ST. PHILOMENA’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), MYSORE – … · 7 Philosophy - Semester IV – Paper 4 Contemporary Western and Indian Philosophy Marks theory – 80, Internal Assessment

ST. PHILOMENA’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), MYSORE – 570015

A COLLEGE WITH POTENTIAL FOR EXCELLENCE (UGC)

SUBJECT: PHILOSOPHY

SYLLABUS FOR B.A. COURSE UNDER SEMESTER SCHEME

DURATION OF THE COURSE – THREE YEARS/SIX SEMESTERS

FROM THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2014 ONWARDS

Semester I – Paper 1

Logic: Western and Indian

Marks theory – 80, Internal Assessment 20 = 100

6Hrs/week = 84 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

Aristotle’s deductive logic which has withstood the tests of many centuries is imparted to students as an

aid to the art and science of correct reasoning and correct argumentation. Knowledge of Inductive

Logic adds further to the formation of the mind of the students. The Ancient Indian School of logic is

Nyaya. It has a combination of both the deductive and inductive form of reasoning.

SYLLABUS

Unit 1: Nature and Scope of Logic

Definition and Object of Logic: Logic as Science and Art

Basic Concepts, Nature, Scope of Logic

Principles of Logic and Operation of Mind

Unit 2: Nature and Modality of Terms

Simple Apprehension: Words, Terms, and Concepts

Universality of Concepts: Predicables and Tree of Porphyry

Properties of Terms: Connotation and Denotation

Classification of Terms

Unit 3: Nature and Modality of Propositions

Judgment: Sentences and Propositions; Parts of Propositions

Types of Propositions: Categorical, Hypothetical and Disjunctive

Propositions Based on Quantity and Quality

Distribution of Terms in Propositions

Reduction of Sentences to Logical Form

Unit 4: Nature and Modality of Syllogism

Reasoning or Argument; Kinds of Reasoning

Opposition of Propositions and deduction: Conversion, Obversion and Contraposition

Structure of Syllogism: Figures and Moods of Syllogism

General Rules of Syllogism: Deductive Fallacy

Determination of Valid Moods

Unit 5: Inductive Logic

Inductive and Deductive reasoning

Elements of Inductive Logic

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Scientific Method

Types of Inductive Logic

Unit 6: Nyaya

Introduction

Philosophy of Knowledge of Nyaya School: Perception (Pratyaksa), Inference (Anumana), Comparison

(Upamana), Verbal Testimony (Sabda)

Inference (Anumana)

Constituents of Inference

Types of Inference

REFERENCE

Basantani, K.T., Introduction to Logic, Bombay: A.R. Sheth & Co., 1976.

Bittle, Celestine, The Science of Correct Thinking, Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1950.

Cohen & Nagel, An Introduction to Logic and Scientific Methodology, New Delhi: Allied Publisher,

1990.

Copi, Irving M. & Cohen, Carl, Introduction to Logic (First Indian Reprint), Delhi: Pearson Education,

2001.

Dasgupta, Surendranath, History of Indian Philosophy, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1976.

Deussen, Paul, The Philosophy of the Upanisads, Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1908.

Felice, Anne, Logic and Theory of Knowledge, Cochin: St. Teresa’s Mercy Home Press, 1982.

Hiriyanna, M. Outlines of Indian Philosophy, London: Allen and Unwin, 1932.

Klenk, Virginia, Understanding Symbolic Logic, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1984.

Mellone, S.H., Introductory Text Book of Logic, London: Win Blackhood and Sons, 1950.

Mohanty, Phani & Sahoo, Harischandra, An Introduction to Deductive Logic, New Delhi: Kalyani

Publishers, 1983.

Sharma, Chandradar, A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy, Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass, 2012.

Simpson, R.L., Essentials of Symbolic Logic, London: Routledge, 1988.

Stebbing, L.S., A Modern Elementary Logic, London: University Paperback, 1995.

Wolf, A., A Textbook of Logic, Delhi: Surjeet Publications, 1987.

3

Philosophy -Semester II – Paper 2

History of Western Philosophy: Ancient and Modern


6Hrs/week = 84 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

Western philosophy has its roots in ancient Greek culture, which was revived during the Renaissance

and has had immense influence on subsequent Western thought. The pre-Socratics were the

forerunners, not only of systematic philosophical reasoning but also the forerunners of modern science.

They were followed by the great Socrates who taught people the art of asking the correct questions, and

of thinking for themselves. He ushered in the golden age of Greek philosophy – the age of Plato and

Aristotle.

The history of modern western philosophy developed in the 18th

and 19th

centuries in Europe will help

students to acquaint themselves with the nature of modern trends in thoughts, and the reasons why they

were pursued in the various areas of philosophy; to improve students’ ability for discerning truth from

error, and to assist students in exercising themselves in problem-solving.

