Philosophy

MAHACHULA BUDDHIST UNIVERSITY

COURSE OUTLINE

(Nov-Feb on Thursday 12.30 – 14.10 pm.)

DEPARTMENT OF BUDDHIST STUDIES

(INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM)

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1. Course Code/Name: 000 106 : INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Credits: 2 (2-0-4) Semester: 2 Academic Year: 2009

2. Course Description:

The course is an introduction to philosophy, emphasizing the meanings and scope of philosophy, the relationships between philosophy, religion and science, the classification and the fundamental concepts of philosophy together with the development of Western and Eastern philosophical traditions.

3. Objectives:

Academic Objective:

1. To enable students to understand the definition and scope of philosophy and to be able to communicate that understanding.
2. To enable students to understand the concepts and the evolution of philosophy, including the relationship of philosophy to other branches of science.
3. To enable students to understand and appreciate the principles of the various branches of philosophy, such as Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics.
4. To enable students to understand that philosophy, as the mother of sciences, has an important influence on other branches of science.

Moral Objectives:

1. Students should acquire an understanding of the role of philosophy in

the development of ideas and the formation of a worldview.

2. Students should be able to think logically in problem solving, being

able to proceed rationally from one step to anther, evaluation evidence without prejudice.

3. Students should be able to apply the various conceptual methods of

philosophy in their lives, being rational, tolerant and willing to listen to

the views of others.

4. Course Contents

1. Overview of philosophy
1. Introduction
2. The meaning of ‘philosophy’ as derived from the etymology of the word.
3. The definition of ‘prajna’ according to the views of individual philosophers.
4. The characteristics and functions of philosophy.
5. The scope and branches of philosophy.
6. The birth and evolution of philosophy.
7. The relationship between philosophy and other disciplines.
8. Philosophy and religion
9. Philosophy and science.
2. Metaphysics and Ontology
1. The meaning, characteristics, scope and function of metaphysics, including materialism, idealism, theology, and absolutism.
2. The metaphysical theories of various philosophers from ancient, medieval and modern times to the present day.
3. Epistemology
1. The meaning characteristics, functions, and scope of epistemology.
2. Epistemological theories (theories of knowledge) the characteristics of knowledge, sources of true knowledge (justification of knowledge) and truth.
3. Epistemological theories of different philosophers from ancient times to the present day, including empiricism, rationalism and intuitionism.
4. Ethics
1. The meaning, characteristics, functions, and scope of ethics and its implications for other branches of philosophy.
2. The ethical theories of various philosophers.

5. Eastern Philosophy
1. The meaning and general characteristics of Indian philosophy.

1. The evolution of asatika and nasatika.
2. The six divisions of Asatika.
3. Nasatika.

2. Chinese Philosophy

1. The general characteristics and development of Chinese philosophy.
2. The movements in Chinese philosophy, such as Taoism, Confucius and Mencious, Mo tze.

3. Japanes Philosophy of shinto

1. The general characteristics and evolution of Japanese philosophy.
2. An overviews of metaphysics and ethics.

6. Western Philosophy
1. Ancient Greek Philosophy
2. Medieval Western Philosophy
3. Modern Western Philosophy
4. Contemporary Western Philosophy

5. Teaching Methods:

1. Lectures
2. Class presentations.

3. Group Discussions.

6. Teaching Aids/ Materials:

1. Whiteboard
2. Overhead-projector
3. Passages & articles
4. Multimedia: Computer
5. Picture

7. Measurements:

7.1. Accumulated Points 60%

1. Attendance and Participation 10%
2. Presentation in class and tests 20%
3. Assignment, Research paper 10%
4. Mid-term test 20%

7.2. Final test 40%

Total 100%

8. Evaluation and Gradation:

A	4.0	80-100
B+	3.5	75-79
B	3.0	70-74
C+	2.5	65-69
C	2.0	60-64
D+	1.5	55-59
D	1.0	50-54
F	0	49-1

9. Texts Books, References and Reading Supplements:
1. Main Text Book (s):

1. Honer, Stanley, M. et. Al. (2002). Invitation to Philosophy: Issues and Options. Australia: Wadsworth.
2. Koller, John, M. (1984). Oriental Philosophies. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
3. _______________. (1998). Asian Philosophers. New York: Prentice Hall.
4. Kirti Bunchua. (2003). Contextual Philosophy. Bangkok: Assumption University.

9.2. Reference(s) and Supplement (s):

5. Jordan, Michael. (1997). Eastern Wisdom: The Philosophers and rituals of the East. Dubai: Carton Press.
6. Nigel Warburton. (1995). Philosophy: The Basic. London:

Routledge.

5. William S. Sahakian. (1968). History of Philosophy. New York:

Barnes & Noble Books.

6. Jeremy Weate. (1998). A Young Person’s Guide to Philosophy.

London: Dorling Kindersley.

7. Oliver, Martyn. (1997). History of Philosophy. London: Octopus Publishing Group Limited.

8. D.W. Hamlyn. (1990). The Penguin History of Western Philosophy. London: Penguin Books Ltd.

9. G.S. Kirk, J.E. Raven and M. Schofield. (1983). The Presocratic Philosophers. 2^nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

10. Jonathan Barnes. (1987). Early Greek Philosophy. London: Penguin Books.

11. Antony Flew. (1989). An Introduction to Western Philosophy: Ideas and Argument from Plato to Popper. New York: Thames and Hudson, Inc.

12. Brian Magee. (1987). The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

13. Frederick Copleston. (1961-1974). A History of Philosophy. Garden City: Doubleday & company, Inc. Nine Vols.

14. John Hospers. (1967). An Introduction to Philosophical Analysis. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hsll,Inc.

15. Roger Scruton. (1984). A Short History of Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Wittgenstein. London: ARK Paperbacks.

16.Samuel E. Stumpf. (1983). Philosophy: History and Problems. Singapore: McGraw-Hill,Inc.

N.B.: For the original sources, I will take some certain passages from certain books written by philosophers and give them to you in class.

10. Instructor

1. Dr. Veerachart Nimanong Pali VI, Dip. In Ed., B.A., B.Ed., M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Graduate School of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Assumption University (ABAC), Ramkhamhaeng, Hua-Mak, Bangkapi, Bangkok Thailand: Tel. 300-4543-62 Ext. 1325. Fax: 7191521. Email: vnimanong@yahoo.com, Websites: www.veerachart.au.edu, www.philo-religion.au.edu, www.kms.au.edu, www.au.edu, Home: 83/55, Moo(หมู่) 5, Baan Petpailin (บ้านเพชรไพลิน), Soi. Saim Thorni (ซอยสยามธรณี), Khubon Ram Indra Rd. (ถนนคู้บอน รามอินทรา ก.ม.8), Bangkhen (บางเขน), Bangkok 10220. Tel. 02 919 13 97 หรือ 06 5152891.

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