Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH Atheisms: From Voltaire to Dawkins
School	Phil, Theology and Religion
Department	Theology and Religion
Module Code	09 30875
Module Lead	Nicholas Adams
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-30 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	A survey of classic atheist texts from Voltaire to Nietzsche, in dialogue with Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion. Indicative texts include Voltaire Candide, Hume ‘On Miracles’, Lessing ‘On the Proofs of the Spirit and of Power’; Hegel ‘Enlightenment Struggle Against Superstition’; Strauss Life of Jesus; Feuerbach Essence of Christianity; Marx ‘Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right’; Nietzsche Genealogy of Morality
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: elaborate the principal arguments attributed to the set texts Provide critical commentary on primary texts, drawing attention to central points. Summarise material accurately and concisely, identifying rival arguments Clearly and explicitly distinguish between the plain sense of the primary texts and the interpretations of the commentary traditions
Assessment	30875-01 : 1500 word Commentary : Coursework (25%) 30875-02 : 2500 word Essay : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Commentary of 1500 words on set gobbet (25%) Essay of 2,500 words (assessment period 75%) Reassessment: Commentary and/or essay, as above. Only if extenuating circumstances apply.
Other
Reading List