About the Department

The Department of Philosophy at Sree Chaitanya College holds a special place as one of the oldest departments in the institution. Throughout the years, the students of this department have consistently performed well in university and competitive examinations, showcasing their dedication and knowledge.

With a team of dedicated and passionate teachers, the faculty aims to foster the holistic development of the students. A friendly and open interaction between teachers and students is encouraged, creating an enjoyable and enriching learning experience.

Students' seminars are an integral part of the education provided in the department. These seminars not only prepare students for future interviews but also boost their self-confidence. Additionally, the department organizes talks by renowned resource persons, providing valuable insights and inspiration to the students.

The department has gained recognition for hosting acclaimed seminars at both the state and national levels, with published proceedings capturing the depth of knowledge and discussions. Furthermore, the department willingly takes on the responsibility of the 'Counselling Cell' at Sree Chaitanya College, providing empathetic support to students facing psychological challenges during their young adult years.

In this department, learning is infused with inspiration and joy, creating an environment where students can explore the depths of philosophical thought while experiencing personal growth. The faculty is committed to guiding and nurturing students, helping them find their own paths, and contributing positively to society.

1. Name of the department: PHILOSOPHY
2. Year of Establishment:
  • Department Established : One of the oldest departments
  • General Course : Established with the college
  • Honours Course : Information to be updated
3. Names of Programmes/ Courses offered: B.A. Honours.
B.A. General.
4. Names of Interdisciplinary courses and the departments/ units involved Logic and Critical Thinking
Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Indian Philosophy
Western Philosophy
5. Annual/ semester/ choice based credit system (programme wise) Semester System as per the
University Curriculum

Faculty Profile

Smt. Manideepa Mitra Chakravarty

Assistant Professor

M.A., M.Phil.

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Sri Jadav Baidya

Assistant Professor

M.A.

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Dr. Sharmili Mukherjee

Assistant Professor

M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.

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Courses Offered

The Department of Philosophy offers comprehensive courses in both Honours and General streams:

  • B.A. Honours in Philosophy - In-depth study of philosophical traditions
  • B.A. General in Philosophy - Broad understanding of philosophical concepts

Syllabus

Philosophy syllabus as per WBSU guidelines under NEP 2020 (Effective from academic session 2023-24)

SEMESTER I
PHICOR101T: Greek and Modern Western Philosophy
  • Plato and Aristotle (10 Lectures): Plato's Theory of knowledge (Episteme) and Opinion (Doxa), Theory of Idea and its refutation by Aristotle, Aristotle's Form and Matter
  • Medieval Philosophy (10 Lectures): Reason, Faith, God—Augustine, Aquinas
  • Descartes, Spinoza, Leibnitz (40 Lectures): Descartes—Method of Doubt, Cogito, Theory of knowledge, Theory of Substance; Spinoza—Substance, Attributes and Modes, Pantheism; Leibnitz—Innate Idea, Monad, Pre-established Harmony
PHICOR102T: Indian Philosophy
  • Cāravāka (8 Lectures): Epistemology—Perception as the only source of knowledge; Metaphysics—Causality, Būtachaitanyăvāda
  • Nyāya Epistemology (16 Lectures): Pramāna, Pratyakṣa (Savikalpaka and Nirvikalpaka), Anumāna, Upamāna and Śabda
  • Vaiśeṣika Metaphysics (16 Lectures): Seven categories—Dravya, Guṇa, Karma, Sāmānya, Viśeṣa, Samavāya and Abhāva
  • Advaita Metaphysics (12 Lectures): Nature of Brahman, Māyā, Jagat, Relation between Brahman and Jīva
  • Indian Ethics (8 Lectures): Concept of dharma, Concept of puruṣārtha
PHIHSE101M: Media Ethics

Definition of Media Ethics, Roles and Impact of Media on Society, Media and Democracy, Functions and Ethical Responsibilities of Media (30 Lectures)

SEMESTER II
PHICOR201T: Indian Philosophy (Nāstika & Āstika Schools)
  • Nāstika Schools: Cārvāka, Bauddha (Four noble truths, pratītyasamutpādavāda, kṣanabhaṅgavāda), Jaina (Concepts of jīva, ajīva, anekāntavāda, syādvāda)
  • Āstika Schools: Nyāya (Pramāṇa, Pratyakṣa, Anumāna), Vaiśeṣika (Padārtha, Dravya, guṇa, karma, Sāmānya, viśeṣa, samavāya and abhāva)
PHICOR202T: Western Philosophy (Epistemology, Metaphysics & Ethics)
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  • Theories of origin of knowledge: Rationalism, Empiricism and Kant's Critical Theory (12 Lectures)
  • Realism: Naive Realism, Locke's Representationalism (10 Lectures)
  • Idealism: Berkeley's Subjective Idealism (8 Lectures)
  • Substance: Empiricist and Rationalist view (12 Lectures)
  • Causality: Entailment theory, Regularity Theory (12 Lectures)
PHIHS202M: Business Ethics

