S. Y. B.

A
PHILOSOPHY (GENERAL)
Introduction to Applied Ethics (Alternative Course)
[Objectives : To acquaint students with the major issues and perspectives concerning Environmental
ethics, Medical Ethics, Business ethics, Media ethics and Social ethics.]

The approximate duration of teaching of each credit : 12 lectures

Term I

Unit 1: Applied Ethics and Environmental Ethics

A) Applied Ethics
1.1: Nature and significance of Applied ethics

B) Environmental Ethics
1.2- Nature and scope of Environmental ethics
1.3- Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism, Ecocentrism
1.4- Land Ethics of Aldo Leopold
1.5- Notion of Sustainable Development

Unit 2: Ethical issues concerning Animals

2.1- Debate about Animal rights

2.2- Vegetarianism
2.3- Experimentation of Animals

Unit 3: Medical Ethics

3.1- Nature of Medical ethics

3.2- Hippocratic Oath and its relevance
3.3- Doctor-Patient relationship, Paternalistic approach, Patients’ rights
3.4- Principles of Medical Ethics: Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficience and Justice

Unit 4: Ethical issues concerning right to life

4.1- Abortion
4.2- Euthanasia
4.3- Capital Punishment
4.4- Suicide
 Term II

Unit 5: Ethical issues concerning friendship

5.1- Classical: Aristotle and Kant

5.2- Contemporary: Ringer, Kahlil Gibran
5.3- Some issues: Value of friendship, Friendship and Duty

Unit 6: Ethical issues concerning sexual morality and family

6.1- Prostitution, Homosexuality and Casual Sex: Conservative and Liberal views
6.2- Marriage and Family: Traditional view, Marxist and Feminist View

Unit 7: Corporate Ethics

7.1- Nature of Corporate ethics as a sub branch of Business ethics, Corporation as a moral
agent
7.2- Corporate Social Responsibility: Narrow and Broad view
7.3- Ethical issues concerning Employers and Employees: Abusing one’s own official position,
Whistle Blowing

Unit 8: Media Ethics

8.1- Nature of Media ethics, Nature and role of media in Democracy

8.2- Ethical issues concerning media: Freedom, Objectivity, honesty and Privacy
8.3- Nature and role of Social Media as the fifth estate
8.4- Media and Sex; Media and Violence

Books for Study

1. P. Singer (Ed) – Applied Ethics – Oxford University Press, 1988.

2. P. Singer : Practical Ethics – Cambridge University Press, 1999.
3. Dr. S. K. Chahal : Environment and The Moral Life, Ashish Publication House, New Delhi,
1994.
4. S. Luper and C. Brown (Ed) : The Moral Life (2nd Ed) – Trinity University, Harcourt Brace
College Publishers, 1999.
 G-2 (Alternative Course)

Philosophy of Indian Saints

[Objective : To acquaint the student with the metaphysical, Soteriological and social approaches of selected
saints]

The approximate duration of teaching of each unit is12 lectures

Part I
Unit I : Background

1) The conception of a saint.

2) Nature and role of Bhakti Movement in the medieval India.
3) Saints as Socio- cultural reformers.

Unit II BasaveÐvara

1) BasaveÐvara’s views on Bhakti (the relation between devotee and God, the path of Satsang).
2) Guru, Linga and Jangama.
3) Approach to Pravªtti — Nivªitti.
4) Approach to social reforms (views on caste, equality of men and women, criticism of ritualism)

Unit III Kabir

1) Impact of VaiÐnavism and Sufism

2) Nature of Ultimate Reality (SÁhab, Brahma, RÁma)
3) NirguÆa Bhakti and Sahaja Yoga.
4) Criticism of orthodoxy, ritualism and social customs of Hindus and Muslims, Equality of religions,
Equality among human beings.

