multiple choice quizzes.
Sexual Ethics
- Section 1. The Ethics of Sex. Different views on Marriage Divorce and Cohabitation. Premarital and extramarital sex in Christianity. Divergent attitudes. Jordan Peterson. Bettina Arndt; The politics of cleavage. Lisa Smosarski, Tom paine, Lee Gatiss, Diane Abbott, Matt Walsh.
- Section 2. Homosexuality and Christianity – divergent views and official teachings. Old Testament, Gareth Moore, New Testament, RC views, Anglican views, Methodist Church views, Desmond Tutu, Bishop Jeffrey John, Lee Gatiss, Michael Foucault.
- Section 3. Application of normative ethical frameworks. Kant, Natural Law, Situation Ethics. Elizabeth Anscombe, The Hart Devlin Debate.
Approx 15 hours of guided learning with 11 Videos, lecture notes, original sources, application of Kantian and Utilitarian ethics, 3 multiple choice quizzes.
Ethics
Conscience
- Section 1. Classical religious approach, Augustine, St Paul, Aquinas’ approach. Ratio, synderesis, conscientia, vincible and invincible ignorance. Joseph Butler, Sir John Henry Newman, Different voices in the RC Church. Examples and case studies: Oscar Schindler, Rudolf Hoss, Adolf Eeichmann, James Keenan
- Section 2. Freud and Conscience. The immature and mature conscience. Freud on religion. Other psychological views, Nietzsche, Eric Fromm, Jean Piaget, Kohlberb, Engler Carducci. Conscience and authority – Milgram.
Approx 8 hours of guided learning with 13 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 2 thought experiments, 4 podcasts, 2 multiple choice quizzes.
Meta Ethics
- Naturalism. Absolutism, relativism, Vienna circle Hume’s law, Thought experiments: The fat man in the cave, Ring of Gyges. The Naturalistic fallacy. In support of naturalism: Pope Benedict XVI, FHBradley, Philippa Foot, Peter Kropotkin. Challenges against naturalism: Hume, Mackie, Hare, Moore.
- Intuitionism. GE Moore. Good as a simple notion. Prichard’s intuitionism. Ross’ intuitionism. Prima facie duties.
- Emotivism. Ayer ‘boo-hurrah’. Hume’s fork. Charles Leslie Stevenson. Challenging emotivism: Alasdair MacIntyre, James Rachels, Richard Brandt
2 Guest lectures. Professor Keith Ward, University of Oxford
Meta ethics and Divine Command
Meta ethics and GE Moore
Approx. 10 hours guided learning with 9 videos, lecture notes, original sources, 2 thought experiments, 2 multiple choice quizzes, 2 guest lectures.
Dialogues
Developments in Christian Thought
Augustine on Human Nature
Human nature as fallen
Original Sin
Freewill and predestination
Grace
Approx 6 hours of guided learning.
From the Bible to Liberation Theology, Marx and beyond
Presenter: Julie Arliss
- Background to Liberation Theology; God in the Bible, God as Trinity, God as wholly Simple, God as transcendent and wholly other.
- Marx and Liberation Theology
- Marx’s teaching on alienation and exploitation
- The preferential option for the poor
- Orthodoxy and orthopraxis
- Evaluation
- Beyond Liberation Theology; Process Theology
Gender
Gender and Society. Historical and social factors which have influenced Christian thinking
Debates about female ordination
Gender and Theology. A comparison of Daly, Hampson and Ruether’s approaches
Different views about celibacy, marriage, homosexuality and transgender issues
Guest Lectures: Professor Daphne Hampson, University of Oxford
Dr Lena Tiemeyer, University of Aberdeen.
Approx. 8 hours of guided learning.
Pluralism
- Religious pluralism and society: migration, multiculturalism & religious diversity. Interfaith dialogue
- John Hick’s Pluralistic hypothesis and contemporary Christian theology, (exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism).
- Tolerance
- Diversity within Christianity & different views including ecumenism.
Two guest lectures:
Professor Keith Ward, University of Oxford. The Pluralistic hypothesis.
Guest lecture. Professor Tom Greggs, University of Aberdeen. Religious Pluralism.
Approx 15 hours of guided learning.
Secularism
Secularisation
- Secularisation – theory or ideology?
- Secularisation as ideology – liberal, political, critical.
- Militant Atheism
- Individualisation of religion to the personal sphere
- Christianity and public life
- Post secularism and religious resurgence. Fresh expressions. The Scriptural Reasoning movement.
- Roman Catholic response to secularisation – Vatican 2
- Christian Responses to wealth
- Marx & Liberation Theology – A preferential option for the poor; orthodoxy and orthopraxis
Guest lecturers: AC Grayling and Tom Holland.
Approx 15 hours guided learning.
Practices and Expressions of Religious Identity
Baptism
Holy Communion (Mass)
The mission of the Church
Guest speaker
Dr Leon Van Ommen. University of Aberdeen. The Sacraments
Dr Leon Van Ommen. University of Aberdeen. Symbols and Practices in Christianity
Approx 6 hours of guided learning.
Sources of Wisdom and Authority (including Jesus)
Different sources of authority in Christianity, and their relative importance for different Christians: Bible, Church, Martin Luther, Religious experience, Protestant Christianity, Evangelical Christianity, Fundamentalist Christianity. Different Christian views on the authority of conscience. Case study: Bonhoeffer.
Guest lectures:
Professor Tom Greggs, University of Aberdeen, Faith and Reason
Johannes Zachhuber, University of Oxford, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Professor Tom Greggs, University of Aberdeen, Christianity, Bonhoeffer and Pacifism
Approx. 30 hours of guided learning with 19 videos, course notes, 10 multiple choice quizzes, activities, 3 guest lectures.