Courses in this section: Applied Philosophy, Introductory Philosophy, Professional Ethics

Applied Philosophy

Applied Philosophy presents a progressive study of philosophies across ages. The pre-midsem portion deals with the evolution of philosophy, beginning from Greek philosophers like Plato and Socrates, up to the Renaissance and Reformation-era contemporaries (Kant, Kierkegaard, Sartre, etc). This equips a student with technically sound tools to understand and potentially answer ethical questions encountered in real-world situations. The post-midsem content involves case studies, wherein the previously learnt concepts are made clear through examples.

Performing well in the course relies on the student’s ability to retain information from in-class discussions that extend to varying depths. Hence, being regular in classes is recommended. Dr Kumar values class participation which generally reflects in the final grades as a resort to a subjective constraint on the subject matter. The grading system ensures ten per cent of the batch gets an A, with the average score usually receiving a B-.

Introductory Philosophy

Introductory Philosophy is a very neatly organised and segmented collection of some major Western and Indian philosophical theories, and how their lines of thinking may be interpreted in everyday context. The first few modules introduce the nature of philosophy and its various divisions. The course then proceeds to study ancient Greek philosophers, eventually introducing several philosophers from post-medieval Europe and their modes of thinking within the first half of the course. The second part of the course deals with Indian philosophical systems, primarily the Vedic schools of thought. It also covers Buddhism and Jainism in the final module.

Apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations, evaluative components include two quizzes and one small assignment. These are all easy to do well in, given sufficient studying. Attending classes is beneficial due to the discussions that are had. These usually revolve around the points listed in the slides, which are brief and tricky to understand without the in-class context. Studying on one’s own is highly recommended—from internet sources or books. Grading is standard, with a B- on average, few A minuses, and several As.

Professional Ethics

The course provides one with an acquaintance with various codes and frameworks of ethics, along with their real-life applications in areas such as general professions, business, management, education, engineering, and technology. It also discusses case studies concerning job dismissals, discrimination, whistle-blowing, marketing, and occupational health.

A fairly popular course, it is usually available until PR numbers near 500. Slides are considered enough to get through the course, although rote learning and writing skills are needed to score well. With only two assignments of fifteen marks each, the 100 mark-course is relatively less demanding. However, above-average attendance is required if one is aiming to earn a good grade in the course. The B grade starts to be awarded at around av+8, and an A is given roughly to the top fifteen per cent.