All the intellectual disciplines
originated from the hazy web of investigations not as clearly defined as they
are today. The general name for those
who pondered the depth of ideas, issues, relationships, and reality is "wise”
man or woman (or person). At that time,
to be wise means to have a kind of attribute only found among a coterie of
reflective few, and they were consulted for various things, as guides about
life and choices about existence, health matters, filial relations, as
predictors of the future, as judges in conflict related matters that befuddle
ordinary folk, as custodians of the esoteric ideas of their civilizations in
various codified manners, as the repository of recondite knowledge too arcane
for the common person and as guides to things beyond the terrestrial realm. Those who were able to devote their time and
effort to such pursuits were then regarded as lovers of wisdom. History is replete with examples of such
persons in all civilizations. Some of
such persons gathered around them followers, some wrote their ideas in whatever
form was available at the time, some sculpted, painted, drew, or sang these
ideas. They were respected and valued
for their contributions to their contemporary and subsequent generations.
This course introduces students with
no prior knowledge of philosophy to some of the perennial issues which the
search for wisdom has enabled in the form of that is now called philosophy,
which arise out of the search for meaning, knowledge of and about the self,
being, existence, truth and meaning in life; good and evil; appearance and
reality; the rational grounds for belief in anything and especially in God; scepticism and knowledge; and social justice. We
introduce students to the art of thinking, as well as thinking about thinking
in that special, unfettered and free way, allowing them to explore issues
carefully and without inhibitions of any kind. In this regard, we begin with an
attempt to examine those basic issues of human existence such as conceptions of
origins of life and existence, human nature, meaning of life, freedom, death
and afterlife.
The course emphasizes
critical reflective thinking and the value of understanding of issues,
appreciation of problems and resolution of difficulties through the use of
reasoning and reasoned argumentation as special human capacities for the
evolution and development of civilizations; it does not privilege any school of
philosophy or approach to philosophizing.UNESCO sees Philosophy as "a School of Freedom”, aimed at liberating the
mind from the shackles of dogmatism and authoritarianism, and by so doing
promoting rational resolution of issues and embrace of peaceful co-existence of
all sentient beings - even while recognizing the inevitability of the cycles of
existence and interdependence of living organisms.We encourage each person to have ownership of
the thoughts he/she originates, and allow for others an entitlement to their
thoughts without any hindrance - even if ideas conflict and interests differ.Even more significant, as undergraduates, you
will come across many ideas which require serious reflection.