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DR202G: UTOPIA & APOCALYPSE: DREAMING THE PERFECT WORLD IN SCIENCE & RELIGION (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

What would the Perfect World look like? How is to be achieved? The history of science and religion shows us an interesting mix of answers to these questions, often in the form of actions, habits, and practices that give witness to particular vision of the future. We will investigate how different cultural groups have produced images of a perfect world as way of understanding the many contrasts, controversies, and conjunctions that have developed between science and religion historically.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Edward Epsen
  • Dr Daniel Pedersen

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Programme Level 2
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

What would the Perfect World look like? How is to be achieved? The history of science and religion shows us an interesting mix of answers to these questions, often in the form of actions, habits, and practices that give witness to particular vision of the future. We will investigate how different cultural groups have produced images of a perfect world as way of understanding the many contrasts, controversies, and conjunctions that have developed between science and religion historically.


In addition to lecture and seminar meetings, the course will involve research workshops with a focus on training and professionalization and an emphasis on methods tools in academic writing and research. Students will work on a specific project throughout the half-session, from topic selection and question formation, to research and writing to produce a final piece of academic or professional writing such as a research paper, conference paper, article, book review, prospectus, or syllabus.

 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Project Report/Dissertation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

This is a piece of academic or professional writing such as a research paper, conference paper, article, book review, prospectus, or syllabus, as chosen by the student. In all cases, the project will consist of a minimum length of 2,000 words (for Year 1) or 2500 words (for Year 2), exploring a question related to the specific subject matter and texts considered in the course. The final project will be formed by the two project plans reviewed during the workshops, which act as proposals for it.

To be submitted during the first week of the relevant examination period following the conclusion of teaching. Normal written feedback is to be provided as per departmental practice.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo acquire and hone skill at the reading and analysis of complex, sometimes historically and culturally distant, primary texts as well as contemporary scholarly literature.
ConceptualEvaluateTo acquire critical perspectives on a range of theories, arguments, and historical practices in science and religion.
ConceptualUnderstandTo demonstrate an informed understanding of key concepts in the philosophical and cultural study of science, religion, and the sub-discipline of science and religion.
ProceduralApplyTo demonstrate a capacity to articulate and express discursive, philosophical arguments both in oral exchange and in writing.

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Weekly attendance is mandatory. Two posts (in any week), either initiating a discussion thread or replying within an existing discussion thread will be requested as part of the assessment of student participation. Additional will be optional but encouraged. As per departmental practice in monitoring attendance.

The instructor will post replies to any post to which another student has not replied. 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateTo acquire critical perspectives on a range of theories, arguments, and historical practices in science and religion.
ConceptualUnderstandTo demonstrate an informed understanding of key concepts in the philosophical and cultural study of science, religion, and the sub-discipline of science and religion.
ProceduralApplyTo demonstrate a capacity to articulate and express discursive, philosophical arguments both in oral exchange and in writing.

Reflective Report

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Four short papers reflecting on readings, written and submitted in teaching weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8, of no more than 300 words which encapsulates and critically assesses the main themes and arguments of the seminar reading for that week. Reflection papers will be marked and assessment feedback provided within a week.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo acquire and hone skill at the reading and analysis of complex, sometimes historically and culturally distant, primary texts as well as contemporary scholarly literature.
ConceptualEvaluateTo acquire critical perspectives on a range of theories, arguments, and historical practices in science and religion.
ConceptualUnderstandTo demonstrate an informed understanding of key concepts in the philosophical and cultural study of science, religion, and the sub-discipline of science and religion.
ProceduralApplyTo demonstrate a capacity to articulate and express discursive, philosophical arguments both in oral exchange and in writing.

Project Plan, Summary or Abstract

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Two Project Plans (with abstracts) (500 words). The first project plan is an initial proposal of the student’s chosen Final Project that will be discussed during the first workshop. The second is a refinement and elaboration of the first in light of assessment feedback. Workshop papers will be marked and assessment feedback provided within a week.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandTo demonstrate an informed understanding of key concepts in the philosophical and cultural study of science, religion, and the sub-discipline of science and religion.
ProceduralApplyTo demonstrate a capacity to articulate and express discursive, philosophical arguments both in oral exchange and in writing.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Take Home Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandTo demonstrate an informed understanding of key concepts in the philosophical and cultural study of science, religion, and the sub-discipline of science and religion.
ConceptualEvaluateTo acquire critical perspectives on a range of theories, arguments, and historical practices in science and religion.
ConceptualAnalyseTo acquire and hone skill at the reading and analysis of complex, sometimes historically and culturally distant, primary texts as well as contemporary scholarly literature.
ProceduralApplyTo demonstrate a capacity to articulate and express discursive, philosophical arguments both in oral exchange and in writing.

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