DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

The Department of Philosophy offers programmes leading to M.A. and Ph.D in Philosophy with specialization in the following areas:

• African Philosophy
• Epistemology
• Metaphysics
• Ethics

Each student must register for a minimum of 15 (fifteen) Units per Semester. Each student will be required to take five courses of three (3) Units each. In addition, each candidate must submit a research project the length of which should be a minimum of 30,000 (thirty thousand words) which must be passed in an oral examination. Every student shall be required to present at least a seminar paper during the period of study. 

A student must pass at least 30 units from Core Courses and Courses from his/her area of specialization, electives and a Research project.

COURSES

FIRST SEMESTER

PHI 701 Critical Evaluation of the background of African Philosophy                  3

PHI 702 Myths and Symbols in American Philosophy                                       3

PHI 703 The Theory of Participation                                                      3

PHI 704 The Rationalist and the Role of Cognitive                                3

PHI 705 Sense Experience and its Role in the Cognitive Process         3

PHI 706 The Idealist and Maxist Approaches to Knowledge                             3

PHI 707 The Greek Origin of Metaphysics                                                        3

PHI 708 Mediaeval and Modern Metaphysics                                        3

SECOND SEMESTER

PHI 711 Problems Associated with the Rationality of American Philosophy    3

PHI 712 The Principles of Transcendence in African Philosophy                                  3

PHI 714 Contemporary Views of the Process of Knowledge                                            3

PHI715ComplementarismasanidealEpistemologicalTheory                               3

PHI 716 The Possibility of African Epistemology                                                 3

PHI 717 Contemporary Metaphysical Trends                                                       3

PHI 718 Attacks on Metaphysics and its Jurisdiction                                           3

PHI 750 Seminar                                                                                                       3

PHI 799 Research Thesis                                                                                         3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

PHI 701 Critical Evaluation of the background of African Philosophy 3   Unit Core

African Philosophy – meaning, scope and limitations. African philosophical

system as manifested in traditional cultural practices.

PHI 702 Myths and Symbols in American Philosophy     3 Units Required

The origin and meaning of myths. Myths of origin and their significance.

Symbolism and its indispensability in Core American philosophical expressions.

PHI 703 The Theory of Participation (3 Units)

Participation as the basis of African Communalism and the unity in diversity principle of African thought system.

SECOND SEMESTER

PHI 711 Problems Associated with the Rationality of American Philosophy (3Units)

Pre-choice in predestination. Rationality in witchcraft, magic and medicine in

comparison with scientific thinking.

PHI 712 The Principles of transcendence in African Philosophy (3 Units)

A Philosophy of hierarchical relations, Supreme Being and the lower creatures

(Spirits and divinities). Consequences for the value of African Philosophy at the

World level.

PHI 720 Seminar (Core) PHI 799 Research Thesis (Core) 6 Units

OPTIONS:

EPISTEMOLOGY

First Semester

PHI 704 The Rationalist and the Role of Cognitive Faculty of knowing (3 Units)

A detailed study of Plato, St. Augustine, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibhie and their

theories of knowledge.

PHI 705 Sense Experience and Its Role in the Cognitive Process (3 Units)

An in-depth and critical study of the cognitive theories of the empiricists:

Aristotle, the Stoics, T. Aquinas, F. Bacon, J. Locke, Berkele and Home.

PHI 706 The Idealist and Marxist Approaches to Knowledge (3 Units)

The synthetic of I. Kant and his-priori categories cum the nominal and the

synthetically prior in their relation to time and core and space are critically

examined. The Marxist theories of Sensation, Practice and Research are equally

discussed.

Second Semester

PHI 714 Contemporary Views of the Process of Knowledge (3 Units)

This is an examination of the analytic, existentialist and foundationalist approaches to knowledge.

PHI 715 Complementarism as an Ideal Epistemological Theory (3 Units)

Complementary as a unifying principle of knowledge; it is examined in relation to the faculties, sense perception and the Kantian idealist theory.

PHI 716 The Possibility of an African Epistemology (3 Units)

The scientific difficulty in rationally establishing an African mode of knowing. An in-depth study of the processes of knowing which could be culturally inferred. A clear distinction between universal and particular modes of knowing.

PHI 750 Seminar (Core)

PHI 799 Thesis     (Core) 6 Units

METAPHYSICS

First Semester

PHI 707 The Greek Origin of Metaphysics (3 Units)

The essence of the pre-Socratic; Platonic and Aristotelian metaphysics as given in the theories of existence and substance. A careful examination of the basic principles is made and an attempt is made to compare these with an African metaphysics.

PHI 708 Mediaeval and Modern Metaphysics (3 Units)

A careful study of the Nature of Reality in mediaeval philosophy. This one is against

the background of modern philosophical Theories as given by R. Descartes, John

Loccke. Berkeley, Henri Bergson, Martin Heidegger and others.

Second Semester

PHI 717 Contemporary Metaphysical and Its Justification 3 Units Core

Logical positivism and the verification principle. A careful study of the meaning fullness of statements.

PHI 718 Attacks on metaphysics and its Justification   3 Unit Required

Verifiability in both science and metaphysics, experimental and scientific knowledge; and a thorough examination of the values of metaphysical knowledge.

PHI 750 Seminar (Core)

PHI 799 Thesis     (Core) 

ETHICS

First Semester

PHI 701 Graeco-Roman Ethical Theories:

A critical study of early Greek Eudaimonism in Aristotle and Hellenistic Ethics: Stoicism, Epicureanism and Neoplationism.

PHI 702 Patristic, Medieval and Modern Ethics:

A critical evaluation of the ethical theories of the Church Fathers (John Damascence) and Medieval Philosophers (St. Augustine and Aquinas). Humanist Ethics. British Egoism and Rationalism.

PHI 703 Classical studies in Ethnics

Kant’s Ethics. Hegel’s Ethical Theories and F.H. Braadley’s analysis of Hegel’s wor are carefully examined. In addition, a critique of utilitarianism in Jeremy Bentham and J.S.. Mil: and a study of Nietzshe, Sartre and Edmund Husseri will be done.

Second Semester

PHI 714 Professional Ethics

This is a detailed study in the application of ethical principles and methods of the various professions and their practitioners; medical management, engineering, architectural, business etc.

PHI 715 Contemporary Ethical Problems:

Ethical theories seem to be losing their validity in the technology world. Thus, a detailed analysis will be done of, as many ethical problems as possible, especially Capital Punishment, Abortion, Euthanasia. Ethnic Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, Poverty and Affluence, Genetic Engineering.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D) DEGREE

As provided in the General regulations of the Postgraduate School, a Ph.D candidate will be required to present a research proposal to the Department, pass a qualifying examination, present at least a seminar, submit and defend a Research Thesis.