Bachelor of Philosophy

Duration

The course leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Philosophy extends over three years. Each year is divided into two semesters.

Eligibility for Admission

Applicants should hold a pre-degree/plus two or a degree certificate and have an adequate knowledge of the ancient and modern languages (judged necessary by the Syndicate for admission to the course).

Programme of Study

The programme comprises Lecture Courses, Seminars, and Philosophical Project. Courses are offered on three categories of subjects: Obligatory Basic Subjects, Supplementary Obligatory Subjects, and Optional Additional Subjects. The degree of bachelor of philosophy is conferred on those who successfully complete the three-year programme given below. Students who have undergone formation in minor seminaries in Kerala and are in possession of civil degrees may be exempted from taking some of the Supplementary Obligatory Subjects and Optional Additional Subjects after passing a proficiency examination administered by the Faculty. Students who want to take the proficiency examination have to allow the PIA Procedure for Course-exemption at the beginning of the academic year.

Part I : Basic Obligatory Subjects Code Course Credit PB 01 Introduction to Philosophy and A Treatise on Nexus between Faith and Reason 2
PB 02 Formal Logic 5
PB 03 History of Greek Philosophy 4
PB 04 History of Western Medieval Philosophy 5
PB 05 History of Western Modern Philosophy 5
PB 06 History of Western Contemporary Philosophy 5
PB 07 Cosmology 5
PB 08 Political Philosophy 2
PB 09 Introduction to Indian Philosophy 2
PB 10 Darshanas I (Classical Indian Systems of Thought I) 3
PB 11 Darshanas II (Classical Indian Systems of Thought II) 3
PB 12 Vedanta Darshana (Classical Indian Systems of Thought III) (E) 2
PB 13 Philosophical Methods (E) 2
PB 14 Philosophical Hermeneutics (E) 2
PB 15 Gandhian Thought (E) 2
PB 16 Seminar 5
PB 17 Metaphysics 6
PB 18 Epistemology 6
PB 19 Theodicy 6
PB 20 Philosophical Anthropology 6
PB 21 Ethics 6
PB 22 Postmodern Philosophy 2
PB 23 Philosophy of Religion 2
PB 24 Modern & Contemporary Indian Philosophy 2
PB 25 Reading of Western Philosophical Texts 2
PB 26 Christian Philosophy 2
PB 27 Philosophy of Mind (E) 2
PB 28 Philosophy of Art (E) 2
PB 29 Thomistic Metaphysics (E) 2
PB 30 Existentialist Anthropology (E) 2
PB 31 Themes in Nichomachean Ethics (E) 2
PB 103 Comprehensive Oral Exam 8
PB 102 Comprehensive Written Exam 5
PB 101 Philosophical Project 8

Part II: Supplementary Obligatory Subjects

PS 50 Textual study of Fides et Ratio and Lumen Fidei 2
PS 51 English as Modern Language 4
PS 52 Latin 4
PS 53 Sanskrit 2
PS 54 Research Methodology 2
PS 55 Book Review 2