Unit 1: Pre-Socratic Schools

Milesian School: Thales and Anaximander, Anaximanes, Pythagorean School: Pythagoras, and

Timaeus, Ephesian School: Heraclitus, Eleatic School: Xenophanes and Parmenides, Pluralist School:

Anaxagoras and Empedocles, Atomist School: Democritus

Unit 2: Classical Greek Wisdom: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle

Socratic Method, Epistemology and Ethics

Platonic Problem and Dialectic, the Doctrine of Forms, Epistemology and Ethical theory, Platonism

and Christianity

Aristotle’s Metaphysics: The Doctrine of Causality, Philosophy of Nature, Aristotelian Ethics and

Aesthetics

Influence of Greek philosophy on Plotinus and Medieval Philosophy (Augustine and Thomas Aquinas)

Unit 3: Modern Western Philosophy: Introduction

Renaissance and Enlightenment period

Francis Bacon: Life, Works, Induction, Idols or the False Notions

Unit 4: Continental Rationalism

Descartes: Life, Works, Method, Cogito ergo sum, Mind, God, Mind-body relation,

Spinoza: Life, Works, Metaphysics - Monism and Modal System, Psychology, Ethics

Leibniz: Life and Works, The idea of truth and sufficient reason, Substance – Monads,

Unit 5: British Empiricism

John Locke: Life, Works – Essays, Ideas, Simple and Complex ideas, Primary and Secondary Qualities

Berkeley: Life and Works, Against Abstraction, Immaterialism, To be is to be perceived, Subjective

Idealism

David Hume: Life and Works, Origin and Association of Ideas, Skepticism, Moral theory.

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Unit 6: The Critical Philosophy of Kant

Transcendental Idealism: Copernican Revolution; Critique of Pure Reason; Phenomenon and

Noumenon; Sensibility, Understanding and Reason; Limits of Human Knowledge, Critique of Practical

reason: Categorical Imperatives and Postulates.

REFERENCE

Baldner, Kent, Introduction to Philosophy: Lecture Guide, Iowa: Hunt Publishing Company, 1995.

Composta, Dario, History of Ancient Philosophy, Bangalore: Theological Publications of India, 2005.

Copleston, Frederick, A History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome, vol. I. New York: Doubleday, 1993.

Copleston, Frederick, A History of Philosophy, Vols. IV-VII, London: Burns and Oates, 1958-60.

Demos, R., The Philosophy of Plato, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1977.

Durant, Will, “Introduction: On the Uses of Philosophy,” The Story of Philosophy, New York: Will

Durant, 1926.

Gaarder, Jostein, Sophie’s World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy, New York: Berkley Books,

1996.

Hamlyn, D.W., The Pelican History of Western Philosophy, London: Penguin Books, 1989.

Kaipan, Joy, Love of Wisdom: A Beginner's Guide of Philosophy, Bangalore: Kristu Jyoti Publications,

2010.

Kenny, Anthony, ed., - The Oxford History of Western Philosophy, London: Penguin Books, 1987.

Lewis, J., History of Philosophy, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1977.

Masih, U., A Critical History of Modern Philosophy, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1983.

Mondin, Battista, History of Medieval Philosophy, Bangalore: TPI, 1991.

O’Conner, D.J., A Critical History of Western Philosophy, New York: The Free Press, 1985.

Seruton, Roger, Modern Philosophy: An Introduction and Survey, New York: Penguin Books, 1996.

Shields, Christopher, Classical Philosophy, London: Routledge, 2003.

Solomon, Robert and Kathleen Higgins, A Short History of Philosophy, New York: Oxford University

Press, 1996.

Stumpf, Samuel E. and James Fieser, From Socrates to Sartre and Beyond, New York: McGraw-Hill,

2003.

Taylor, A.E., Aristotle, New York: Methuen, 1930.

Thilly, Frank, A History of Philosophy, Allahabad: Central Publishing House, 1993.

Weber, Alfred, History of Philosophy, transl. Frank Thilly, New Delhi: Vishvabharati Publications,

2007.

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Philosophy - Semester III – Paper 3

Indian Philosophy: Vedic and Non-Vedic Schools


6Hrs/week = 84 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

This course aims at a comprehensive view of the six major schools of Indian philosophy known

as darshanas and the three nastika movements. There is a good deal of reasoning in some of

them that is quite independent of the scriptures considered sacred; but others are closely knit into

sacred traditions and may be considered theological rather than purely philosophical. Buddhism

and Jainism also help us to widen our minds concerning eastern thought.

Unit 1: Charvaka

Introduction, Basic Features, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Self or Soul, Denial of God, Ethics

Unit 2: Jainism

Epistemology (Theory of Knowledge), Paroksa and Aparoksa, Pramana and Naya,

Anekantavada. Syadvada (Saptabhanginaya). Metaphysics (Theory of Categories or Substance)

Jiva and Ajiva, Bondage and Liberation. Pancha Mahavrtas and Anuvrtas Sects of Jainism.

Unit 3: Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths (Arya Satya). The Doctrine of Dependent Origination

(Pratityasamutpada). The Doctrine of Momentariness (Ksanabhangavada). Doctrine of the

Denial of the Soul (Nairatmayavada). Eight - Fold Path (Astanga Marga). The Concept of

Nirvana.

Religious Sects of Buddhism (Hinayana and Mahayana), Four Major Schools of Buddhist

Philosophy. Mahayana: a) Nihilism (Sunyavada or Madhyamika). b) Subjective Idealism

(Vijnanavada or Yogacara). Hinayana: a) Representationism or Critical Idealism. (Bahyanumaya

Vada or Sautrantika). b) Direct Realism (Bahyapratyaksavada or Vaibhasika).

Unit 4: Nyaya-Vaishesika

General Characteristics of Indian Philosophy; Indian Scriptures

Introduction to Nyaya and Vaishesika

The Nyaya Theory of knowledge- Perception (Pratyaksa), Inference (Anumana), Comparison

(Upamana), Verbal Testimony (Sabda), Causation, Soul, God, Conclusion.