Definition of Business Ethics; Environmental Ethics related to business, advertising Ethics related to business (30 Lectures)

SEMESTER III
PHICOR303T: Fundamentals of Logic
  • Basic concepts: Proposition, Categorical Proposition, argument, truth, validity (5 Lectures)
  • Distribution of terms, Traditional Square of Oppositions, Conversion, Obversion (10 Lectures)
  • Categorical syllogism: Figure, Mood, Rules for Validity, Venn diagram (20 Lectures)
  • Symbolic Logic: Conjunction, Negation, Disjunction, Implication, Equivalence (10 Lectures)
  • Truth Table Method for Testing Arguments (5 Lectures)
  • Inductive Logic: Mill's methods of Experimental Inquiry (10 Lectures)
SEMESTER IV
PHICOR404T: Social & Political Philosophy
  • Social Philosophy: Society, Community, Association, Institution, Caste, Class and Social groups (20 Lectures)
  • Social Change: Marxist view and Gandhian view (5 Lectures)
  • Family: Marxist interpretation, Feminist interpretation (10 Lectures)
  • Democracy: Direct, Indirect, Parliamentary and Presidential (10 Lectures)
  • Socialism: Utopian, Democratic, Scientific
  • Separation of Power: Legislature, Executive and Judiciary (5 Lectures)
PHIDSC407T: Psychology
  • Psychology: Nature and Scope, Methods of Psychology (12 Lectures)
  • Sensation and Perception, Gestalt Theory (10 Lectures)
  • Theories of Learning: Thorndike, Pavlov, Gestalt (10 Lectures)
  • Memory and Forgetfulness (10 Lectures)
  • Intelligence, Binet-Simon Test (3 Lectures)
  • Consciousness, Freud's Dream Theory (12 Lectures)
  • Personality (3 Lectures)
SEMESTER V
PHICOR505T: Applied Ethics
  • Nature of Applied/Practical Ethics (2 Lectures)
  • Nature of Rights-Human & Animal (15 Lectures)
  • Suicide: Definition and Types, Arguments for and against (15 Lectures)
  • Euthanasia/Mercy killing: Definition, types, Arguments (16 Lectures)
  • Environmental Ethics (12 Lectures)
PHICOR506T: Modern Western Philosophy (Empiricism & Critical Theory)
  • Empiricism: Locke, Berkeley, Hume (40 Lectures)
  • Critical Theory: Kant—Copernican Revolution, Synthetic a priori Judgement, Space and Time, Transcendental Idealism
PHICOR507T: Indian Philosophy (Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta)
  • Sankhya: Satkāryavāda, Prakriti, Puruṣa (15 Lectures)
  • Yoga: Citta, Cittavrtti, Aṣṭāṅgayoga (15 Lectures)
  • Mīmāmsā: Pramāṇas, Arthāpatti and Anupalabdhi (5 Lectures)
  • Vedānta: Kevalādvatavāda, Viśiṣṭādvatavāda (25 Lectures)
PHIDSC510T: Practical Ethics
  • Human Rights, Discrimination (5 Lectures)
  • Killing: Animals, Suicide, Euthanasia (15 Lectures)
  • War, Violence and Terrorism (5 Lectures)
  • Environmental Ethics (10 Lectures)
  • Feminist Ethics (25 Lectures)
PHIDSC511T: Philosophy of Religion
  • Introduction: Scope and nature of Religion (5 Lectures)
  • Spirituality vs Religiosity, Sacred vs Profane (10 Lectures)
  • Problem of evil (5 Lectures)
  • Proofs for existence of God: Ontological, Cosmological, Teleological, Moral (15 Lectures)
  • Grounds for disbelief: Sociological and Freudian theory (10 Lectures)
  • Major Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam (15 Lectures)
SEMESTER VI
PHIDSC612T: Classical Indian Text (Tarkasamgraha)

Text: Annanibhatta's Tarkasamgrahaḥ with Dīpikā tīkā (From buddhi to upamāna khaṇḍam) - 60 Lectures

PHIDSC613T: Philosophy of Language—Indian and Western
  • Indian Philosophy of Language: Tarkasamgrahaḥ—Śabdakhaṇḍam (30 Lectures)
  • Western Philosophy of Language: Hospers—Word, Meaning; A.J. Ayer—Language, Truth and Logic (30 Lectures)
PHIDSC614T: Hume—An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

Text: Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (Chapter 1, & 4 to 12) - 60 Lectures

