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BA Philosophy course is a 3 years duration and generally, each academic year is divided into two semesters. The undergraduate course for philosophy is designed in a way that includes both Indian and Western Philosophy which form part of core courses. Apart from the core courses, students also have to study a minimum of two concurrent courses out of which at least one is a language paper.
Philosophy is the study related to existence, reason, knowledge,mind. Philosophy is the guiding compass of life. Philosophy teaches us the techniques and methods to find meaning and live a virtuous life. The course teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group and solo presentations, classroom discussions, etc.
See Also: Philosophy Courses
BA Philosophy Admission takes place through both merit base and entrance exam. BA Philosophy entrance exams are CUET, TISS BAT, NPAT etc.
Table of content
- BA Philosophy Course Details
- BA Philosphy Semester Wise Syllabus
- BA Philosophy Subjects
- What is Philosophy?
- BA BA Philosophy Entrance Exams
- BA Hons Philosophy Syllabus
- IGNOU BA Philosophy Syllabus
- BA Philosophy Course Structure
8.1 Teaching Methods
8.2 Projects
8.3 Stoicism
BA Philosphy Course Detail
| BA Philosophy Full Form | Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy |
| BA Philosophy Duration | 3 years |
| BA Philosophy Degree | Bachelors |
| BA Philosophy Average Fees | INR 5000 - 1 LPA |
| Eligibility | 10+2 (minimum 50% marks )and relaxation to SC/ST/OBC |
| Job Positions | Teacher, Content Writer, Public Service, Journalist, Social Worker, etc |
| Average Salary | INR 5.74 LPA [Source: Glassdoor] |
| BA Philosophy Job Opportunities | Teaching, Creative Writing, Editing and Publishing, Mediation, Public Relations and Journalism, Philosophical Counselling/Philosophical Practice, |
| Top Recruiters | Axis Bank, CAPGEMINI, United Airlines, Axis Bank, Kotak Securities, etc. |
BA Philosphy Semester Wise Syllabus
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Logic Ethics | Ethics |
| Basic Logical Concepts | The Fundamental Questions of Ethics |
| Symbolic Logic | Virtue Ethics: Aristotle |
| Informal Fallacies | Nishkama Karma (Bhagavadgita) |
| - | Non-Violence (M.K. Gandhi) |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Indian Philosophy | Western Philosophy |
| Inductive Logic | Plato: Knowledge and Opinion |
| Logic | Spinoza: Substance |
| Theories of Causation | Leibnitz : Theory of Monads |
| Theories of Reality | Hume: Theory of Causation |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Indian Logic and Epistemology | Vedic System of Values |
| Philosophy of Language | Concept of Man and Humanity |
| Epistemology and Metaphysics (Western) | Purusharthas |
| Ethics and Philosophy of Religion | Nature of Svadharma |
| Optional Paper | Varnashrama Dharma |
BA Philosophy Subjects
- Indian Philosophy: This will cover topics like Emphasis on Karma (Action), Jnana (Knowledge) and Bhakti (devotion): An Understanding of different Indian Philosophical SchoolsIt also covers general characteristics of Indian Philosophy. This will provide you exposure to various Indian Philosophical texts.
- Indian Metaphysics (Tattva Vicara): Students will learn about Indian Materialism: Carvaka, Purva Mimamsha theory of Karma (Apurva), Jaina Anekantavada(Relativistic pluralism), Four Noble Truths (catvariaryasatyani) and Doctrine of Dependent Origination (Pratityasamutpada).
- Logic: This is a very interesting topic that includes how to make an argument, Deduction and Induction, and Aristotelian Logic. This Logic course will help the students to develop an understanding of the basic concepts of logic and language as well as familiarity with precise models of deductive reasoning.
- Aristotelian Logic: It includes Categorical Propositions, Validating / Invaliditing Categorical Syllogisms through syllogistic rules & fallacies,Special rules for each figure, Venn Diagram technique for testing Syllogism.
- Ethics in the Public Domain: This will help students how to develop an ethical perspective on socio-political and economic issues. You will get ethical awareness to become a responsible member of society.
- Greek philosophy: This will enhance student knowledge of the origin of philosophy in the Western tradition in the thinkers of Ancient Greece. It includes the study of natural philosophers like Thales, Heraclitus, Socrates, and Plato’s theory of virtue and Form.
- Western Philosophy- Descartes to Kant: It starts with Descartes’ seminal views on epistemology and metaphysics. It deals with the questions that we always think about and help us by expounding theories that have broadened the base of human understanding and thinking abilities.