Part III: Optional Additional Subjects

PO 60 Malayalam I 2
PO 61 History of English Literature 2
PO 62 Methodology of Study 2
PO 63 Religion & Spirituality 4
PO 64 Introduction to the Bible 2
PO 65 Spiritual Theology 3
PO 66 Personality: Theories & Assessment 2
PO 67 Social Communication 2
PO 68 Symbolic Logic 2
PO 69 Critical Understanding of Social Communication & Media 2
PO 70 Human & Natural Sciences 10
PO 71 Syriac ( E ) 2
PO 72 Regional Language, Culture & Literature I ( E ) 2
PO 73 Cult, Culture & Anthropology ( E ) 2
PO 74 Philosophy of Science & Technology 2
PO 75 Malayalam II 2
PO 76 Sociological Theories & Concepts ( E ) 3
PO 77 Communicative English ( E ) 4
PO 78 Biblical Literature & Faith Perspectives ( E ) 2
PO 79 General Psychology ( E ) 2
PO 80 Regional Language, Culture & Literature II ( E ) 2
PO 81 Spiritual Dimension of Man in Yogic Systems ( E ) 2
PO 82 Indian Spirituality ( E ) 2
PO 83 Spiritual Anthropology 2
PO 84 Bible-Historical Books ( E ) 2
PO 85 Spirituality of Prayer & Priesthood (E ) 2
PO 86 Problems of Philosophy ( E ) 2
PO 87 Social Analysis and Social Action Ministry ( E ) 1
PO 88 Analytical Philosophy ( E ) 2
PO 89 Literary Philosophy ( E ) 2
PO 90 Literary Theodicy ( E ) 2
PO 91 Anthropological Reading of Literature ( E ) 2
PO 92 Modern Languages: Italian/German ( E ) 2
PO 93 Extension Lectures ( E ) 2
PO 94 Eco-philosophy 2
PO 95 Science & Religion ( E ) 1

Keys: P = Philosophy; B = Basic Obligatory Subject; S = Supplementary Obligatory Subject; O = Optional Additional Subject; Numerical Digits refer to the serial number of the course; E = Elective.

I YEAR PHILOSOPHY – I SEMESTER

Code Course Credit Instructor

PO 62 Methodology of Study 2 Chanikuzhiy J. & Kathirparambil K.
PO 63 Religion and Spirituality 4 Olippurath J. & Valungal A.
PB 01 Intro. to (Western) Phil. 2 Kakkattuthadathil T. & Sujan A.
PO 70 Human / Natural Sciences 10 Resident Teachers of PIA
PS 52 Latin I 2 Periapuram T. & Rajadas G.
PB 02 Formal Logic 5 Komban P. & Sujan A.
PO 71 Syriac 2 Nellickakandathil J.
PO 60 Malayalam I 2 Periapuram T. & Perincheril P.
PO 61 History of English Lit. 2 Kumbukkal S. & Etturuthil J.
PO 67 Social Communication 2 Mundadan K.
PB 03 History of Greek Philosophy 4 Mukkamkuzhiyil K. & Kathirparambil K.

I YEAR PHILOSOPHY – II SEMESTER

Code Course Credit Instructor

PO 64 Introduction to the Bible 2 Achandy J. & Chacko P.
PO 65 Spiritual Theology 3 Oliyappurath J. & Gregory R.B.
PO 68 Symbolic Logic 2 Palamootil S.& Sujan A.
PO 66 Developmental Psychology2 Madan P. & Ambrose P.
PO 72 Reg. Lang., Culture I 2 Periapuram T.
PO 81 Man in Yogic Systems 2 Kallungal M.
PO 73 Cult., Culture & Anthrop. 2 Nellickakandathil J.
PO 71 Syriac 2 Nellickakandathil J.

II YEAR PHILOSOPHY – I SEMESTER

Code Course Credit Instructor

PO 75 Malayalam II 2 Perincheril P.
PS 51 English - Mod. Language 4 Vattamala T.
PS 52 Latin II 2 Periapuram T. & Rajadas G.
PS 53 Sanskrit 2 Arakkal F. & Kurukkoor G.
PB 09 Intro. to Indian Phil. 2 Kallungal M. & Komban P.
PB 10 Darshanas I 3 Komban S. & Alumkal S.
PS 50 Faith & Reason 2 Nalpathilchira J. & Sujan A.
PO 78 Biblical Literature 2 Mathirappilly S.
PO 80 Reg. Lang. Cult. & Lit. II 2 Periapuram T.
PS 54 Research Methodology 2 Chanikuzhy J. & Charles L.

