Philosophy Subjects List: Year-wise Syllabus, Semesters, Specializations & Books

Outlines of Indian Philosophy

Indian Philosophy originated much earlier than in the West and the two are fundamentally different. The concerns and focus of Indian Philosophy are peculiar to the country. This course familiarises the students with the outlines of Indian Philosophy. It provides a broad perspective on different topics of Philosophy.

History of Western Philosophy

The aim of studying Western Philosophy is to acquaint students with the diverse philosophical backgrounds across the globe. The origin, evolution and development of thinking and popular theories are studied here. The topics in this subject include studying western logic, ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, etc.

Logic (Indian and Western)

The nature of logic has been considerably different in the Indian and Western philosophical systems. The students get an insight of distinct aspects relating to Indian and Western Philosophy and understand the similarities and differences. Students also get an idea where both the logical studies coincide.

Ethics (Indian and Western)

In Indian thought, Philosophy and religion hold the reins of ethics. The aim of ethical behaviour has always been attached to the ultimate goal of human life as developed in various classical systems of Indian Philosophy. This subject aims at introducing the student to the widespread elements of Indian as well as Western thought processes on ethics.

Epistemology

There are distinctions between knowledge and belief in Western and Indian epistemology. The roles and features of the field at both levels are to be studied. The goal of this course is to provide a detailed analysis of ideas, aspects, similarities and variations between Indian and Western epistemology.

Metaphysics

Metaphysics is a significant area of Philosophy which aims at discovering the most general categories underlying the concepts of truth, knowledge and beliefs. This course is aimed at providing knowledge to the students with respect to Indian and international metaphysics.

Modern Indian Thought

Modern Indian thoughts contradict classical Indian thoughts in many ways. Classical Indian thoughts were not developed by outside influences, but the modern Indian thoughts seem inspired and born out of Western culture and beliefs. This course attempts to re-examine the past and appropriate whatever the thinker believes to be still relevant and of universal value. This subject dives deeper into the modern norms to establish the reasons and roots of modern thoughts.

Analytic Philosophy

The language of the philosopher becomes the subject of analysis and the fresh ideas generated from it. The course aims to introduce the student to these new ideas and styles of Philosophy by building analytics.

Philosophy of Mind

It studies mental and psychological conditions. Beginning with the traditional dualism of mind and body, the course of study will extend the probe into various modern and contemporary attempts to control emotions.

Philosophy of Cognitive Science

Various disciplines such as psychology, linguistics, AI and neurobiology aim to study cognitive science. There are some philosophically relevant issues and questions which unify these studies. The course aims to introduce the student to the philosophically foundational issues and questions of this new science.

Scientific Methods

Science is the most important cognitive activity of modern society. The purpose of the course is to familiarise the student with the modern philosophical debates on the method of science. It would enable the student to critically examine this method and evaluate the cognitive claims made by modern science.

1

Logic

• Basic Logic concepts

• Traditional Logic

• Symbolisation

• Informal Fallacies

• Propositional logic

Logic is the foundational discipline of Philosophy. It includes the skills and habits common to human behaviour and thus finds out the reasoning behind it. Logic helps one to construct strong and persuasive arguments and also build reasoning skills.

2

Ethics

• Introduction to Ethics

• Theories of Ethics

• Applied Ethics

• Indian Ethics

• Western Ethics

The classical systems of Philosophy are built on ethical practices and behaviour. The students can study Indian and Western theories, develop and remain sincere toward ethical practice and also dwell on what is ethical in real-life situations.

3

• Indian Philosophy

• Ethical decision making

• Overview

• Theories of Knowledge

• Theories of Causation

• Theories of Reality

• Indian Epistemology

• Philosophical Trajectories

• Moral Reasoning

• Interpersonal Relations

The learning outcomes from this course are to highlight the positive contributions of Indian Philosophy and thinkers. It is the goal of this subject to promote the Indian values, ethos, thought processes and cultural contexts. The third semester also aims to develop decision making ability by critical evaluation of a situation.

