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Philosophy & Theology
One complaint that you’ll never have at the end of a philosophy course is that it was a waste of time. Literally translated as being a love of knowledge/wisdom; philosophy aspires to answer the fundamental questions in life and get to the very route of human existence in order to develop a greater understanding of our place in the world and our relationships with one another; pretty impressive eh?
A defining characteristic of philosophy is that it takes a logical, reasoned approach to structuring a point of view or argument. The process of analysis usually consists of asking, answering and arguing; improving the communication skills, problem solving abilities and persuasive powers of students. Due to the broad nature of the subject philosophy is usually divided into different areas of study such as Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics and the History of Philosophy.
Metaphysics is concerned with the natural world. Questions such as the existence of God, how to define truth or whether or not people really have free will are intrinsic to this area.
Epistemology focuses on the study of knowledge and assesses the process of obtaining wisdom and whether or not one can ever be certain of anything.
The question of ethics is one that is fundamental to the study of philosophy; students will critique the differences between what we ought to do and what would be best to do as well as the intriguing topic of what it is that makes a person good and what is considered evil and if the two are separate or irrevocably linked.
Philosophy is not only forming your own opinions and answers but it also requires a study of how people have addressed these questions in the past; this forms the reasoning behind History of Philosophy which is sure to be a part of any philosophy course.
Theology and the philosophy of religion are two disciplines that share many common characteristics but it is imperative to distinguish between them. While the philosophy of religion is committed to the investigation and study of faith theology focuses on defending a particular religious position or idea. Theology courses usually take place in religious institutions and although it is a popular subject today its origins can be chronicled back to ancient Greece when Plato and Aristotle used it to study the Olympian gods and the writing of authors such as Homer.
While philosophy approaches the world with exploration in mind theology has some presupposing conditions attached to the process of learning. Theologians assume the authority of prophets, scriptures and traditions; i.e. where philosophy questions, theology unquestioningly accepts. Theology adopts various forms of analysis and arguments to help understand and explain religious topics yet it is usually used to defend or protect a particular idea or aspect of a faith. For those interested in understanding their own or another religion better and learn how to make comparisons between them theology is undoubtedly a stimulating and rewarding course to take. So if you fancy embarking on a quest for a comprehensive understanding of human existence and the role religion plays in the world then a nightcourse in Philosophy or Theology is a good place to start…
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