II YEAR PHILOSOPHY – II SEMESTER

Code Course Credit Instructor

PB 04 Medieval (Western) Phil. 5 Mukkamkuziyil K. & Justin OFMC
PB 05 Modern (Western) Phil. 5 Palamoottil S. & Sujan A.
PB 11 Darshanas II 3 Komban P. & Alumkal S PB 08 Political Philosophy 2 Kakkattuthadathil T. & Sujan A.
PB 07 Cosmology 5 Kakkattuthadathil T.
PO 76 Sociology 3 Charles L.
PB 31 Nichomachean Ethics 2 Mukkamkuziyil K.
PO 77 Communicative English 4 Vattamala T.
PO 79 General Psychology 2 Moolayil A. & Variath V.
PO 83 Spiritual Anthropology 2 Oliapurath J. & Etturuthil J.
PB 14 Philosophical Hermen. 2 Kallungal M.
PB 16 Seminar 5 Resident Teachers of PIA

III YEAR PHILOSOPHY – I SEMESTER

Code Course Credit Instructor

PB 18 Epistemology 6 Kallungal M. & Sujan A.
PB 20 Phil. Anthropology 6 Kathirparambil K. & Palamoottil S.
PB 21 Ethics 6 Kakkattuthadathil T.
PB 06 Contemp. (Western) Phil. 5 Correya B. & Mariadas J.
PB 15 Gandhian Thought 2 Biju CST
PO 69 Soc. Comm. & Media 2 Mundadan K.
PO 89 Phil. of Literature 2 Thelakkat P.
PO 95 Science & Religion 1 Pamplany A.
PB 27 Philosophy of Mind 2 Sujan A. & Palamoottil S.
PO 94 Eco-Philosophy 2 Manuel R.
PB 30 Exist. Anthropology 2 Kallungal M.
PB 23 Philosophy of Religion 2 Gregory R. B. & Mukkamkuzhiyil K.
PB 101 Philosophical Project 8 Resident Teachers of PIA

III YEAR PHILOSOPHY – II SEMESTER

Code Course Credit Instructor

PB 17 Metaphysics 6 Sujan A. & Palamoottil S.
PB 19 Theodicy 6 Kalariparambil T. & Prasad OCD
PB 22 Postmodern Philosophy 2 Kundukulam V. & Alphonse
PB 24 Modern & Cont. Ind. Ph 2 Komban P. & Correya B.
PB 28 Philosophy of Art 2 Komban P. & Kathirparambil K.
PB 25 Read. (West.) Phil.Texts 2 Purathayil J., Kathirparambil K., Komban S., Mukkamkuzhiyil K & Correya B. PB 26 Christian Philosophy 2 Palamoottil S.
PB 12 Vedanta Darsana 2 Kallungal M.
PO 74 Phil. of Science and Tech. 2 Pamplany A., Edwin X. & Kakkattuthadathil T.
PO 84 Bible Historical Books 2 Mathirappilly S.
PO 86 Problems of Philosophy 2 Kochupurackal S.
PO 88 Analytical Philosophy 2 Kalariparambil T.
PO 92 Italian/German 2 Nalpathilchira J. & Achandy J.
PS 55 Book Review 2 Mukkamkuziyil K. & Sujan A.

To be eligible for the B.Ph. degree course, the students should obtain 60% marks in the aggregate for subjects other than languages of the first and the second year of the philosophy course. A written dissertation on a philosophical theme directed by one of the teachers of the Faculty should be submitted by the students during the final year of the course. At the end of the Bachelor’s course in Philosophy, there will be comprehensive examinations, both written and oral, in the subjects of Systematic Philosophy. The oral examination is conducted by a panel of examiners. The students must obtain 50% marks for a pass in the comprehensive examinations, both written and oral.

