Major · Philosophy · Semester 1 · FY BA · 4 credits
Module 1: Introduction to Moral Philosophy
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1
Definition, nature and scope (branches) of philosophy
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2
Nature of moral philosophy (facts and values; intrinsic and extrinsic values) and areasof ethics (descriptive ethics, normative ethics, meta-ethics and applied ethics)
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3
Ethical Relativism: arguments defending this position; critical evaluation
Module 2: Moral concepts in Indian Philosophy
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1
Concepts of Rta, Rna, and purushartha
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2
Philosophy of non-attachment (nishkama karma yoga)
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3
Sthitaprajna: the moral ideal
Module 3: The Good Life: Greek Ethics
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1
Socratic Ethics: Virtue is knowledge; can ethics be taught?
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2
The Four Virtues: Plato ( Republic)
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3
Ethics of Character: Aristotle
Module 4: Freedom and Determinism
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1
Determinism: types of determinism: scientific determinism, religious determinism (i.e.predestination) and fatalism; critical appraisal of determinism
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2
Indeterminism (i.e. libertarianism): arguments in support of free will; agency theoryof freedom; critical appraisal of indeterminism
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3
Compatibilism: reconciling determinism and freedom
Reading List
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1
C. Sharma. Ethical Philosophies of India
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2
Jacques Thiroux, Ethics: Theory and Practice
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3
James Cornman, Keith Lehrer and George Pappas.Philosophical Problems and Arguments: An Introduction
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4
James Fieser and Norman Lillegard, Philosophical Questions: Reading and InteractiveGuides (New York/Oxford: OUP, 2005)
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5
KedarNathTiwari, Classical Indian Ethical Thought (MotilalBanarasidas, 1998)
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6
William William Frankena. Ethics (Prentice Hall, 1973)
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7
Lawhead. The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach (Mayfield Publishing Company, 2000)
