Philosophy students visit CCCU

On Wednesday 13th December I took a group of nine year 12 students who are studying A level religious studies to CCCU to experience a taster day for Philosophy of religion at degree level.

We were met by a university ambassador and taken to a conference room in the original part of the university in St Martin's Priory. Dr Ralph Norman welcomed us and gave the students an overview of BA Religion, Philosophy and Ethics.

Dr Norman then went on to give a lecture on two versions of the Ontological Proof for the existence of God as described by Anselm of Canterbury. This was a more detailed treatment of the argument than the students had done in class so they were able to get a taste of what university lectures are like.

After lunch, there was a tour of the campus then a lecture by Dr Bojan Koltaj on the philosopher Kant called 'Are you critical?' Students were better able to understand the historical context of some of Kant's work after learning about the Time of Enlightenment from Dr Koltaj. Students learnt that Kant brought together the two opposing views of Rationalism and empiricism. He maintained that ideas needed to be backed up with experience.

Students were challenged to analyse what is reality and what is just appearance.

All the students were very pleased with the day.

They seemed to get a great deal out of the two lectures that we had and the experience of what it might be like to study philosophy of religion at degree level.

Some of them had their minds blown a little at discussion of whether anything really exists in reality and what is truth?

It has inspired many to look in more detail at some of the philosophers we are studying and to consider seriously the choices that they have to make for the end of sixth form.