Program- Baccalaureate in Philosophy

OBS 108 Theodicy (Philosophy of God)

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S7 Credits : 3 Teacher : Dr Kuttikadan John Lindo Aim Theodicy is conceived, in Thomistic perspective, as a part of Metaphysics, namely as a Science that studies the “being as such” and its principles (God as a Supreme Cause and Principle). The purpose of this course is to help the seminarians to defend their belief in God by the use natural reason. One learns to base his/her arguments on the basic principles of reason and make a thorough and systematic analysis of the data of experience in order to prove that God exists and also to explain the nature and attributes of God. We also discuss in some detail the problem of…

Continue ReadingOBS 108 Theodicy (Philosophy of God)

OBS 121 Systems of Indian Philosophy (Orthodox)

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S3 Credits : 3 Teacher : Dr Thadathil Joseph Aim This topic is designed to give information and insights on epistemological, metaphysical, cosmological, ethical and historical issues of the Indian systems of thought. The Orthodox Systems such as Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta are analysed. Sufficient time is allotted to the three schools of Vedanta, namely, Daita of Madhava, Visistadvaita of Ramanuja and Advaita of Sankara. Modern and contemporary Indian thinkers such as Swami Dayanandasaraswathi, Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, S. Radhakrishnan, Chattampi Swamikal and Sri Narayana Guru are well introduced and their thoughts are critically evaluated in this course. References Mahadevan, T.M.P., Invitation to Indian Philosophy, New Delhi, 1974. Thachil, J., An…

Continue ReadingOBS 121 Systems of Indian Philosophy (Orthodox)

OBS 105 Symbolic Logic

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S4 Credits : 3 Teacher : Dr Kuttikadan John Lindo Aim Notion, nature and characteristics of Symbolic logic are discussed at the outset, after treating its history of development. Various truth-functions are introduced as the preparation for the determination of the validity of arguments through truth-table construction. Formal proof of validity is also studied with the rules of inference and replacements. Propositional logic presents also the various forms of statements like tautology, contradiction and contingency. This course focuses also on Predicate Logic with quantification rules. Symbolization of ordinary statements and arguments is introduced with a view to the determination of the validity of arguments in general. References Lee, H.N., Symbolic Logic (1962) Howson,…

Continue ReadingOBS 105 Symbolic Logic

OBS 102 Study of the Encyclical Fides et Ratio

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S2 Credits : 2 Teacher : Prof. Dr. Vadakkel Thomas Aim The purpose of the course is to enable the students to have a healthy relationship between reason and faith. The study of the encyclical Fides et Ratio of Pope John Paul II will give the awareness that though both reason and faith follows its own path, they agree each other for giving meaning to their respective contents and that a separation between them will lead to mutual loss. After presenting the historical, philosophical and theological background and the general structure of the encyclical, we concentrate on the important themes like the revelation of god’s wisdom, the relationship between faith and reason, the…

Continue ReadingOBS 102 Study of the Encyclical Fides et Ratio

OBS 112 Political Philosophy

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S6 Credits : 5 Teacher : Dr. Sankoorikal Martin Francis & Dr Varakath Roy VC Aim The course entitled “Political Philosophy” primarily analyses the nature, structure and functioning of the political society in view of common good. To achieve this end, the course provides a historical and philosophical over view of the development of political philosophy starting from the classical Greek period (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle). Then, it analyses the development of political thought from the inception of Christianity unto the sixteenth century. In addition, a critical analysis of the major political theories and political thinkers of the modern and contemporary period are also undertaken. This is to enable the students to evaluate the…

Continue ReadingOBS 112 Political Philosophy

OBS 109 Philosophy of Religion

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S4 Credits : 3 Teacher : Dr Madathisseril John Anoop Aim The purpose of this course is to have a critical or rational analysis of religion. After clarifying the nature, scope and methodology of the philosophy of religion, the concepts of reason, faith, revelation and religion are analyzed. We discuss the different theories of the origin of religion which is followed by a brief historical survey of the different world religions. We also concentrate on issues like religious belief, idea of God, religious experience, plurality of religions etc. References Charlesworth, M. J., Philosophy of religion: The Historical Approaches, London, 1972. Craig, W. L. (ed.), Philosophy of Religion: A Reader and Guide, New Jersey,…

Continue ReadingOBS 109 Philosophy of Religion

OBS 113 A Philosophy of Nature

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S2 Credits : 3 Teacher : Rev. Dr Madathisseril Sebastian Aim The proposed course aims to impart a coherent picture about the value and meaning of the natural world. To achieve this end, at first, an exploration from a mythical (pre-scientific) view of the nature to the present-day understandings of the origin of the universe is undertaken. Then, a detailed analysis of Aristotelian and Newtonian cosmologies is done. A thorough philosophical investigation and analysis of the notions such as space, time, matter, motion, and energy etc. are done in detail. In short, the course entitled Philosophyof Nature functionsas a preparatory course to Anthropology and Metaphysics. References Frank Thilly, A History of Philosophy, SBW Publishers, New Delhi, 2005. Wallace,…

Continue ReadingOBS 113 A Philosophy of Nature

OBS 110 Philosophy of Human Person

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S6 Credits : 7 Teacher : Dr Neelanirappel Johnson Aim It is an overview on the nature, activities and the destiny of man. It attempts to assess the place of human person in and his relationship to the world. In some respect it also constitutes a metaphysics of man, for it is a probe of the deepest causes and meaning of man. In evaluating different theories the motive is to enhance the students with an openness to truth. It is an attempt to see man as a totality within totality. References J. Z. Young, An Introduction to the study of man, Oxford University Press, 1979. Jose Angel Lombo & Francesco Russo, Philosophical Anthropology;…

Continue ReadingOBS 110 Philosophy of Human Person

OBS 113 A Philosophy of (Scientific) Cosmology

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S4 Credits : 4 Teacher : Dr Joseph Mathew Angadiyil Aim Philosophy of Cosmology investigates the origin and evolution of Universe from scientific as well as philosophical perspectives. The issues on the theory of Big Bang and other related theories are discussed in detail to the In the Scientific aspects of Cosmology, the students are given the opportunity to learn the lessons of The Big Bang Theory, Origin and Evolution of Stars, Supernova, Black Holes, Origin of Solar System, Fundamental Constants of nature and the Four Basic forces. Moreover, it deals with the contemporary cosmology consisting of Higgs Bosons, Grand unified theory and the principles of cosmology that focus on Quantity, Change, Space and Time.…

Continue ReadingOBS 113 A Philosophy of (Scientific) Cosmology

OBS 118 Modern Trends in Philosophy

Program : Baccalaureate in Philosophy Semester : S3 Credits : 2 Teacher : Dr Sankoorikal Martin & Alias Manoj Francis Aim The course entitled Modern Trends in Philosophy attempts to make a critical study of Post-Truth Era with its Postmodern roots. To this end, at first, we critically explore the key figures in Postmodern movement namely, Michael Foucault, Jacques Derrida and Jean Francois Lyotard. Secondly, we expose the intellectual connection between the eclipse of truth in the post-truth era and the postmodern dislike for grand narratives and postmodern critical revaluation of the enlightenment hegemony of human reason. In addition, the course offers a corrective for the eclipse of truth, an intellectual training that enables the students to have a coherent…

Continue ReadingOBS 118 Modern Trends in Philosophy