4

• Modern Western Philosophy

• Yoga Philosophy

• Rationalism

• Empiricism

• Kent Classification of Propositions

• The Concept of Substances: Descartes and Spinoza

• Yoga in Bhagavad Gita

• Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga Marga

This course is designed to appreciate the profound ideas that sprung from the

minds of the great philosophers of the modern western world. The syllabus revolves around six philosophers who can be grouped under Rationalism and Empiricism. It traces the emergence of ideas in a chronological order to demonstrate the methodical development of philosophical thought.

5

• Art and Film Appreciation

• Vedic Value System

• Buddhism

• Greek Philosophy

• Social and political Philosophy

• Applied ethics

• Technology and ethics

• Art and Experience

• Social values and morality

• Cosmic values

• Social and Personal values

• Buddhism

• Socrates and the Sophists

• Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus and the Stoics

• Indian and Western social thinkers

• Communitarianism, Multiculturalism

The students are offered study of arts, communication through art, traditional roots, etc. Students become keen observers with an interest in different forms of art. It enables students to understand and appreciate films and other related art forms. Further, it evaluates the importance of Vedic values, ethos and the Indian value system in life. It brings personal and social growth. The students understand the basic social and political concepts both in the Western and Indian contexts.

6

• Critical thinking and decision making

• Jainism

• Philosophy of religion

• Feminism

• Aesthetics

• Analytic Philosophy

• Rhetoric and its Fallacies

• Clear thinking: Key for Solution

• Jain Epistemology

• Concept of Religion

• Challenges and Significance of Faith

• Gender and Patriarchy

• Art and Aesthetics Experience

• Philosophy of Language

• Philosophy of Mind

This course is primarily focused on developing thinking skills. Students would be able to make decisions in difficult situations. It promotes creative, clear and reflective thinking.

Philosophy of religion leads to the formation of a critical approach in the students so that they could build an informed opinion regarding various issues with efficiency.

A course in feminism seeks to create gender sensitisation and develop a holistic approach toward education.

The primary focus of the course is a comprehension of the Philosophy of art about creativity, culture, communication, and aesthetic experience.

Philosophy of Law

• Philosophy

• Law

• Ethics

Ethics and the Philosophy of Law specialisation include several interests in moral psychology and classic issues of legal obligations and status. The ethical presuppositions of the law’s doctrines of responsibility and the theories of value that inform the moral scope of the law’s jurisdiction are included in this course.

Political Philosophy

• Political Science

• Philosophy

This course provides a detailed view of Philosophy about politics and governance.

Philosophy of Science

• Philosophy

The Philosophy of Science primarily aims to study the issues of philosophical aspects with a scientific approach. The primary focus of this specialisation is to study philosophical issues about science.

Philosophical Anthropology

• Philosophy

• Anthropology

In the specialisation of Philosophical Anthropology, the questions related to human existence and evolution are answered to some extent. Students pursuing this course need to examine the different conditions of human beings.

Introduction to Philosophy

Outlines of Indian Philosophy

Mysore Hiriyanna

Outlines of Indian Philosophy book highlights the changes and development in Indian Philosophy and Religion. Indian Universities suggest reading this book in the first semester of the Philosophy course.

Philosophy

Fundamental Questions of Philosophy

1. C. Ewing

This book is regarded as one of the best knowledge bases in the field of Philosophy. It raises questions about the various aspects of Philosophy to develop critical thinking ability.

Ethics

An Introduction to Ethics

William Lillie's

An Introduction to Ethics book delivers the basic to advanced concepts of ethics all around the world. It discusses the contributions made by philosophers, moralists, etc.

Epistemology

Epistemology

Robert Audi

This book is a study of epistemology and highlights the knowledge regarding philosophical concepts and theories. It covers the depth of epistemology from basic to fundamental.

Madras Christian College, Chennai

tHansraj College, Delhi University

Christ University

IGNOU

MSU Baroda

Presidency University

Daulat Ram College, Delhi University

Vivekananda College, Kolkata

Bethune College, Kolkata

Saint Xavier's College