Philosophy Courses in India

Philosophy is the critical study of general problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, law, justice, validity, mind, and language. Philosophy is different from other ways of addressing these questions (such as mysticism or mythology) by its critical and systematic approach and its reliance on reasoned argument. A person who studies / specialises in Philosophy is known as Philosopher.

Studying philosophy can deepen the understanding of many central contemporary issues. Some philosophy subjects combine well with the study of history, literature, politics, sociology and law. Others enrich the study of psychology and other sciences, giving students skills in dealing with methodological issues and critically questioning the concepts, assumptions and structures of argument used in the disciplines.

Some of its specialized fields are -

1. Metaphysics - It investigates the nature of being and the world. Traditional branches are cosmology and ontology.

2. Epistemology - It is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible. 

3. Ethics - Also known as Moral philosophy is concerned with questions of how persons ought to act or if such questions are answerable. The main branches of ethics are meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. Ethics is also associated with the idea of morality. 

4. Political Philosophy - It is the study of government and the relationship of individuals and communities to the state. It includes questions about justice, the good, law, property, and the rights and obligations of the citizen.

5. Aesthetics - It deals with beauty, art, enjoyment, sensory-emotional values, perception, and matters of taste and sentiment.

6. Logic - It deals with patterns of thinking that lead from true premises to true conclusions, originally developed in Ancient Greece. The subject of logic has two broad divisions: mathematical logic (formal symbolic logic) and what is now called philosophical logic.

7. Philosophy of Mind - It deals with the nature of the mind and its relationship to the body, and is represented by disputes between dualism and materialism. 

8. Philosophy of Language - It is the reasoned inquiry into the nature, origins, and usage of language

Content

The study of this field includes all or few of these –

• Moral Philosophy
• Problems of Philosophy
• Philosophy of Religion
• Theory of Knowledge and Reality
• Logic and Language
• Ethics
• Religion
• Philosophy of Mind

Objectives 

1.  Philosophy encourages habits of clear, flexible and imaginative thought in both writing and discussion

2.  It is a useful complement to other subjects

3.  Philosophical skills helps in Clear and Critical Thinking 

4.  To give Practical Assistance in organising thoughts and presenting them clearly and persuasively

Basic Requirement

Any candidate who has passed 10 + 2 from any recognised board

Job Perspectives

Philosophy candidates develop many functional skills which are transferable from one career/job to another and provide flexibility and capacity for growth that are valuable for employers. These skills include analytical, organizational, research, and oral and written communication. Other skills include generating ideas, formulation and problem solving, integrating diverse data, constructing useful analogies, adapting to change, eliciting hidden assumptions, persuading people and summarizing complicated material. 

Some Employment Areas -

• Law
• Teaching
• Diplomacy
• Public service
• Publishing
• Journalism
• Ministry
• Research
• Insurance
• Student Affairs

Some Job Types -

• Lobbyist
• Diplomat
• Consultant
• Ethics Advisor
• Critic
• Archivist
• Professor
• Clergy Person
• Survey Interviewer
• Human Resources Specialist