Unit IV Guru Nanak

1) The concepts of Supreme Being (Niramkara, Omkara, AkÁla) and Divine Ordinance (Hukum)
2) The concepts of Raja and Bhai ( Will and Fear); Bhakti and Sahaja.
3) Guru Nanak’s attitude towards Hinduism and Islam.
4) Ethical and social aspects of his thought.

Part II:
Unit V JñÁneÐvara

1) Impact of Shaivism, VedÁnta and NÁth cult

2) Concept of God, significance of Vishvatmaka Deva.
3) ChidvilÁsavÁda
4) Concept of Bhakti: AvyabhichÁri Bhakti, Para Bhakti
Unit VI Tukaram
1) Conception of God
2) Conception of true Dharma and Criticism of heresies (PÁkhanda).
3) Concepts of Bhakti and Mukti
4) Criticism of social inequalities

Unit VII BahenÁbai

1) Non-dualism and explanation of MÁyÁ
2) The status and the conception of Vedic authority
3) Concept of a true Brahman as described in the light of Vajrasuci-UpaniÒad
4) JñÁana, Bhakti, Karma (b) ‘Loyalty to one’s husband’ (PÁtivratya) in conventional and spiritual sense

Unit VIII Ramadasa

1) Monotheism, Concepts of Brahma and MÁyÁ.
2) Synthesis of Prapanca and ParamÁrtha.
3) Views on Viveka and ÏahÁÆapaÆa.
4) Socio-Political Though (PrayatnavÁda, Dharma, MahÁrÁÒtradharma, RajakÁraÆa, VarÆa and Caste).

Book for Reading : (Relevant Sections only)

1) G.S.Talib : Guru Nanak, His Personality and Vision, Guru Das Kapur and Sons (P) Ltd., Chwori-Bazar,
Delhi-6 (1969).
2) H. Thipperudraswami L, Basaweshwar, Makers of Indian Literature Series Academy, New Delhi (1975).
3) Dr. Govind Trigunayat : Kabir Ki Vichardhara Sahayat Niketan, Shradhanand park, Kanpur.
4) R.C.Dhere (Ed.) : Dnyanadeva Ani Dnyanadevi, Shrividya Prakashan, Pune 30 (1990)
5) Dr. Ashok Kamat : BhaktiBharati, Shivparvati Pratishthan, Nasik.
6) R. D. Ranade: Paramarthasopana
7) Dr. S.G.Tulpule : Pach Santakavi, Suvichar Prakashan Mandal, Pune (1984).
8) G.B.Sardar : Santavangmayachi Samajik Phalashruti, Shreevidya Prakashan, Pune 30 (1982)
9) Javadekar, Shalinitai, (Ed.) Bahenabaincha Gatha, Continental Prakashan, Pune, 1979
10) Prabhakar Pujari : Samarthyayogi Ramdas, Continental Prakashan, Pune (1977)
11) V.R. Bokil — Ramdasa.
 Philosophy Special - II
Introduction to Indian Philosophy

[Objective: To acquaint students with the major philosophical tenets of Vedic tradition and the nine
systems of classical Indian philosophy]
The approximate duration of teaching of each credit : 12 lectures

Unit 1 : Development of Indian philosophical thought

1.1 Historical development of Indian philosophical thought — Vedas, BrÁhmaÆas, ÀraÆyakas,
UpniÒadas
1.2 Classifications of Indian systems
1.3 General features of Indian philosophy

Unit II : NyÁya-VaiÐeÒika
2.1 Definition, nature and classification of PadÁrthas
2.2 Definition, nature and classification of PramÁÆas
2.3 AnyathÁkhyÁti
2.4 Theory of causation — AsatkÁryavÁda- ÀrambhavÁda
2.5 Nature of God, proofs for existence of God

Unit III : CÁrvaka

3.1 LokÁyata tradition, Theory of pramÁÆas
3.2 Bhuta-CaitnyavÁda and DehÁtmavÁda
3.3 SvabhÁ vavÁda
3.4 Theory of PuruÒÁrtha
3. 5 Criticiam of Vedas and Vedic ritualism

