Course Offered: B.A. (Honours) Philosophy
The Department of Philosophy is a symposium of knowledge and a space for sharing ideas and challenging them simultaneously. We have a diverse faculty with specialists in Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Logic, Western Philosophy, Philosophy of Consciousness, Aesthetics, Indian Philosophy, Buddhist Philosophy, Phenomenology, Greek Philosophy, Existentialism, and Moral Philosophy.
The curriculum is theoretical and research-intensive, with lively discussion as a regular factor of classroom learning. Assessments conducted involve the process of dissecting the arguments and information presented by the prescribed readings that are thoroughly taken up inside the classroom, researching new knowledge and perspective on the given topic, and finally learning and navigating academic writing and argument building. The aim of the papers that students take up in the three years of this degree, is to investigate philosophical foundations of ideas, concepts as well as commonly conceived understanding of academic themes that lead to students’ perspectives being transformed and their critical thinking and reflection skills getting enhanced.
The papers in the first year are offered as per the NEP curriculum. These include core papers namely Logic, Introduction to Philosophy, and Indian Philosophy. In addition to these, we also offer Generic Electives and Value Added Course papers namely Ethics in the Public Domain and Ethics and Culture.
The Department has a robust Student Union and other clubs which work and implement speaker sessions, interactive activities, and engaging events for the students all year around. Aletheia, the department’s annual academic meet is conducted with great zeal, where renowned experts and professors provide us with their precious time to impart unique ideas along with the celebration of World Philosophy Day where the spirit of the discipline is upheld. We have a Books and Documentary Club (BDC) that conducts regular reading circle sessions along with movie screenings and book exchanges to artistically and intellectually engage students. Additionally, we have a student-run annual academic journal, called Noesis, which consists of a board of student editors that compile and publish quality research papers yearly.
Philosophy is the mother of all subjects therefore a proficient understanding of the discipline leads to students being prepared to take up any and all academic and career prospects. Our students pursue careers in academia, research, law, marketing, journalism, publishing, public policy analysis, education, and teaching. Often our graduates either go on to pursue master’s degrees in various humanities and business disciplines or get placed in their desired companies as working professionals.
Sessions and Talks
The Department of Philosophy, in association with IQAC-LSR, organized a series of three lectures by eminent scholars of international repute: Dr. Emily Thomas from Durham University spoke on ‘Victorian Women Travelers, Unfeminine Women, and Mary Wollstonecraft’ on the 4th of November 2022, and Prof. Vrinda Dalmiya from the University of Hawaii spoke on ‘Caring to Know: Comparative Care Ethics, Feminist Epistemology, and the Mahābhārata’ on the 19th of November 2022. Both these lectures were hosted online through Zoom. On the 26th of April 2023, the Department hosted a lecture by Prof. Alex Watson from Ashoka University on ‘The Self/No-Self Debate in Classical Indian Philosophy: Three New Arguments from Ramakaṇṭha’, this time at college in the New Conference Hall. In addition to these collaborated events, the Department also, organised a talk on ‘Wittgenstein and the Nature of Violence’ by Dr. Krishnaswamy Ramakrishnan from O.P. Jindal Global University on the 16th of March 2023. The Books and Documentary Club of the Department convened two sessions in preparation for an interaction with Dr. Thomas and Prof. Dalmiya, discussing The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad by the former on the 17th October 2022, and reading Prof. Dalmiya’s work on 10th November 2022. The club also organised a session on the 2nd February 2023 to discuss ‘Morality and Impartiality’ in the context of John Kekes’ writings.
Annual Academic Meet
The annual academic meet, Aletheia, of the Department of Philosophy was organised on the 13th of April 2023. The keynote address for the day was delivered by Dr. Bhaskajit Neog from the Centre for Philosophy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, on Individual Responsibility and Climate Change’. The day also saw a conversation with Hasselblad awardee for the year 2022, ace photographer, Ms. Dayannita Singh on her latest book Let’s See, and a discussion led by art consultant and author Dr. Alka Pande on art and the freedom of expression. The editorial team at Noesis, the Academic Journal of the Department of Philosophy, organized a paper presentation competition on themes that foregrounded ‘the art of navigating and attaining freedom through knowledge’. The Books and Documentary Club organized a screening of the Oscar winning short film, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, followed by a competitive discussion on the film with prizes for the best speakers.
