Philisophy

Course introduction

The first year begins with the course Introduction to Philosophy: some principal philosophical issues are examined along with some concepts and methods of rational thinking. Divided into three parts, the course introduces the student to General Philosophy, Moral Philosophy and Logic.

General philosophy

General Philosophy deals with the basic subjects in epistemology and metaphysics, such as knowledge, skepticism, perception, induction, primary and secondary qualities, the relation of mind and body, personal identity and free will. Moral Philosophy involves the study of Utilitarianism and the leading but contentious moral theory that investigates subjects such as happiness and pleasure, the principles of right action, the share and the basis of moral values, and justice. Logic is the study of forms of valid inference, and the formal systems of inference.

The Core papers in the study of Philosophy may include topics such as:

• History of Philosophy from Descartes to Kant: that investigates selected metaphysical and epistemological concepts of various important philosophers of the period between the 1630 and the 1780.
• Knowledge and Reality: investigates the concepts of reality and the man’s limited scope in knowing this reality. Topics such as reference, truth and definition are dealt with as part of the subject.
• Ethics: this subject explores various ethical concepts like those of justice, rights, equality, virtue, and happiness which play an important part in moral and political debates. Applied ethical issues are also examined.
• Plato: Republic: this work of Plato, which forms the basis of this type of philosophy is discussed in detail along with his similes, arguments, his thoughts on ethics, political theory, metaphysics, philosophy of the mind and aesthetics.
• Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics: this work of Aristotle is explored with reference to Aristotle’s analysis of the structure of human action, responsibility, the virtues, the nature of moral knowledge, weakness of will, pleasure, and friendship.

Electives for the course choosed by you

A selection from the following subjects can be made by the student as electives, according to the individual interests and goals in studying philosophy: Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy of Science and Social Science; Philosophy of Religion; The Philosophy of Logic and Language; Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Criticism; Medieval Philosophy: Aquinas; Medieval Philosophy: Duns Scotus and Ockham; The Philosophy of Kant; Post-Kantian Philosophy; Theory of Politics; Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein; The Later Philosophy of Wittgenstein; Formal Logic; Intermediate Philosophy of Physics; Philosophy of Mathematics; Philosophy of Science; Philosophy of Cognitive Science; The Philosophy and Economics of the Environment; Jurisprudence; and Thesis in Philosophy.