What is Philosophy?
Philosophy consists of three major branches which are Metaphysics, Epistemology and Ethics.
| Topics | Details |
|---|---|
| Metaphysics | It refers to what is true about existence. It includes cosmology(the study of the world in its entirety), Ontology (the study of being) and philosophy of time and space. |
| Epistemology | It teaches us a reason, logic, economics and psychology and other theory of knowledge to have a better understanding of life. This deals with investigating questions regarding truth, beliefs and rationality. |
| Ethics | It teaches us which actions we must take as the result of our knowledge. it comprises of human rights, the treatment of animals, democracy, and the environment. |
BA Philosophy Entrance Exam Syllabus
| Test | No. of Questions | Time in Minutes | Weightage for final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative & Numerical ability | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| Reasoning & General Intelligence | 40 | 40 | |
| Proficiency in English Language | 40 | 20 | |
| Total | 120 | 100 | 100 |
BA Hons Philosophy DU syllabus
B.A (Hons) Philosophy Programme helps students to develop the ability critical thinking, Analytical thinking and logical thinking and Students can use philosophical reasoning to expand their thinking and use them in their everyday life.
| Indian Philosophy | Critical thinking & Decision Making (SEC 1) |
| Greek Philosophy | Art & Film Appreciation |
| Western Philosophy: Descartes to Kant | Philosophy of Mind |
| Social and Political Philosophy | Philosophy of Science |
| Text of Indian Philosophy | Philosophy of Law |
| Text of Western Philosophy | Indian Materialism |
| Truth Functional Logic | Feminism |
| Analytic Philosophy | Indian Theories of Consciousness |
| Continental Philosophy | Aesthetics |
| Philosophy of Religion (Indian & Western) | Knowledge and Skepticism |
| Philosophy of Language (Indian & Western) | Philosophy of Logic |
IGNOU BA Philosophy Syllabus
| IGNOU BPY 1 Study Material (Indian Philosophy: Part I) | IGNOU BPY 2 Study Material (Logic: Classical and Symbolic) |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Indian Philosophy | Nature of Logic |
| Upanishads-I | Reasoning |
| Upanishads-II | Symbolic Logic: Statements |
| Heterodox Systems | Symbolic Logic: Arguments |
| IGNOU BPY 3 Study Material (Ancient and Medieval Philosophy) | IGNOU BPY 4 Study Material (Religious of the World) |
| Introduction to Philosophy | Introduction to Religion |
| Greek Philosophy: Early Philosophers | Religions of Indian Origin |
| Greek Philosophy: Classical Period | Religions of Middle-East Origin |
| Medieval Philosophy | Other Religions |
| IGNOU BPY 5 Study Material (Indian Philosophy: Part II) | IGNOU BPY 6 Study Material (Metaphysics) |
| Orthodox Systems-1 | Definition and Nature Of Metaphysics |
| Orthodox Systems-2 | Metaphysical Structure of Finite Being |
| Indian Philosophical Movements | Metaphysical Nature of Finite Being |
| Contemporary Indian Thinkers | Notion of Being |
| IGNOU BPY 7 Study Material (Ethics) | IGNOU BPY 8 Study Material (Modern Western Philosophy) |
| Perspectives in Ethics -Western | Renaissance and Enlightenment |
| Perspectives in Ethics –Indian | Rationalism |
| Moral Consciousness | Empiricism |
| Social Ethics | Idealism and Positivism |
| IGNOU BPY 9 Study Material (Contemporary Western Philosophy) | IGNOU BPY 10 Study Material (Epistemology) |
| Foundations of Contemporary Philosophy | Introduction |
| Early Continental Philosophy | Sources of Belief |
| Later Continental Philosophy | Methods and Justification of Knowledge |
| Analytical Philosophy | The Knowing Subject |
| IGNOU BPY 11 Study Material (Philosophy of Human Person) | IGNOU BPY 12 Study Material (Philosophy of Science and Cosmology) |
| Approaches to the Study of Human Person | Pre-Copernican Philosophy of Science and Cosmology |
| Origin and End of Human Person | Mechanical Philosophy of Nature |
| Nature of Human Person | Contemporary Philosophy of Science |
| Human Person and Society | Contemporary Philosophy of Nature/Cosmology |
| IGNOU BPYE 1 Study Material (Philosophy of Religion) | IGNOU BPYE 2 Study Material (Tribal and Dalit Philosophy) |
| Nature and Origin of Religion | The Story of the Tribals |
| Problem of Affirming God’s Existence | The Philosophy of the Tribals |
| Religious Language and Religious Experience | The Story of Dalits |
| Religious Pluralism and Post-Modern Trends | The Philosophy of Dalits |
BA Philosophy Course structure
The BA philosophy course is designed in a more student-centric manner. This course is structured to increase students critical thinking, analytical thinking, and writing skills. Students will be able to develop excellent verbal and written communication skills through various activities like presentations, projects, quizzes,and seminars
The course structure consists of :
- VI Semesters
- Core Subjects
- Elective Subjects
- Research Projects
BA Philosophy Teaching Methodology and Techniques
The syllabus consists of various great philosophers and their great ideas and different perspectives which will broaden the thinking of students. It combines both traditional and modern approaches. Listed below are the teaching methodology and strategies that are used in BA Philosophy:
- Lectures
- Quizzes
- Class tests and Assignments
- Thesis
- Research Papers
- Projects
- Seminars
- Presentations
- Group Discussions
BA Philosophy Projects
In the final semester students are expected to work on a research project. These projects aim to ensure that the students have a chance to learn about their specialization in detail about the course.