Unit IV Jainism
4.1 Founders of Jainism, Jaina sects
4.2 Knowledge and its kinds
4.3 AnekÁntavÁda, SyÁdavÁda
4.4 Nature and kinds of drvyas (Jiva, Pudgal, Dharma, Adharma, AkÁÐa, KÁla)
4.5 AÆuvratas and MahÁvratas
4.6 Theory of bondage and liberation
Unit V Buddhism
5.1 Founder of Buddhism, HinayÁna, MahÁyÁna
5.2 Four noble truths
5.3 DvÁdasanidÁna, Àrya AsangamÁrga
5.4 AvyÁkrta prasna, AnityatÁ, AnÁtmatÁ
5.5 PritityasamutpÁda
5.6 NirvÁÆa

Unit VI Sa¿kya-Yoga
6.1 Sa¿kya — Prakªti-puruÒa, their nature and interration, Trigunas
6.2 Creation and destruction of universe, SatkaryavÁda — parinÁmavÁda
6.3 Bondage and liberation
6.4 Yoga- relation between Sa¿kya and Yoga, Citta, cittavrtti, cittavrtinirodha, cittabhumi
6.5 AsatÁngayoga, Kriyayoga
6.6 Nature of IÐvara

Unit VII PurvamÍ¿ÁmsÁ

7.1 PurvamÍmÁmsÁ — Social and philosophical role of PurvamÍmÁmsÁ
7.2 ApauruÒeyattva of Vedas,
7.3 Interpretation of Vedas, Vidhi-ArthavÁda
7.4 Thoery of knowledge, six pramÁÆas
7.5 AkhyÁti and ViparitakhyÁti

Unit VIII VedÁnta

8.1 Kevalavaita of Sankara - Nature of Brhmana, JÍva, Jagat
8.2 AdhyÁsa, mÁyÁ, Three levels of existence
8.3 NirguÆa-saguna Brahmana
8.4 Brahma-jñÁna and MokÒa
8.5 DvaitÁdvaita of Madva- Bheda and its kinds

Books for Study

1. Hiriyanna, M. : Outline of Indian Philosophy (Chapters on Upanisads and the Gita only)
2. Datta and Chatterjee, An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, University of Calcutta, Calcutta 1950
3. Sharma C.D. : A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy, Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi, 1998
4. Dixit, Shririvas : Bharatiya Tattvajnana, Phadke Prakashan, Kolhapur, 2002.
Books for References

1) Hiriyanna, M : Outline of Indian Philosophy, London, 1956

2) Joshi, G. N., Bharatiya Tattvajnanaca Brhad Itihasa, Shubhada Sarasvat Prakashan, Pune
3) Tulpule, G. V., Bhagavadgita-Saksatkaradarsana, Tulpule, Sangli, 1959
4) Laxman Shastri Joshi, Spiritual Materialism in India
 Philosophy Special - II
Introduction to Western Philosophy
[Objective: To acquaint students with the philosophical positions of major western philosophers of
ancient, medieval and modern period.]
The approximate duration of teaching of each credit; 12 lectures
Credit 1

1.1 Thales (cosmologist). Democritus (Atomist)

1.2 Heraclitus: Doctrine of Flux. Parmenides: Doctrine of Being
1.3 Sophists: Relativism and Scepticism
1.4 Socrates: Need of Critical Enquiry. Virtue is Knowledge

Credit II

2.1 Plato’s criticism of Sophism/ Plato’s response to Sophism.

Distinction between Opinion and Knowledge
2.2 Theory of Forms
2.3 Knowledge as Recollection
2.4 Nature of Soul

Credit III

3.1 Aristotle’s criticism of Plato’s Theory of Forms

3.2 Notion of Substance. Form and Matter. Potentiality and Actuality
3.3 Problem of Change. Teleological view of Causation.
3.4 Nature of Soul