The Vaishesika Padarthas (categories) - Dravaya, Guna, Karma, Samanya, Vishesa, Abhava,

Atomism, God, Bondage and Liberation, General estimate

Unit 5: Sankya-Yoga

Introduction to Sankya-Yoga

Sankya: Theory of Causation, Prakrti Prusua, Evolution of the world and the Evolutes, Bondage

and Liberation, The problem of God, General Evaluation

Yoga: Chitta and Its Vrttis, Astanga Yoga, the Place of God, Conclusion

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Unit 6: Purva – Mimamsa and Vedanta (Uttara- Mimamsa)

Introduction: Purva Mimamsa and Vedanta

Purva Mimamsa: Nature and source of knowledge, Six Pramanas Perception (Pratyaksa),

Inference (anumana), Comparison (upamana), Verbal Testimony (Sabda), Implication

(arthapatti), Negation (anupalabdi), - Validity of knowledge, Mimamsa Metaphysics, Religion

and Ethics.

Vedanta: Origin and development of the Vedanta- through the Vedas and Upanisads, Schools of

Vedanta and their criticism of the earlier schools.

Advaita - The Monism of Sankara: Sankara's conception of the world (Maya and Brahman),

Sankara's concept of God (Isvara and Brahman), Sankara's conception of self, bondage and

liberation, (Jiva, Atman and Brhaman), ultimate Criterion of Truth.

Visitadvaita: The Qualified Monism of Ramanuja: The Vaishnava school, the Alvar saints and

literature, Sources of knowledge, Self, knowledge and Error, Metaphysical views -Visistadvaita

or identity - in - difference, concept of God, Self, Bondage and Liberation, Concept of achit or

matter, Critical estimate.

Dvaita - the Dualism of Madhva: Pancha bheda, Sources of Knowledge, Concept of God, Soul,

World, Bondage and Liberation. Vedanta Schools of Nimbarka and Vallabha.

Schools of Saivism and Vaisnavism

REFERENCE

Chatterjee, Satishchandra and Direndramohan Datta, An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, Rupa,

2007.

Dasgupta, Surendranath, History of Indian Philosophy, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1976.

Deussen, Paul, The Philosophy of the Upanisads, Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1908.

Hiriyanna, M. Outlines of Indian Philosophy, London: Allen and Unwin, 1932.

Koller, John M., Oriental Philosophies, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1970.

Lal, P., The Bhagavadgita, Delhi: Orient Paperbacks, 1965.

Mahadevan, T. M. P., Outlines of Hinduism, Bombay: Chetana, 1984.

McGreal, Ian P. ed., Great Thinkers of the Eastern World, New York: Harper Collins, 1995.

Phillips, Maurice, The Teaching of the Vedas, Hesperides Press, 2006.

Radhakrishnan, Sarvapalli, Indian Philosophy, Vols. I & II, New Delhi, 1940, Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 2008.

Radhakrishnan, Sarvapalli, The Bhagavadgita, HarperCollins 1994.

Raju, P.T., Structural Depth of Indian Thought, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1985.

Raju, P.T., The Philosophical Traditions of India, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998.

Sharma, Chandradar, A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy, Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass, 2012.

Surendranath Dasgupta, A History of Indian philosophy, 5 Vols., Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass, 1975.

Thachil, J., An Initiation to Indian Philosophy, Alwaye: Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and

Theology, 2000.

7

Philosophy - Semester IV – Paper 4

Contemporary Western and Indian Philosophy


6Hrs/week = 84 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The aim of this course is to help students keep abreast of the most recent trends in philosophy. In

the English speaking world, for instance, a logical and linguistic turn in philosophy has come

into vogue. Philosophical analysis is a method of inquiry in which one seeks to assess complex

systems of thought by ‘analysing’ them into simpler elements whose relationships are thereby

brought into focus.

The aim of presenting the contemporary Indian thinkers is to examine the ways in which today’s

philosophical thinking in India has remained consistent with past trends, and the ways it has been

influenced by western trends and categories of thought. The views of contemporary Indian

thinkers will make the students to think critically various philosophical standpoints belonging to

different ages and worlds.

Unit 1: Analytic Tradition

Gottlob Frege

Bertrand Russell

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Logical Positivism: Moritiz Schlick and A. J. Ayer

Unit 2: Pragmatic Tradition

C. S. Peirce

William James

John Dewey

W.V.O. Quine

Unit 3: Ram Mohan Roy -Brahmo Samaj and Dayanand Saraswati -Aryasamaj

Roy and Monotheism

Method of Interpretation

Moral Teachings and the Precepts of Jesus

Social and Political Thought

Later Development of BS: D. Tagore and K.C. Sen

Foundation and Principles of Aryasamaj and Suddhi Movement

Response to the Caste System and Widow Remarriage

Vedic Revelation and Dayananda’s Interpretation

Philosophy of Man, Ethical Teachings, Social Philosophy

Unit 4: Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Vivekananda

Religious Scriptures and Spiritual Experience

Open Search for God Experience

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Vivekananda and Interpretation of Tradition and Advaita

Practical Vedanta and Religion

Unit 5: Radhakrishnan and Approach to Philosophy

Philosophy as a View and a Way of Life

Advaitic Epistemology and Metaphysics

An Intuitionist Ethics of Vedanta

Religion for Integration and Unity

Unit 6: Aurobindo and Integral Vision

Advaita as the Foundation of Integral Vision of Reality

Involution and Evolution: Dynamics of Reality

Social and Political Philosophy

Unit 7: Gandhi and Ambedkar

Knowledge and Truth

Man and the World

Satyam and Ahimsa: New Morality

Political Philosophy: Non-Violent Society and State

Religion as Service to Humanity

Philosophy of Ambedkar

REFERENCE

A.

Kenny, Anthony, ed., The Oxford Illustrated History of Western Philosophy. New York: Oxford


O’Connor, D.J., A Critical History of Western Philosophy. New York: The Free Press, 1985.

