Last updated: July 27, 2001 @ 01:58PM

Philosophy

Chair
R. Raj Singh

Graduate Officer
Richard S. G. Brown

Professors Emeriti
Debabrata Sinha, John R. A. Mayer

Professors
David L. Goicoechea, R. Raj Singh

Associate Professors
Richard S. G. Brown, Wing-Cheuk Chan, Martha Husain, Robert W. Malone, Murray L. Miles, George J. Nathan

Master of Arts Program

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

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 or scheme B. As appropriate, knowledge of languages other than English may be required.

Course Descriptions

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 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.

2001-2002: (5V06) Kierkegaard
(5V08) Nietzsche
(5V13) Derrida-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.

2001-2002:(5V15) Heidegger
(5V20) Kant
(5V26) Rationalists
(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.

2001-2002:(5Vxx) TBA
(5V34) Yogacara Buddhism
Seminar, 3 hours per week.

PHIL 5V46-5V60
Advanced Studies in Comparative Philosophy
Selected issues on the basis of faculty expertise.

2001-2002:(5V46) Habermas and Post Modernity
(5V47) Bataille and Lingis
(5V48) Nietzsche and Buddhism
Seminar, 3 hours per week