Credit IV

4.1 Synthesis of the Greek and Christian views and Faith and Reason
4.2 St. Augustine: Nature of God, World and Man
4.3 St. Aquinas: Nature of God ,World and Man
4.4 Proofs for the Existence of God

SECOND TERM

Credit V

5.1 Rationalism: Basic Features

5.2 Descartes: Method of Doubt and Mathematical Method. Cogito.
Clear and Distinct Ideas. Dualism
5.3 Spinoza: Substance-Attributes, modes. Pantheism/Atheism
5.4 Leibniz: Monadology. God. Truths of reason and Truths of Facts
Credit VI

6.1 Empiricism: Basic Features

6.2 Locke: Primary and Secondary Qualities. Rejection of Innate Ideas.
Representative Theory of Perception
6.3 Berkeley: Criticism of Representative Theory of Perception.
Immaterialism.
6.4 Hume: Mitigated Scepticism. Matters of Facts-Relations of Ideas.
Problem of Causation. Self.

Credit VII

7.1 Kant: Critical Philosophy-Response to Rationalism and Empiricism.

7.2 Analysis of Knowledge: Manifold of Sensedata-Categories of
Understanding
7.3 Possibility of Synthetic a priori Knowledge
7.4 Space-Time. Noumena-Phenomena

Credit VIII

8.1 Hegel: Absolute Idealism

8.2 Concept of Dialectic

Prescribed Readings :
1. Roger Scruton : A short History of Modern Philosophy, Sortilege and Paul, London, Seal
edition, 1995
2. Lavine T. Z.: From Socrates to Sartre, The Philosophic Quest, Bantam Books, N. Y.,
1984
3. Copleston, S. J., A History of Philoslphy, Frederick Image Books Edition, 1962:
(Volume 4, Volume5 Part2 Part1, Volum e6 Part 2, Volume 7 Part 1)
4. Thilly and Wood, A History of Philosophy, Central Book Depot, Allahabad, 1965.
5. Steven Nadier (Ed.) A Companion to Early Modern Philosophy, Blackwell Publishing,
2002.
6. W T Stace, A Critical History Of Greek Philosophy, Macmillan Martin’s Press,1969.
7. W, K.C. Guthrie, The Greek Philosophers From Thales To Aristotle, Methuen and Co.
LTD. London, 1967

Readings in Marathi:
1. G. N. Joshi : Paschatya Tattvadnyanacha Itihas , Continental Prakashan, Pune,
Volume 2 and 3 ( Relevant Sections)
2. G. V. Tulpule, Greek Tattvajnyan (Thales te Socrates), , Chitrakala Prakation, Pune,
1957.
3. G. V. Tulpule, Plato, Chitrakala Prakation. Pune.
4. G. V. Tulpule, Aristotle, Chitrakala Prakation Pune.
Prescribed References:
1. Edward Paul and Arthor Pap: A Modern Introduction to Philosophy, The Free Press, N.
Y., 1973.
2. Relevant Sections from Paul Edwards (ed) Encyclopedia of Philosophy
3. Anthony Flew An Introduction to Western Philosophy Thames and Hudson,1971.
4. Anthony Kenny The Oxford, History of Western Philosophy, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2000.
5. Bryan Magee The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy, Oxford
University Press: Oxford (1988)
6. Gilson, Etienne, History of Christian Philosophy, London, 1980.

References in Marathi:
1. D.Y. Deshpande : Prajnavada, Nagpur
2. D.Y. Deshpande : Anubhavavada, Nagpur
3. D.Y. Deshpande : Kant, Nagpur
4. D.Y. Deshpande : Arvachin Paschatya Tattvajnana, Nagpur
5. D.Y. Deshpande : Chintane (Marathi Translation of Descarte’s Meditations),
6. Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya ani Sanskriti Mandal, Mumbai, 1974
7. M.P.Rege : An essay on Kant’s Philosophy (An appendix to Saundaryamimansa by
R.B.Patankar)
8. M.P.Rege : Greek Philosophy Lekhmala (Navbharat)