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Philosophy Master of Arts in Philosophy Graduate Faculty Program Description Admission Requirements Degree Requirements Course Descriptions

Philosophy
Master of Arts in Philosophy
Faculty Dean Rosemary Drage Hale Faculty of Humanities
Graduate Faculty
Professors Murray L. Miles (Philosophy), R. Raj Singh (Philosophy) Associate Professors Richard S. G. Brown (Philosophy), Wing-Cheuk Chan (Philosophy), Hans-Georg Moeller (Philosophy) Assistant Professors Michael Berman (Philosophy), Athena Colman (Philosophy), Christine Daigle (Philosophy), Rohit Dalvi (Philosophy), Rajiv Kaushik (Philosophy), Annie Larivée (Philosophy) Graduate Program Director Richard S. G. Brown [email protected] Administrative Assistant Irene Cherrington 905-688-5550, extension 3315 Schmon Tower 1130 http://www.brocku.ca/philosophy/
Program Description
The Master's Program focuses on two areas: recent and contemporary European thought, and Asian (especially Indian and Chinese) thought. While the essential framework of the program has changed little in the last two decades, specific additions have been made to accommodate the rise in importance of postmodern continental thinkers (mainly French and German philosophers). Such inclusions indicate the type of dynamic rapport the Department wishes to keep with the wider philosophical community. Consequently, the majority of courses offered in any one year will be selected from: I.  Contemporary Studies: Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Marcel, Buber, Scheler, Merleau-Ponty, Gadamer, Luhmann or some contemporary European movement, such as Structuralism, the Frankfurt School, or Postmodernism: Derrida, Levinas, Deleuze, or Bataille. II.  Eastern Studies: Indian and Upanishadic Philosophy: texts from the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy, especially Vedanta, Early Indian Buddhist traditions, especially Madhyamika schools; Bhakti traditions, Gandhi; Chinese Philosophy, especially Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism. III.  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-courses and tutorials may be offered on the following topics: Issues in recent Anglo-American (Analytic) Philosophy, Studies in Classical Philosophy (Pre-Socratics, Plato and/or Aristotle), Process Philosophy (Bergson, Whitehead, Hartshorne). 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.)
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of an Honours Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Philosophy with an overall average not less than 75%. Applicants must supply a statement of interest. Knowledge of languages other than English may be required as appropriate. The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates. Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.
Degree Requirements
In order to complete the degree requirements for the Master's of Arts in Philosophy, there are two paths from which to choose: the M.A. thesis option, which requires the successful completion of four half-credits in the philosophy program and a thesis, and the major essay option, which requires the successful completion of eight half-credits as well as a major essay. Thesis candidates are limited to a maximum of one half-credit tutorial; major essay candidates may take up to two one half-credit tutorials. The Graduate Program Director of the Department must approve the program of any graduate student. Note the M.A. 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.
Course Descriptions
Note: Not all courses are offered in every session. Students must consult with the Graduate Program Director regarding course offerings and course selection and must have their course selections approved by the Graduate Program Director each term. Refer to the Timetable for scheduling information: http://www.brocku.ca/registrar/guides/grad/timetable/terms.php PHIIL 5F98 MA Major Essay A research project involving the preparation and defence of a major essay which shall demonstrate capacity for independent work and original research and thought. PHIL 5F99 MA Research and Thesis A research project involving the preparation and defence of a thesis which shall demonstrate capacity for independent work and original research and thought. 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. PHIL 5P20 Kant and the 18th Century Historical study of the thought of Immanuel Kant in the context of the 18th-century enlightenment, focusing primarily on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. PHIL 5P21 Modern Philosophical Studies: Hegel and the 19th Century Historical study of the thought of Georg W. F. Hegel in the context of the 19th century. 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 order, civil disobedience, participation and consent, liberalism, anarchism, socialism and conservatism. PHIL 5V01 2006-2007: Advanced Studies in Political Philosophy: Contemporary Political Theory EDUC 5V03 2006-2007: Studies in Contemporary European Philosophy EDUC 5V06 2006-2007: Merleau-Ponty EDUC 5V08 2006-2007: Nietzsche EDUC 5V09 200-2007: Habermas 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. PHIL 5V30-5V45 Advanced Studies in Eastern Philosophy Concentrated critical and interpretive study of selected texts in the areas of: Advaita Vedanta, Yoga, etc., Madhyamika and Yogacara schools of Buddhism, or Chinese Philosophy. PHIL 5V46-5V60 Advanced Studies in Comparative Philosophy Selected issues on the basis of faculty expertise.