Craig, Edward, Routledge History of Philosophy, Vol. VII, London: Routledge, 1994.

Stumpf, Samuel E. and James Fieser., From Socrates to Sartre and Beyond, New York:

McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Dummet, M.A.E., The Origins of Analytical Philosophy, London: Duckworth, 1993.

Frege, G., “On Sense and Reference”, in Translations from the Philosophical Writings of Gottlob

Frege, ed. M. Black and P. Geach, Blackwell: Oxford, 1952.

Hacker, P.M.S., \Wittgenstein’s Place in Twentieth-Century Analytical Philosophy, Oxford:

Blackwell, 1996.

James, William, Pragmatism and Other Essays, New York: Washington Square Press, 1963.

Luntley, Michael, Contemporary Philosophy of Thought, Oxford: Blackwell, 1999.

Peirce, C.S., Pragmatism and Pragmaticism, vol. 5, of Collected Papers, ed. C. Hartshorne and

P. Weiss, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1934.

Russell, B., The Analysis of Mind, London: Allen & Unwin, 1921.

Whitehead, A.N., Process and Reality, New York: The Free Press, 1979.

Wittgenstein, L., Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, transl. C.K. Ogden and F. P. Ramsey,

London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1922.

9

Wittgenstein, L., Philosophical Investigations, transl. G.E.M. Anscombe, Oxford: Blackwell,

1953.

B.

Ambedkar, Baba, Emancipation of Untouchables, Bangalore: Hosadikku Prakashana, 1992.

Basu, Durga Das, Introduction to the Constitution of India (10th ed.), South Asia Books, 1984.

Brecher, Michael, Nehru: A Pontifical Biography, London: Oxford University Press, 1959.

Copley, Antony, Gurus and Their Followers: New Religious Reform Movements in Colonial

India, New Delhi: OUP, 2000.

Cronin, Vincent, A Pearl to India, The Life of Robert de Nobili, New York: E. A. Dutton &

Company, 1959.

Gandhi, M.K., An Autobiography, Or The Story of my Experiments with Truth, transl. Mahadev

Desai, Ahmedabad: Navaajivan 1927, Reprint 1998.

Guru, Vandana, Ashrams and Christians, London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1978.

Jatav, D. R., Social Philosophy of Ambedkar, Agra: Phoenix Publishing Agency, 1965.

Nasr, S. Hossein, Sufi Essays, London: George Allen & Unwin, 1972.

Pandey, Susmita, Medieval Bhakti Movement, Meerut: Kusumanjali Prakashan, 1989.

Radhakrishnan, S., Idealistic View of Life, London: George Allen & Unwin, Ltd 1929.

Radhakrishnan, S., Indian Philosophy, Volume 1 & 2, London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.,

1923.

Roy, Rammohan. The English Works of Raja Rammohan Roy, Calcutta: Sadharan Brahma

Samaj, 1945-1958.

Sarvapalli, Radhakrishnan, The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore, London: Macmillan, 1918.

Selections from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama,

Thirteenth Impression, 1995.

Sing, Arya Krishan, Swami Dayananda Saraswati: A Study of his Life and Work, Delhi:

Manohar, 1987.

Vivekananda, Swami, Science and Philosophy of Religion, Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, 2012.

10

Philosophy - Semester V – Paper 5

Philosophy of Nature and Science


3Hrs/week = 42 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The Philosophy of Nature introduces students to the various ways in which people of different

times and places have considered nature, at different stages: mythical, religious, philosophical,

scientific, particular attention being paid to the transformation of the Greek philosophy of Nature

into contemporary science. The relevance of Aristotelian philosophy, the scientific or the

philosophical cosmology, relevance of Aristotelian hylomorphism, the beginning and the end of

the world are some of the areas that we will try to study in this course. This course will open the

minds of the students to general culture and information concerning the material world at the

micro as well as the macro levels.

The Philosophy of Science has been recently introduced because of its critical evaluation of

science. This branch of philosophy is relatively young. Applying epistemology, logic and

metaphysics to scientific method and activity, it attempts an answer to questions concerning the

relations between science and truth.

Unit 1: Pre-Socratic Philosophy of Nature

Introduction to Philosophy of Nature

Ancient cosmologies: Vedic cosmology -Biblical cosmology

The Pre-Socratic: Milesians - Pythagoreans - Eleatics - pluralists, esp. atomists

Unit 2: Plato, Aristotle and Scholasticism

Plato on Origin and Development of the Universe

Aristotle's Hylomorphism

Scholastic notions of material substance, quantity, place, space, motion and change, time.

Unit 3: History of Science: Western physics and cosmology:

From Ptolemy to Copernicus:

In the west and east notions of physics, elements, optics, space, time, motion, solar system,

medicine, the question action distance.

Environmental Philosophy

Unit 4: History of Science: Western physics and cosmology:

From Copernicus to the electronic age in physics and chemistry, progressive discovery of

elements;

Copernicus

Tycho Brahe

Kepler

Galileo

11

Newton

Theories of light, heat, sound, magnetism and electricity

Relativity and Quantum physics

Unit 5: Philosophy of Science

Introduction to Philosophy of Science: Philosophical reflections on, implications and

interpretations of the concepts, laws, methods and theories of science.

