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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy by The University of Edinburgh

4.5
stars
942 ratings

About the Course

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing. This course, entitled ‘Science and Philosophy’, is the first of three related courses in our Philosophy, Science and Religion Online series. The first launch is now closed to enrolments. We will launch a new version of the course in July 2018. The course will address four themes each presented by guest lecturers: 1. Are Science and Religion in conflict? (Professor Michael Murray, Franklin & Marshall) 2. Neuroscience and Free Will (Professor Al Mele, Florida State) 3. Creationism and Evolutionary Biology--Science or Pseudo-science? (Dr. Mark Harris and Dr. David de Pomerai, University of Edinburgh) 4. Do Scientific claims constitute absolute truths? (Professor Martin Kusch, University of Vienna) The second and third courses in the Philosophy, Science and Religion series are ‘Philosophy and Religion’ and ‘Religion and Science’. They may be taken in any order and completing all three courses will give you a broader understanding of this fascinating topic. Look for: • Philosophy, Science and Religion II: Philosophy and Religion • Philosophy, Science and Religion III: Religion and Science Check out our trailer to hear more: https://youtu.be/OifqTI5VKek You can also follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EdiPhilOnline and you can follow the hashtag #psrmooc...

Top reviews

SR

Nov 13, 2017

A very interesting course and it has given a great knowleddge to me about the concept of science and religion . just amazed and the professors taught this in a very impressive way . very nyccc .

RR

May 13, 2017

Fine course, nice references for further reading, clear and nice instructors. Only two where a little odd: Statis Psillos, talking too fast, and Conor Cunningham, a bit too theatrical.

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201 - 225 of 253 Reviews for Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy

By Claudio C

Nov 7, 2020

It is necessary to improve the subtitles. It seems to me that they are not correct in some situations.

Thank you!

By Victor B

May 24, 2020

This course provides an interesting overview of the field. Serves very well as an introduction to the field.

By Susan H

Feb 22, 2017

Have really enjoyed this course, very informative and fascinating. Opened my mind to many different ideas.

By Lisa F

Aug 10, 2022

Some of the terminology got a bit heavy, but the presentation was concise and to the point.

By Guy I

Oct 30, 2022

i liked this course very much.

straitforward and very interesting.

Thank you very much.

Guy

By In-Ho K

Jul 10, 2022

Analysis of issues science has thrown to philosophy and its debates were well presented.

By Roselle E O

Oct 30, 2020

Could have been fun to learn with more visual aids like video or animations.

By Sergio S

Dec 5, 2020

Sometimes the lecture material were vague, but I really liked this course

By Aksah I

Jan 24, 2022

It gave me a new perspective on things, for which I am forever grateful.

By Swen L

May 3, 2017

Interesting introduction with a good list of further reading material.

By Hongfei C

Jul 10, 2017

It's a good foundation for further study in this area but just to

By Lavinia W

Aug 1, 2017

Good critical overview of science, philosophy and religion

By Stephen F

May 30, 2020

Good course, but only covered a small subset of topics.

By Harvey B

Nov 19, 2018

Interesting and varied, if slightly basic at times.

By Christopher W

Jun 10, 2018

A thought-provoking and informative course.

By IamTheFlip

Jul 10, 2019

Very enjoyable course! Highly recommended!

By Aaron A

Apr 11, 2018

Very good. It was awesome, I learnt a lot.

By A L G

Aug 13, 2020

It was an enlightening course, Thank you

By Mari P

May 3, 2021

Very interesting course

By Deleted A

May 20, 2021

Really informative

By Inchara K

Aug 29, 2023

nice course

By kiran D

Jun 6, 2020

excellent.

By Nikhil R

Mar 5, 2017

Week 1 of the course seemed very interesting. A lot of interesting questions were raised - enough to lead me to view the course in a rather positive light. As I progressed through the course however, I noticed that some rather contentious claims were made to seem to have more credibility than they in fact do. Take for example something that was said in week 4, lesson 3. It was insinuated that Lamarckism plays a significant role in evolutionary biology, something that is widely questioned by eminent specialists in evolutionary biology (for ex. Jerry Coyne).

Furthermore, it sometimes seemed that rather than presenting the facts for the learners to judge, the lecturers were presenting their own views (this was especially the case in week 4).

This course is being funded by Templeton Foundation, an organization that promotes religious apologetics. It seems that rather than presenting facts as they are, the course is disseminating material deeply influenced by a religious agenda.

By Åke G

Aug 19, 2017

Interesting course in virtue of prompting new viewpoints. However, it kinda ends there. Thought much of the content was exaggerated to provoke discussion, losing it's value of giving an accurate evaluation of the topics involved.

For example, it is suggested in week 4 that, if humanity could evolve better through Adolf Hitler, and the ultra-darwinian is right, he would be morally right. Since Hitler cannot be morally right in any stretch of the moral imagination, ultra-darwinianism is wrong.

However, if Hitler wouldn't have initiated concentration camps and war, thus helping humanity prosper by creating room for more evolutionary diversity (which is key to progress), he wouldn't have been Adolf Hitler as we know him.

Nevertheless, thought-provoking as hell. Going to apply for Edinburgh this semester, hope I get in! :)

By Bob R

Jan 7, 2020

I'm thrilled that there is a course that surveys these topics and the content, for the most part, is good. The accompanying ebook is actually better than the course and is worth reading for anyone new to these disciplines. For future iterations, I would consider gathering feedback about the assessments. The questions are often confusing and a bit tedious. It's very possible to completely grasp the content but to struggle with the quizzes due to poor wording or the fact that often what's being assessed is not grasp of the subjects covered but instead whether or not the learner could recall the ways in which the instructor talked about the subjects, which is different.