2002-2003 Graduate Calendar

Philosophy

 

Chair

Ravindra Raj Singh

Graduate Officer

Richard S. G. Brown

Professors Emeriti

John R. A. Mayer, Debabrata Sinha

Professors

David L. Goicoechea, R. Raj Singh

Associate Professors

Richard S. G. Brown, Wing-Cheuk Chan, Robert W. Malone, Murray L. Miles, Hans-Georg Moeller, George J. Nathan

 

Master of Arts Program

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Administrative Assistant

Irene Cherrington, extension 3315

Schmon Tower 1128

http://www.brocku.ca/philosophy/

The master's program focusses on two areas: recent and contemporary European thought and Asian (especially Indian) thought. Consequently, the majority of courses offered in any one year will be selected from:

1.  Studies in 19th-century philosophy: Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer.
2.  Contemporary studies: Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Marcel, Buber, Scheler, Merleau-Ponty, Gadamer, Ricoeur and some contemporary European schools such as structuralism, the Frankfurt School, postmodernism.
3.  Eastern philosophy: Upanishadic thought; texts from the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy, especially Advaita Vedanta; Indian Buddhist traditions, especially Mahayana.
4.  Comparative studies: comparison of Eastern and Western traditions with respect to problems of being, knowledge, person, values and philosophical method.
  In addition, from time to time, half credit courses may be offered in the following topics: issues in recent Anglo-American (analytic) philosophy, studies in classical philosophy (pre-Socratics, Plato and/or Aristotle), early modern philosophy (Descartes, Leibniz, Hume, Kant). These areas of specialization fall outside the principal focus of the graduate program, but are represented by individual members of the department.
If in a given year a half credit in one of the above happens not to be offered, an individual tutorial therein may be arranged. Scheme A candidates are limited to a maximum of one-half credit tutorial; scheme B candidates may take up to two one-half credit tutorials. The program of any graduate student must be approved by the graduate officer of the department.
Although the time limit for completion of the degree by full-time students is three
years, it is to be noted that the program is designed to be completed in one year (twelve months) of full-time studies. Full-time students receiving financial assistance should not expect such assistance to extend beyond the first year.
 

Admission Requirements

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Candidates should normally have an honours BA in philosophy with a minimum B average (75 percent). Those with a pass BA in philosophy will normally require a qualifying year. Students may choose either scheme A (thesis option) or scheme B (major paper option). As appropriate, knowledge of languages other than English may be required.

 

Course Descriptions

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Graduate credits are to be obtained by completing courses designated at the 5(alpha)00 level. A course previously taken for undergraduate 4th year credit may not be taken for graduate credit.

PHIL 5F98

MA Major Essay

PHIL 5F99

MA Research and Thesis

PHIL 5P07

Husserl and Transcendental Phenomenology

Basic issues and methods of Phenomenological philosophy will be studied and explored with reference to some of the major works of Husserl.

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

PHIL 5P20

Kant and the 18th Century

4Historical study of the thought of Immanuel Kant in the context of the 18th century enlightenment, focussing primarily on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.

PHIL 5P21

Hegel and the 19th Century

Great comprehensive metaphysical systems of the 19th century and reactions to them. In addition to Hegel, philosophers include Fichte, Schelling, Schleiermacher, Schopenhauer, Feuerbach, Marx, Comte, Mill, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche.

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

PHIL 5P91

Graduate Tutorial I

Research course with directed study and regular meetings with a faculty member covering topics not offered in a designated course.

PHIL 5P92

Graduate Tutorial II

Research course with directed study and regular meetings with a faculty member covering topics not offered in a designated course.

PHIL 5V00-5V04

Advanced Studies in Political Philosophy

A critical examination of either a particular thinker or problem in political philosophy. Political thinkers may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, J. S. Mill, Rawls and Nozick. Problems may include liberty and political organization, justice and equality, human nature and the order, civil disobedience, participation and consent, liberalism, anarchism, socialism and conservatism.

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

PHIL 5V05-5V14

Studies in Contemporary European Philosophy

A study of the work of one or more thinkers prominent in recent continental thought.

2002-2003: (5V06) Kierkegaard

2002-2003: (5V08) Nietzsche

2002-2003: (5P13) Levinas

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

PHIL 5V15-5V29

Modern Philosophical Studies

An advanced course devoted to one or more of the major thinkers of the tradition from Descartes to the present day.

2002-2003:(5V15) Heidegger

2002-2003: (5VTT) Hegel and the 19th Century

2002-2003: (5Vxx) TBA

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

PHIL 5V30-5V45

Advanced Studies in Eastern Philosophy

Concentrated critical and interpretative study of selected texts in the areas of: Advaita Vedanta, Yoga, etc. or Madhyamika and Yogacara schools of Buddhism.

2002-2003: (5V34) Yogacara Buddhism

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

PHIL 5V46-5V60

Advanced Studies in Comparative Philosophy

Selected issues on the basis of faculty expertise.

2002-2003: (5V49) Husserl and Dharmakirti

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

 
Last updated: March 20, 2003 @ 11:19AM