Logical Positivism: Basic Ideas, Implications and Critique

Historicism (Social Constructivism): Basic Ideas, Persons, Implications and Critique

Historical Realism: Basic Ideas, Persons, Implications and Critique

Relativistic Revolution

Newtonian vs. quantum mechanics

Scientific Theories on the Origin and End of the Universe and their Critique

REFERENCE

Aristotle, The Complete Works of Aristotle 1 & 2, Oxford transl., ed. Barnes, Jonathan, Princeton

1984.

Barnes, Jonathan, ed., Early Greek Philosophy, London: Penguin Books, 2001.

Black, John, The Dominion of Man: The Search of Ecological Responsibility, Edinburgh:

Edinburgh University Press, 1970.

Chalmers, Alan, What Is This Thing Called Science? An Assessment of the Nature and Status of

Science and its Method, 2nd

ed. Milton Keynes: Open University Press, 1992.

Fox, Warwick, Toward a Transpersonal Ecology: Developing New Foundations for

Environmental Philosophy, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Gillies, Donald, Philosophy of Science in the Twentieth-Century, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers,

1993.

Gruen, Lori and Dale Jamieson, ed., Reflecting on Nature: Readings in Environmental

Philosophy, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Hawking, Stephen, A Brief History of Time, London: Bantam Books, 1999.

Kuhn, Thomas, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 2nd

ed., Chicago: The University of

Chicago Press, 1970.

Ladyman, James, Understanding Philosophy of Science, London & New York: Routledge, 2002.

Nandan, M. R., Philosophy of Science: A Brief Introduction, Bangalore: The Bangalore

Philosophy Forum.

Passmore, John, Man’s Responsibility for Nature: Ecological Problems and Western Traditions,

London: Duckworth, 1974.

Passmore, John, The Perfectibility of Man, London: Duckworth, 1970.

Popper, Karl, The Myth of the Framework In Defence of Science and Rationality, M.A. Notturno,

ed. London: Routledge, 1994.

Russell B., History of Western Philosophy, London: George Allen and Unwin, 1969.

Sambursky, S. and I.B. Cohen, The Birth of a New Physics, London: Penguin, 1992.

12

Singer, C., A Short History of Scientific Ideas to 1900, Oxford: Oxford University, 1959.

Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Aristotle’s Metaphysics, transl. Rowan, John P., Indiana:

Dumb Ox Books, 1961.

Waterfield, Robin, The First Philosophers: The Pre-Socratics and the Sophists, Oxford: Oxford


13


Philosophy of Knowledge


3Hrs/week = 42 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The aim of this course is to lead students to the meaning of knowledge and truth. The channels of

knowledge are the senses - our own and/or those of other people. Philosophers have doubted the

evidence of the senses. The Sun, for instance, is seen to be moving, whereas it is not really

moving; it is we who are moving. Such questions and instances have compelled philosophers to

discuss a great deal about the nature of doubt, certainty, evidence, truth, about the last of which

they have thought out various theories. The Philosophy of Knowledge, also known as

Epistemology, has a special role to play in the Philosophy of Science, where it examines the

nature of ‘scientific’ truth.

Unit 1: General Introduction

The Nature, definition and scope of Epistemology

A Historical Survey of Epistemology

The Importance of Epistemology: The extent of one’s knowledge; Religious truth and the

universality of truth; Necessity of truth

Unit 2: The Sources of Knowledge

Sensation, Percept, Concept, Universal ideas, Judgements, Deduction, Induction and Testimony

Unit 3: Justification and Certainty

Structure of justification: Foundationalism

Certainty: Kinds of Certitude; problems

Unit 4: Theories of Knowledge

Empiricism, Rationalism, Idealism, Realism, Phenomenalism

Theory of Knowledge in Indian Thought

Scepticism, David Hume’s Scepticism

Unit 5: Truth and Validity of Knowledge

Truth, error and Certitude, Problems of objectivity

Theories of Truth: Correspondence theory, Coherence Theory and pragmatic theory; choice of a

theory

Hermeneutics and Post-Hermeneutic Epistemology

REFERENCE

Ayer, A. J., The Problem of Knowledge, New York: Penguin, 1984

Bernecker, Sven and Duncan Pritchard, ed., The Routledge Companion to Epistemology,

Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2010.

Bhat, Govardhan P., The basic Ways of knowing, N. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, 1989.

14

Chrisholm, Roderick M., Theory of Knowledge, New Delhi: Prentice Hall, 1987

Doren, Charles, A History of Knowledge, New York: Ballantine Books, 1992.

Gallagher Kenneth, Philosophy of Knowledge, New York: Sheed and Ward, 1964.

Hamlyn, D.W., The Theory of Knowledge, London: Macmillan, 1997.

Mercier, Jean L., Epistemology and the Problem of Truth, Bangalore: Asian Trading

Corporation, 1998.

O'Neill, Reginald F., Theories of Knowledge, Englewood: Printeice-Hall, Inc. 1960.

Sanguineti, Juan Jose., Logic and Gnoseology, Bangalore: TPI, 1988.

Sharma, R. N., Problems of Philosophy, Meerut: Kedar Nath.

Steup, Matthias and Ernest Sosa, eds., Contemporary Debates in Epistemology, Malden, MA:

Wiley-Blackwell, 2005.

Therukattil, George, In Quest of Truth: A Study in Philosophy of Knowledge, Bangalore: JIP,

2001.

Wolfe, David L., Epistemology, Illinois: Inter Varsity Press, 1982.

15


Philosophy of Man


3Hrs/week = 42 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

This course aims at providing with basic general information concerning the most important

views and theories held in the past about the nature of the human person. In this course we will

concentrate upon various themes: the relation of the body to the soul, soul as one or two, the

power of the soul, soul’s power of knowing and loving, the immortality of the human person,

philosophical demonstration of the human soul. Reflection on these themes will certainly give

the students a better knowledge and understanding of themselves, and consequently of others.

