Philosophical anthropology of religion

Academic year: 2010-2011 Course code module FLWF005200 Semester: 1st semester Credits: 3 Study load (hours) 84 Theory (hours): 30,00 Practice/Exercises(hours): Other (hours): Part-time program: 1/2 Instructor(s) Johan Taels Language of instruction: Dutch Semester exam information: exam in the 1st semester Contract restriction information: 1. Prerequisites *Algemene competenties No specific prerequisites *Sequentiality None 2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes) -to offer insight into the most influential anthropological theories on the tragic and the comic -to offer insight into the position and the meaning of  the tragic and the comic in the main religious traditions, especially in Christianity 3. Course content Part 1 focuses on the relationship between the tragic and religion (religion in general and Christian religion in particular). In the line of Paul Ricoeur we argue that the Greek tragic is neither that strange, nor that familiar to Christian religion.  Part 2 opens with an overview of the three most prominent theories on the meaning of the comic: the superiority theory (Plato, Aristoteles, Hobbes, Bergson), the release theory (H. Spencer, S. Freud), the incongruity theory (Kant, Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Plessner). Subsequently it examines the function of  'humour' in different religious traditions.  4. Teaching method Direct contact: Lectures Personal work: Assignments - individual Paper - individual 5. Assessment method Exam: Oral, with written preparation Closed book Written assignment: Without oral presentation 6. Compulsory reading – study material     7. Recommended reading - study material *  S. Critchley, Humor, Routledge Filosofie, 2003 (2002) *  P. Vanden Berghe Paul, W. Lemmens, J. Taels (eds.), ‘Tragisch’. Over tragedie en ethiek in de 21ste eeuw, Budel, Damon, 2005 * A. Cools, Th. Crombez, R. Slegers, J. Taels (eds.), The Locus of Tragedy. (Studies in Contemporary Phenomenology, I), Leiden/Boston, Brill, 2008, 334 p. * J .Taels, Humor als levenskunst, In: Jeezes, da’s een goeie! Humor in het Christendom, A. Dillen, H. Geybels (eds.), Antwerpen, Halewijn, 2009,  p.17-34.     8. Tutoring laatste aanpassing: last update: 07/06/2011 18:14 johan.taels