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School of Humanities

Philosophy


From the Desk of the HOD


Welcome to Loyola for an exciting course in Philosophy! Philosophy, it is said, not only answers questions but questions answers! In these two years you will come across a lot of questions that have been answered and develop critical abilities to raise questions and even question questions! Keeping to the best of the Jesuit traditions, philosophizing will necessarily be holistic in the contemporary global context. Needless to say, it will be inclusive in content and intent. As we have students from various parts of India and parts of Africa, South East Asia, it will take up the concerns not only of India but of issues global in content too. Hence Eastern and Western Philosophical perspectives will be given due importance. Teaching and Learning will be integrative, dialogical and critical rather than parallel, juxtaposed or compartmentalized. According to the Jesuit Document on Intellectual Formation of the Jesuits (vide, version2, June 2014), “The purpose of studies in the Society of Jesus is apostolic.” Studies are aimed at helping the Jesuits to grow in capacity to fulfil the mission of the Society of Jesus today: the service of faith, the promotion of Justice, and dialogue with cultures and religions. Keeping in mind these goals the courses in four semesters are arranged in a focussed manner. The courses in the first two semesters are arranged in such a way that the students are helped to sharpen their focus on the context – both Indian and Western. Hence introducing philosophy to non-philosophy students, histories of both Indian and Western Philosophical traditions, questions related to dialogical encounters, etc. are parts of the syllabus. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with skill-based courses such as Research Methodology, though not forming part of the syllabus, but as extra credits, and acquire competencies in classical languages such as Latin and Sanskrit. These two semesters will conclude with a self-study paper at the end of the second semester which will form part of the integration expected of Philosophy students. The subject electives in these semesters will enable them to profit from exposures and field trips. Moreover, the African and Chinese thoughts are covered under subject electives. The last two semesters will have courses with a focus on in-depth knowledge and application of philosophical themes. Hence Metaphysics, Classical and contemporary questions related to Hermeneutics and Deconstruction, and the interpretation of scientific question and, Moral Philosophy etc. will enable them to do an in-depth analysis of issues and themes of systematic philosophy. Subject Elective courses are practical in nature and emphasize the nature of applied philosophy. Students are provided with opportunities to learn modern European languages, like Spanish and French. The special focus of the fourth semester is integrative in nature. The interpretation of Vedanta, Philosophical Psychology, and an in-depth analysis of the philosophy of Religion, along with a dissertation, also opens up avenues of integration. Moreover they are expected to defend philosophical themes (theses) in Philosophy at the end of four semesters before a board of two examiners who will examine their philosophical comprehension of the themes dealt with during the two academic years.
Rev. Dr. S. Lawrence Fernandes S.J.
Head, Department of Philosophy

Contact

Rev Dr S Lawrence Fernandes SJ


Head of the Department,
Department of Philosophy,
Loyola College (Autonomous),
Chennai - 600 034.
Tel: +91 44 2817 8200
hodphil@loyolacollege.edu