This course could also serve as a good philosophical basis for the study of psychology.


Introduction to Anthropology, Concept Clarifications, Meaning of Anthropology, definition, the

scope of Anthropology, Classification of Anthropological sciences, main branches of

Anthropology

Unit 2: Approaches to the Study of Human Person

Western Approach to the Study of Human Person: Concept of Life, Sensation, Intellection, Will,

Soul and Body

Eastern Concept of Human Person: Vedic Concept of the Human, Concept of the Human in

Upanishads, Concept of the Human in the Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist and Jaina understanding of

the Human Person, Samkhya understanding of the Human Person

Unit 3: Scientific Anthropology

Physical Anthropology: Man and his origins, Ethnology and Prehistoric Archaeology, the

Question of Evolution

Unit 4: Social and Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology in relation to physical anthropology, Prehistoric development of culture,

Physical type of culture, Habit and culture, Early Society and its Organization, The Mind of the

Primitive, Social Evolution.

Unit 5: Philosophical Anthropology

Introduction, Human life, knowledge, The problem of free-will, Language and communication,

Culture and civilization, Work and art and technology, Self transcendence, body, soul spirit,

person-hood and personality, The mystical dimensions and openness to the supernatural,

Survival after death – Immortality of the Soul

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REFERENCE

Adams, William Y., The Philosophical Roots of Anthropology, Stanford, California: CSLI

Publications, 1998.

Aristotle, The complete works of Aristotle, Vols. 1 & 2, Oxford transl., ed. Barnes, Jonathan,

Princeton 1984.

Donceel, J. F., Philosophical Anthropology, New York: Sheed and Ward, 1967.

Haeffner, Gerd, The Human Situation: A Philosophical Anthropology, transl. Eric Watkins.

Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1989.

Kowalczyk, Stanislaw, An Outline of Philosophical Anthropology, Frankfurt am Main, Bern,

New York, Paris: Peter Lang, 1991.

Krapiec, Mieczyslaw A., I-Man: An Outline of Philosophical Anthropology, abridged version, by

Francis J. Lescoe and Roger B. Duncan, New Britain, CT: Mariel Publications, 1983.

Landmann, Michael, Philosophical Anthropology, transl. David J. Parent, Philadelphia: The

Westminster Press, 1974.

Mondin, Battista, Philosophical Anthropology, Bangalore: TPI, 1985.

Stevenson, Leslie, ed., The Study of Human Nature, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Sumner, Claude, The Philosophy of Man, Vols. I, II, III, New Delhi: Theological Publications in

India, 1989.

Sumner, Claude, The Philosophy of Man (3 vols.), Addis Ababa: Central Printing Press, 1975.

Therukattil, George, Becoming Human: A Study in Philosophical Anthropology, Bangalore: JIP,

2000.

Vergote, Antoine, In Search of a Philosophical Anthropology, transl. M.S. Muldoon. Amsterdam

Atlanta, GA: Lueven University Press, 1996.

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Philosophy - Semester VI – Paper 8

Philosophy of Being


3Hrs/week = 42 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The Philosophy of Being, or the First Philosophy, as Aristotle called it, enjoys a most privileged

position among the branches of the tree of knowledge, Indian as well as Western, since it makes

the almost superhuman effort and endeavor to understand being as being. Practically all other

departments of knowledge are concerned with being in one form or another, but First Philosophy

or Metaphysics takes upon itself the challenge of grappling with the most fundamental and

universal challenge of confronting the problem of being as such.

Unit 1: Definition and Nature of Metaphysics

Etymology, Definitions, Names and Scope

Starting point, Fundamental Notions and Principles

Methods

Unit 2: History of Western Metaphysics:

Evolution of Western Metaphysics from Pre-Socratic to Post-modern philosophy

Unit 3: History of Indian Metaphysics:

Evolution of Indian Metaphysics from Vedas through non-Vedic systems to Vedanta

Unit 4: Metaphysical Structure of Being

"Think" and "Thing": Being as Object of Human Intellect

The Scope of the Philosophy of Being

Existence and Essence

Language and Reality: The Aristotelian Categories, the Meaning of “Being”: Substance and

Kinds of Substance: Descartes; Leibniz; Spinoza; Kant

The Accidents

Causation and Causality: Material Causality; Formal Causality; Efficient Causality; Final

Causality; Hume and Kant on causation

Act and Potency: … the operative Level; … the essential level; … the existential level

Unit 5: The Analogy of Being and the Transcendentals

The Analogy of Being: Analogy of Attribution; Analogy of Proportionality

The Transcendentals: Unity, Truth, Goodness, Beauty

Unit 6: Systematic Study of the Text (for Assignment)

Detailed study of the Selected Texts of Aristotle on Categories or Metaphysics

Detailed study of the Selected Texts from the Commentary of Thomas Aquinas on Metaphysics

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REFERENCE

Alvira, Thomas/ Clavell Luis/ Melendo Tomas, Metaphysics, Manila: Sinac Tala Publishers,

1982.

Aristotle, The Complete works of Aristotle 1 & 2, Oxford transl. & ed. Barnes, Jonathan,

Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.

Bogliolo, Luigi, Metaphysics, Bangalore: Theological Publications in India, 1987.

Coreth, Emerich, Metaphysics, New York: Herder and Herder, 1968.

Edwards, Paul, ed., Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Vol. 5 & 6, New York: Macmillan Publishing

Co., Inc. & the Free Press, 1972.