Dissertation for the Degree of Bachelor of Philosophy

As per the Statutes of the Pontifical Institute, the candidates for B.Ph. are required to submit a dissertation directed by one of the teachers of the Institute (cf. Art.64.2). In order to fulfill this condition for the conferral of the degree, the final year B.Ph. students are expected to write a scientific paper. Students have two options in this regard:

Option 1: Classical Work Study Paper

- The Faculty of Philosophy will publish a list of books written by Western and Indian philosophers. A student is free to choose one of these books for detailed study under the guidence of a director.
- The student makes both an in-depth reflective study of the whole book or a certain portion of the book as indicated by one’s director, and a critical analysis of the text in the context of current social situation. The length of the dissertation should be minimum 30 printed pages/50 handwritten pages and maximum 35 printed pages/65 handwritten pages.
- The dissertation should have four parts: i) An introductory part, ii) statement of theme of the book under study, iii) contextualized critical evaluation of the work, and iv) bibliography of the works cited.
- In the introductory chapter/part one needs to give i) a scheme of one’s paper by way of stating why one has chosen the work one is studying, and how one is going to proceed in the actual process of writing, ii) a biographical sketch of the author of the classical work chosen for study, and, iii) the original context in which the work under study is written, in about 5 printed pages/ 10 handwritten pages (maximum 7 printed pages / 15 handwritten pages) only.
- In the second chapter/part, one need to succinctly point out the main points/ theories/concepts in the classical work as a whole (or in selected portion of the work) in about 15 printed pages/ 25 handwritten pages (maximum 17 printed pages/ 30 handwritten pages) only.
- In the third chapter/part, basing oneself on the whole book, or of the selected portion, as the case may be, the student has to philosophize in the light of the below-mentioned questions in about 10 printed pages/ 15 handwritten pages (maximum 12 printed pages/ 20 handwritten pages) only. In it, the student simply asks himself/herself the following questions and tries to answer them elaborately and critically: Does this text remind me of any past experience of mine? How do I critcally analyze the text in the present social condition? How can this text be related to formation of my values? Can I take any decisions for the future based on the text?

Option 2: Theme Paper - The director, chosen by the student, provides a list of themes from the thought of Ancient-Medieval-Modern-Contemporary philosophers.
- The student chooses one theme from the list, which he/she elaborates with one’s own critique of the same in reference to the present social context in 30-35 printed pages/50-65 handwritten pages.
- The dissertation should have four parts: i) An introductory part in which the scheme, a brief introduction to the theme of the paper, and a brief biographical sketch of the main authors consulted, all in about 5-7 printed pages/10-15 handwritten pages, is given.
ii) The second part makes a brief exposition of the theme in about 12-15 printed pages/ 25-35 handwritten pages, and iii) In the third part, a critical-creative synthesis of the theme in the present social/literary context is made in about 10-12 printed pages/15-20 handwritten pages. iv) Bibliography of the works cited. Submission of the Work

The student submits, with the approval of the director, a proposal of the dissertation, which includes scheme with a brief introduction of the theme chosen in case of the ‘Theme Paper’, or a brief exposition of what is expected in the introductory part in case of ‘Classical work study paper’, and the name of the director, to the PIA Faculty by June 30th. The student has to specify in his propsal, whether he is persuing ‘Classical work study’ or ‘Theme paper’.
The student is expected to submit the first part to his/her director by the end of July.
The Student submits his unbound second part to his/her director, by 31st August.
The final unbound work which includes first, second and third parts, introduction and bibliography, with the approval of the director, is submitted to the PIA faculty, by 30th November. The text corrected by the director is returned to the students by 10th December for necessary changes, if any. The Student submits three copies of his/her final bound work by 20th January. The scientific methodology is to be strictly followed in writing the paper. While laying out the pages the following must be strictly followed: Margins- Standard; Font – Times New Roman; Font size – 12 for the main text, 11 for block quotations, and 10 for footnotes; Line Spacing - 1.5.

Evaluation and Grading
There will be a second reader for the scientific paper and an oral examination on the scientific paper.
In the oral examination held for 10 to 15 minutes on an assigned day latest by 10th February, the student defends publically the content and methodology of his/her paper before the director and the second reader.
The proportion of awarding marks will be as follows: Director gives 60% of marks and the second reader gives 20%, and the remaining 20%, given by the director and the second reader, is for the performance in the oral examination. While the director and the second reader assess the dissertation, 40% marks is given for the scientific methodology and 60% for the content.