Print this page A Short History of Western Atheism

Western atheism has a long and fascinating intellectual history. Beginning with the natural philosophers of Ancient Greece, this course traces the development of secular and humanist thought through the Enlightenment, the Scientific Revolution and into the modern era. Participants will encounter influential thinkers including Socrates, Spinoza, Hobbes, Marx, Darwin and Nietzsche while examining how their ideas challenged traditional religious beliefs and helped shape contemporary philosophy and public life. Suitable for anyone interested in philosophy, history and the development of ideas.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face to face
• Online

COURSE RESOURCES

• James Thrower, Western Atheism: A Short History (https://archive.org/details/westernatheismsh0000thro)
• Tim Whitmarsh, Battling the Gods: atheism in the ancient world (2016: ISBN 9780307948779)
• Michel Onfray. Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. (2007) Arcade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55970-820-3.

COURSE OUTLINE

• The trial of Socrates and the charge of disbelief in the gods
• The shift from mythological to naturalistic explanation
• The Reformation and the rise of scepticism and religious doubt
• The re-emergence of atheism in the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment
• Secularisation and religious toleration
• An introduction to the ideas of leading thinkers, including Spinoza,  Hobbes, Marx, Darwin, Freud and Nietzsche
• Religious replies to atheist arguments
• Reflection on the relevance of the ideas of secularism and religious toleration in today’s world

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Explain the significance of atheism in the development of modern thought
• Understand the key concepts of secularism and humanism
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of atheist ideas and the religious response
• Think critically about the continuing relevance of secular and humanist ideas and the extent to which they remain valid today