PHIDSC615T: Epistemology & Metaphysics
  • Knowledge: Definition, components, types (15 Lectures)
  • Theories of Truth: Correspondence, Coherence, Pragmatic (15 Lectures)
  • The problem of Induction (5 Lectures)
  • Realism, Idealism, and Phenomenalism (15 Lectures)
  • The Causal Principle (10 Lectures)
PHICOR606T: Social & Political Philosophy
  • Social Philosophy: Society, Community, Association, Institution, Social group (22 Lectures)
  • Class and Caste (8 Lectures)
  • Democracy: Different forms (10 Lectures)
  • Socialism: Utopian, Democratic, Scientific (10 Lectures)
PHIDSC617T: Socio-Political Thought of Modern India
  • Vivekananda: Practical Vedanta, Karma-yoga, Unification of Religions (20 Lectures)
  • Gandhi: Sarvodaya, Non-Violence, Trusteeship, Caste (20 Lectures)
  • Ambedkar: Caste, Equality and Fraternity (20 Lectures)
PHIDSC717T: Ethical and Social Philosophy of India
  • Introduction: Indian Ethics vs Western Ethics (4 Lectures)
  • Bhagavat Gita: Karmayoga, Sthitaprajna, Lokasamgraha (15 Lectures)
  • Purushartha: Four Purusharthas (5 Lectures)
  • Dharma: Sadharanadharma, Varnadharma, Asramadharma (14 Lectures)
  • Karma: Nitya, Naimittika, Kamya, Niskama (10 Lectures)
  • Concepts: Pancasila, Anuvrata, Mahavrata, Ahinsa (10 Lectures)
SPECIAL MINORS
Special Minor-1: Ethics & its Application
  • Nature of Applied/Practical Ethics (2 Lectures)
  • Nature of Rights-Human & Animal (10 Lectures)
  • Suicide: Definition, Types, Arguments (20 Lectures)
  • Euthanasia: Definition, types, Arguments (18 Lectures)
  • Theories of Punishment (10 Lectures)
Special Minor-2: The Philosophy of Self-Development
  • Buddhism: Four Noble Truths, Pratityasamutpadatattva, Eightfold path (15 Lectures)
  • Yoga: Citta, cittabhumi, astangayoga (15 Lectures)
  • Jaina: Jiva, ajiva, anuvrata, mahabrata (10 Lectures)
  • Vivekananda: Karmayoga (10 Lectures)
  • Gandhi: Non-violence, Truth (10 Lectures)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (Semester VI - Optional)
PHIADSC820T: Logic OR Kathaponisad

Logic: Set Theory (40 Lectures), Conditional Proof and Indirect Proof (20 Lectures)

OR Kathaponisad: Pratham adhyaya- pratham, diviya o tritya bolli

PHIADSC821T: Bhagavadgita OR Family Studies

Bhagavadgita: Chapter 1 to 3

OR Family Studies: Philosophical reflection on family, definition and nature of family, for and against family (Plato, Feminist, Marxist views)

Hons. with Research: Dissertation

For detailed readings and suggested references, please contact the department office or refer to the complete syllabus document.

Program and Course Outcomes

Program Outcomes:

Students will develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and ethical reasoning abilities through the study of philosophy.

Course Outcomes:

Detailed course outcomes will be available soon as per university guidelines.

Departmental Routine

SREE CHAITANYA COLLEGE, HABRA
Morning Shift (Humanities) - Philosophy Department Routine for Semester I, III, V - 2025-26

MONDAY
Time Semester I Semester III Semester V
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM MDC: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT) MB3: Philosophy (UA) MB-5: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM SEC-1: Philosophy (SM) (R-DEPT) MA3: Philosophy (UA) MA-5: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM AEC-1: - SEC-3: Philosophy (TB) (R-DEPT) SEC-3: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT)
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM LUNCH BREAK
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM MA1: Philosophy (TB) (R-DEPT) DS-9: Philosophy (SM) (R-AAR) DS-9: Philosophy (SM) (R-AAR)
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM MB1: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT) DS-10: Philosophy (UA) DS-10: Philosophy (UA)
FRIDAY
Time Semester I Semester III Semester V
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM OS1: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT) MB3: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT) MB-5: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM MA1: Philosophy (SM) (R-DEPT) MA3: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT) MA-5: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM MDC: - AEC-3: - MDC: -
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM LUNCH BREAK
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM - DS-9: Philosophy (SM) (R-18) DS-9: Philosophy (SM) (R-18)
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM MB1: Philosophy (MMC) (R-DEPT) DS-10: Philosophy (UA) DS-10: Philosophy (UA)

Note: R-DEPT indicates Departmental Room. For any changes or updates, please contact the Philosophy Department office.

Activities

The Philosophy department regularly organizes:

  • Student seminars and presentations
  • Guest lectures by eminent philosophers
  • State and national level seminars
  • Philosophy discussion groups

Departmental Achievements

Department achievements include:

  • Excellent results in university examinations
  • Successful organization of state and national seminars
  • Publication of seminar proceedings
  • Student success in competitive examinations

Assets

Department assets include:

  • Well-stocked department library
  • Seminar and conference facilities
  • Counselling Cell infrastructure

Student Progression

Philosophy students have progressed to:

  • Higher studies (M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.)
  • Civil services and other government jobs
  • Teaching positions
  • Research careers