Garrett, Brian, What Is This Thing Called Metaphysics? Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2011.

Hamlyn, D.W., Metaphysics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Hiriyanna, M., Outlines of Indian Philosophy, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1994.

Kaipayil, Joseph, An Essay on Ontology, Kochi: Karunikan Books, 2008.

Kaipayil, Joseph, Relationalism: A Theory of Being, Bangalore: JIP Publications, 2008.

Kim, Jaegwon & Sosa, Ernest, A Companion to Metaphysics, Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers

Inc, 1995.

Le Poidevin, Robin et al, eds., The Routledge Companion to Metaphysics, Abingdon, Oxon:

Routledge, 2011.

Lonergan, Bernard, Insight, New York: Longmans, 1965.

Owens, Joseph, An Elementary Christian Metaphysics, U.S.A.: Bruce Publishing Company,

1986.

Panthanmackel, George, Coming and Going: An Introduction to Metaphysics from Western

Perspectives, Bangalore: ATC, 1999.

Raju, P. T., Structural Depths of Indian Thought, New Delhi: South Asia Publishers, 1985.

Sider, Theodore et al, eds. Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics, Malden, MA: Wiley-

Blackwell, 2007.

Sinha, Jadunath, Outlines of Indian Philosophy, Calcutta: New Central Books Agency Ltd, 1996.

Thomas de Aquino, Commentary on Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Rowan, John P., transl. Indiana:


Van Inwagen, Peter, Metaphysics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993.

Van Steenberghen, Fernand, Ontology, Louvain: Publications Universitaire, 1970.

Vineeth, Francis, Foundations of World Vision: A Guide to Metaphysics, Bangalore: Dharmaram

Publications, 1985.

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Philosophy of Religion


3Hrs/week = 42 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

This course critically evaluates the concept of religion and the various concepts arise within a

religion. This course must help students not only to strengthen their own understanding through

their faith, but also to understand and dialogue with others. The course aims at describing,

analyzing and evaluating the role of religion in the life of the human since the earliest times, to

discover by rational interpretation of religion the truth of religious belief (especially in God) and

the value of religious attitudes and practices in human quest for growth and development.


The legitimacy of philosophical reflection on religion

Shift from ‘Theodicy’ to ‘Philosophy of God’

Objects of Philosophy of God

Philosophy of God and Theology

Nature and Origin of Religion

Method of philosophy of Religion

A Historical over-view of the development of philosophy of religion

Unit 2: Meaning and Reference of the Word ‘God’

Meanings and Meaning – Meaning and Reference – Direct and Indirect Reference – Negative

Way, Positive Way, and Way of Eminence

Meaning of ‘Brahman’

The Question of God in Buddhism and Jainism

Faith and Reason as Two ways to God

Trust in the Ability of Reason

Incapacity of the Reason

Unit 3: Proofs or Arguments for God’s Existence

Pre-Philosophical Arguments

Philosophical Arguments: The Ontological Arguments of Anselm, Descartes, Leibnitz;

The Cosmological Arguments of St. Thomas, Samuel Clarke; The Teleological Arguments of St.

Thomas, William Paley; Moral Argument of Kant

Indian Ways to God

Unit 4: Religious Experience, Religious Language and Symbols

Religious Language

Religious Experience

Via negative, Analogy

Symbols and Myths

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Unit 5: The problem of Evil and Atheism

The Problem of Evil: Faith Solutions, Philosophical Motifs, Process Solution, Karma theory

Atheism: Charvaka, August Comte, Friedrich Nietzsche, Albert Camus, Jean Paul Sartre,

Unit 6: Some of the Issues Related with the Philosophy of Religion

Religion and Culture; Religion and Secularization; Religion and Sociology; Religion and

Science; Religion and Morality; Religion and Politics; Religion and Economics

REFERENCE

Allen, Diogenes, and Eric O. Springsted, Philosophy for Understanding Theology, 2nd ed.

Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007.

Aristotle, The Complete Works of Aristotle 1 & 2, Oxford transl., ed. Barnes, Jonathan,

Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.

Bogliolo, Luigi, Rational Theology, Bangalore: TPI, 1987.

Brightman, Edga, A Philosophy of Religion, New York: Greenwood Press, 1969.

Burrell, David B., “Philosophy” in The Blackwell Companion to Modern Theology, edited by

Gareth Jones, 34-46. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2004.

Cahn, Steven M. and David Shatz, eds., Contemporary Philosophy of Religion, New York:

Oxford University Press, 1982.

Caputo, John D., Philosophy and Theology, Horizons in Theology, Nashville: Abingdon Press,

2006.

Craig, William Lane, Philosophy of Religion, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Davis, Stephen, T. ed., Encountering Evil: Live Options in Theodicy, Atlanta: John Knox Press,

1981.

De Vries, Hent, “Philosophia Ancilla Theologiae” in Bible and Critical Theory 5, no.3 (2009):

41.1-41.19.

Donceel, J. F., The Searching Mind: An Introduction to the Philosophy of God, London: Notre

Dame Press, 1979.

Dulles, Avery, “Apologetics I: History” in Dictionary of Fundamental Theology, edited by Rene

Latourelle and Rino Fisichella, 28-35, New York: St. Paul’s, 1990.

Evans, Stephen C., Philosophy of Religion: Thinking about Faith, England: Intervarsity Press,

1982.

Hartshorne, Charles, “A New Look at the Problem of Evil,” in Current Philosophical Issues, ed.,

F.C. Dommeyer, Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, 1966.

Hick, John, An Interpretation of Religion: Human Responses to the Transcendent, New Haven,

Conn.: Yale University Press, 1989.