Some of the BA Philosophy projects examples of topics are listed below::
- The Problems of Philosophy: Bertrand Russell
- Western Logic
- Ethics
- Contemporary Indian Philosophy
- Concept of Human Existence
Philosophy in the 21st century: Stoicism
The most popular thought system currently is Stoicism. The most important idea of stoic philosophy is to differentiate between things we can change and things we cannot, things we have control over and things we can't control. The main idea is to focus on things that you can control. It’s an unwinnable battle to focus on things that you cannot control. It is a school of philosophy founded in Athens around 300 B.C.
As Marcus Aurelius said “ You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. The important takeaways from stoicism to live a better life are:
- It's not the events that upset you but your opinions about the events.
- Nothing is good or bad, valuable or miserable in itself, it is our assumptions, beliefs and thought patterns that colour the world around us. our perception hurts us more than the things and situations themselves.
- Accept all things beyond our control and focus on what you can control
- Amor Fati - Love everything that happen
BA Philosophy Books
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| A Critical History of Greek Philosophy | W.T. Stace |
| A History of Philosophy | Frank Thilly |
| An IntroductiontoIndian Philosophy | S.C Chatterjee and D.M Dutta |
| An Introduction to Logic and Scientific method. | Morris R. Cohen and Emest Nagel |
| Practical Ethics. | Peter Singer |
| A Critical History of Western Philosophy | Y. Masih |
| Philosophy of Religion. | John Hick |
BA Philosophy Syllabus: FAQs
Ques. Is Philosophy good for BA?
Ans. Graduates in BA Philosophy can find jobs in public, private and non-profit sectors. You can get opportunities in art-based areas, advertising, media, teaching, IT and journalism.
Ques. How many subjects are there in Philosophy?
Ans. Philosophy is divided into four pillars: theoretical (metaphysics and epistemology), practical philosophy (ethics, social and political philosophy, aesthetics), history of philosophy and logic.
Ques. Is philosophy a good degree?
Ans. By studying philosophy you can get to learn so many useful skills such as making logical arguments, explaining ideas clearly in oral and written manner and most importantly looking at things from multiple perspectives.
Ques. Who are the 7 philosophers?
Ans. Seven philosophers are Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Leibniz, Kant and Descartes are famous in modern philosophy. They are responsible for shaping philosophy.
Ques. Who founded philosophy?
Ans. Thales who was an astronomer and mathematician was considered by Aristotle to be the first philosopher in the Greek tradition.
Ques. What philosophy means?
Ans. It means love of wisdom. Philosophy is an activity to understand ourselves, the world and our relationship with the world and with each other.
Ques. Is there a Ph.D. in philosophy?
Ans. by pursuing a Ph.D. in philosophy students can either go for research or teaching philosophy. All students are required to complete the equivalent of an undergraduate major in philosophy with a strong grade point average.
Ques. What is the difference between psychology and philosophy?
Ans. Psychology is the study of the human mind and its behavior in a social context. And philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
Ques. What is the root of Philosophy?
Ans. The word comes from the greek roots Philo means “love” and Sophos, or “wisdom”. Philosophy is the study of understanding how and why people do certain things and how to live a good life.
Ques. Who is the most famous philosopher?
Ans. Aristotle is the most famous philosopher and is importantly the most important thinker who ever lived.
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