Association Highlights
The Association organised a virtual Alumni Workshop Series: Prospective Careers after Graduation on the 19th and 20th August 2022, intended to make students aware of the prospective industries and job roles possible after graduating with a degree in Philosophy to enable currently enrolled students make more informed decisions. This panel consisted of alums who have established themselves professionally and academically in various domains: Ananya Gaba (Senior Research Specialist-Gartner), Neha Kapoor (Business Analyst- Bain & Co.), Srijoni Hore (Associate Content Director – Xclymation), Saloni Kumar (Business Associate – Healthcare and Sciences), Mythili Mishra (Student – LSE), Riya Mohan (Student -UCL) and Urvashi Dinkar (Student – The Graduate Institute, Geneva). On the 8th September 2022 members of the Quiz Society and heads of the Books and Documentary Club of the Philosophy department conducted a quiz with questions centred around literary works and quotes from famous authors to commemorate the International Literacy Day. The Department also organized a screening of the ‘Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind’, to celebrate National Cinema Day on the 15th September 2022. On the 17th November 2022 the celebrated World Philosophy Day with the theme being Humans of Future. The events included an amateur stand-up forum called Philosophy Slander, games and a quiz competition.
| Name and Qualification of the Visitor | Title of the Event | Date |
Dr. Emily Thomas Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Durham University | Online lecture: Victorian Women Travelers, Unfeminine Women, and Mary Wollstonecraft’ | 4/11/22 |
Prof. Vrinda Dalmiya, Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Hawaii | Online lecture: ‘Caring to Know: Comparative Care Ethics, Feminist Epistemology, and the Mahābhārata’ | 19/11/22 |
Dr. Krishnaswamy Ramakrishnan, Associate Professor and Co-director, Centre for Social and Political Research, O.P. Jindal Global University | Lecture: ‘Wittgenstein and the Nature of Violence’ | 16/03/23 |
Dr. Bhaskarjit Neog, Associate Professor, Centre for Philosophy, JNU | Keynote Address (Aletheia): Individual Responsibility and Climate Change | 13/04/23 |
Ms. Dayannita Singh, Photographer | Conversation on Let’s See | 13/04/23 |
Dr. Alka Pande, Curator, Art historian and Art Consultant | Discussion on Art and the freedom of expression | 13/04/23 |
Prof. Alex Watson, Professor of Indian Philosophy, Ashoka University | Lecture: ‘The Self/No-Self Debate in Classical Indian Philosophy: Three New Arguments from Ramakaṇṭha’ | 26/04/23 |
| Name | Areas of interest |
| Dr. Jitendra Ram Associate Professor jitendraramlsr@gmail.com | Philosophy of Consciousness Publications and other works click here |
| Dr. Lipi Saxena Associate Professor (Teacher-in-charge) lipisaxena@lsr.du.ac.in | Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Logic Publications and other works click here |
| Ms. Rashmi Jayarajan Assistant Professor rashmijayarajan@lsr.du.ac.in | History of Western Philosophy, Aesthetics |
| Dr. Shruti Kapur Assistant Professor shrutikapur@lsr.du.ac.in | Indian Philosophy, Buddhist Theory of Consciousness, Phenomenology Publications and other works click here |
| Ms. Lizashree Hazarika Assistant Professor lizashreehazarika@lsr.du.ac.in | Applied Ethics, Greek Philosophy, Existentialism, Moral Philosophy Publications and other works click here |
| Dr. Shriddha Shah Assistant Professor shriddhashah@lsr.du.ac.in | Social and Political Philosophy, Epistemology, Metaphysics and their interrelations |
| Mr. Awadhesh Patel Assistant Professor awadheshpatel@lsr.du.ac.in | Indian Philosophy, Western Philosophy, Ethics, Applied ethics, Indian & Western Epistemology and Metaphysics. Indian Religion and Social Political Philosophy |
President – Minakshi Gupta
Secretary – Kanishka Kunwar
Treasurer – Chandani Kumari