Hick, John, Philosophy of Religion, New Delhi: Prentice- Hall, 1988.

Hick, John, Philosophy of Religion, New York: Prentice-Hall, 1973.

James, William, The Varieties of Religious Experience, New York: Dolphin Books, 1902.

John Paul II, Fides et Ratio, Mumbai: Pauline Publications, 1998.

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Kachappilly, Kurian, God-Talk Reconstructed: An Introduction to Philosophy of God,

Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2006.

Mackie, J.L., Miracle of Theism: Arguments for and against the Existence of God, Oxford:

Clarendon Press, 1982.

Palmer, Michael, The Question of God: An Introduction and Source Book, London: Routledge,

2001.

Sparrow, M.R., “The Proofs of Natural Theology and the Unbeliever” in American Catholic

Philosophical Quarterly 65, no. 2 (1991): 129-41.

Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Aristotle’s Metaphysics, transl. Rowan, John P., Indiana:


Whitehead, Alfred N., Religion in the Making, New York: Macmillan, 1926.

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Ethics


3Hrs/week = 42 Hrs

COURSE OBJECTIVE

This course deals with the nature of moral good and evil. This course enables the students to see

the natural moral law, the mouth-piece of which is a well-formed conscience. While general

ethics introduces students to the general principles of right reason and conduct, special ethics

deals with specific areas of human activity.

Unit 1: Ethics is a normative science of Human Conduct

Definition, Nature, Importance and Scope of Ethics

Relation of Ethics to Philosophy and Religion

Human acts as acts proceeding from man's deliberate freewill

Psychological basis of Ethics

Circumstances that affect man's intellect and will

Man's responsibility for those acts

Unit 2: Historical Over View of Ethics: Western and Indian

Ethics in Greek, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary Philosophy

Ethics in Ancient, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary Indian Philosophy

Unit 3: Moral Order and Moral Values

Existence of Moral Order and Moral Values

Explanations by Moral Positivism, Eudaimonistic, Hedonism, Utilitarianism, Kantian

Categorical Imperative and Indian Ethical theories

Right reason as norm for determining moral values that are rooted in man's Natural law

Radical Situation Ethics is unacceptable.

Unit 4: Conscience

What is Conscience?

Object, Motive and Circumstances

Formation of Conscience

Types of Conscience

Unit 5: Social Ethics

Man as a Social being - His fulfilment is found in society

Rights, Duties and Virtues

Suicide, Euthanasia, Abortion, Violence, Terrorism

Ethics and Marriage: Nature and purpose of marriage and Family

Familial ethics: Contraception; Sterilization; Mercy killing; Abortion and Artificial insemination.

Indian Social Ethics – the Ethics of Gita

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Unit 6: Political Ethics

Political theories - Man and the State

Some Politico-ethical problems: Appropriate form of government and its powers (legislative,

executive, judiciary); Welfare of the citizens, Civil laws and taxes; Private property, Labour and

wages

Revolution and Violence; Communism; Punishment

International Ethics: The United Nations (UNO)

International-Ethical Problems: Peace and Co-operation between the nations; Just war;

Industrialization and Ecology- Developed and Underdeveloped nations

Marxist-Communistic Ethics: Exposition and Criticism: i) Dialectical Materialism - Class

struggle and Revolution, - Stateless and Classless society; ii) Super-Structures of State, Religion

and Morality

Socialism

REFERENCE

Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, transl. J.A.K. Thomason, Baltimore, Maryland: Penguin Books,

1955.

Beauchamp, Tom L., Philosophical Ethics: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy, New York:

McGraw-Hill Company, 1982.

Brittle, Celestine N., Man and Morals, Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1950.

Bourke, Vernon J., Ethics, New York: The Macmillan Company, 1967.

Composta, Dario, Moral Philosophy and Social Ethics, Bangalore: TPI, 1988.

Cahn, Steven M. and Peter Markie, ed., Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues,

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Chackalackal, Saju, Unity of knowing and Acting in Kant, Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications,

2002.

Cooper, David E., Ethics: The Classic Readings, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1998.

Finnis, John, Fundamentals of Ethics, Oxford: Oxford Clarendon Press, 1983.

Foot, Philippa, Theories of Ethics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1967.

Kant, Immanuel, Critique of Practical Reason, transl. Lewis White Beck, Indianapolis: Bobbs-

Merril, 1956.

Kant, Immanuel, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, transl. Lewis White Beck,

Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merril, 1959.

Freeman, J. Stephen, Ethics: An Introduction to Philosophy and Practice, U.K.: Wads worth

Thomson, 2000.

Mackenzie, John S., A Manual of Ethics, New York: Cosimo, 2005.

Mackenzie, John S., Hindu Ethics: A Historical and Critical Survey, H. Milford: Oxford


Pazhayampalli, Thomas, Pastoral Guide, Krist Jyothi Publications, 1997.

Sharma, Ram, Outline of Ethics, Meerut, 1963.

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Singer, Peter, ed., A Companion to Ethics, Oxford: Blackwell, 1993.

Thiroux, Jaques, Ethics: Theory and Practice, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1995.

Callahn, Joan C. ed., Ethical Issues in Professional Life, New York: Oxford University Press,

1988.

Mappes, Thomas A. and Zembatty, Jane S., Social Ethics, Morality and Social Policy, New

York: McGraw-hill Inc., 1992.

Documents

ST. PHILOMENA’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), MYSORE – … · 7 Philosophy - Semester IV – Paper 4 Contemporary Western and Indian Philosophy Marks theory – 80, Internal Assessment