Curriculum
The curriculum for the Philosophy program at The Dhamma Dipa International Buddhist University South Tripura is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in philosophical disciplines while allowing flexibility for specialized interests. Over eight semesters, students progress from foundational courses to advanced research and capstone projects.
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P001 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | P002 | Logic and Reasoning | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | P003 | Introduction to Ethics | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | P004 | History of Western Philosophy I | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | P005 | Philosophy of Science | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | P006 | Psychology and Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | P007 | English for Academic Writing | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 1 | P008 | Philosophy Lab I | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 2 | P009 | Metaphysics and Ontology | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P002 |
| 2 | P010 | Political Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P003 |
| 2 | P011 | Philosophy of Religion | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P004 |
| 2 | P012 | History of Eastern Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P004 |
| 2 | P013 | Philosophy of Mind | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P006 |
| 2 | P014 | Aesthetics and Art Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P003 |
| 2 | P015 | Philosophy Lab II | 0-0-3-1 | P008 |
| 3 | P016 | Environmental Ethics | 3-0-0-3 | P003, P009 |
| 3 | P017 | Buddhist Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P004, P012 |
| 3 | P018 | Philosophy of Science II | 3-0-0-3 | P005 |
| 3 | P019 | Applied Ethics | 3-0-0-3 | P003, P016 |
| 3 | P020 | Ethics in Business and Technology | 3-0-0-3 | P003, P018 |
| 3 | P021 | Philosophy of Language | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P002 |
| 3 | P022 | Research Methodology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 4 | P023 | Advanced Political Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P010, P016 |
| 4 | P024 | Philosophy of Law | 3-0-0-3 | P010 |
| 4 | P025 | Philosophy of Education | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P016 |
| 4 | P026 | Postmodernism and Contemporary Thought | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P009 |
| 4 | P027 | Philosophy of Culture | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P012 |
| 4 | P028 | Senior Seminar I | 2-0-0-2 | P022 |
| 5 | P029 | Philosophy of Mind II | 3-0-0-3 | P013 |
| 5 | P030 | Metaethics | 3-0-0-3 | P003, P016 |
| 5 | P031 | Feminist Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P003, P016 |
| 5 | P032 | Philosophy of Race and Identity | 3-0-0-3 | P003, P016 |
| 5 | P033 | Philosophy of Social Justice | 3-0-0-3 | P010, P016 |
| 5 | P034 | Senior Seminar II | 2-0-0-2 | P028 |
| 6 | P035 | Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics | 3-0-0-3 | P014 |
| 6 | P036 | Comparative Religious Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P004, P012 |
| 6 | P037 | Philosophy of Technology | 3-0-0-3 | P005, P018 |
| 6 | P038 | Advanced Research Project I | 3-0-0-3 | P022 |
| 6 | P039 | Philosophy of History | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P004 |
| 6 | P040 | Senior Seminar III | 2-0-0-2 | P034 |
| 7 | P041 | Advanced Research Project II | 3-0-0-3 | P038 |
| 7 | P042 | Capstone Thesis Preparation | 2-0-0-2 | P041 |
| 7 | P043 | Philosophy of Science III | 3-0-0-3 | P018 |
| 7 | P044 | Global Ethics | 3-0-0-3 | P003, P016 |
| 7 | P045 | Advanced Topics in Philosophy | 3-0-0-3 | P001, P009 |
| 8 | P046 | Capstone Thesis | 6-0-0-6 | P042 |
The department emphasizes project-based learning as a core component of its pedagogical approach. From the first semester, students engage in mini-projects designed to develop research skills and critical thinking abilities. These projects often involve analyzing philosophical texts, conducting interviews with experts, or exploring contemporary issues through a philosophical lens.
Mini-projects are evaluated based on clarity of argumentation, depth of analysis, originality of insight, and effective communication. Students receive regular feedback from faculty mentors to guide their development throughout the academic year.
The final-year capstone thesis represents the culmination of students' philosophical journey. Under the supervision of a faculty mentor, students select a topic that reflects their interests and career goals. The thesis process involves extensive literature review, original research, and careful writing under rigorous academic standards.
Students are encouraged to choose topics aligned with current global challenges such as climate change, social justice, artificial intelligence ethics, or human rights. They are supported by dedicated research resources including access to specialized databases, libraries, and digital archives.
Advanced Departmental Elective Courses
The following advanced departmental elective courses provide students with opportunities to explore specialized areas within philosophy:
- Philosophy of Climate Change: This course examines ethical implications of climate change, sustainable development practices, and global responsibility. Students analyze philosophical arguments about environmental ethics, intergenerational justice, and policy frameworks for addressing ecological crises.
- Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence: Students explore questions related to consciousness, machine learning, robotics, and the future of human-AI interaction. The course addresses ethical concerns in AI development and discusses implications for employment, privacy, and society.
- Philosophy of Gender and Sexuality: This course investigates gendered perspectives in philosophy, examining how sex and gender influence knowledge, ethics, and social structures. It explores feminist theories, queer theory, and intersectionality through historical and contemporary lenses.
- Buddhist Philosophy and Ethics: Students study core Buddhist concepts such as impermanence, compassion, mindfulness, and non-attachment. The course emphasizes ethical applications of Buddhist philosophy in modern contexts including mental health, education, and social change.
- Philosophy of Human Rights: This course analyzes the philosophical foundations of human rights, examining historical development, current debates, and practical applications. Students evaluate different models of rights protection and explore challenges faced by marginalized communities.
- Ethics in Public Policy: Students examine ethical dilemmas in governance, public administration, and social welfare. The course discusses decision-making frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and the role of values in policy formulation and implementation.
- Philosophy of Education: This course explores fundamental questions about learning, knowledge, curriculum design, and educational equity. Students analyze philosophical approaches to teaching and assess their relevance for contemporary pedagogical practices.
- Philosophy of Race and Ethnicity: Students investigate the nature of racial identity, discrimination, and multiculturalism from philosophical perspectives. The course addresses historical injustices, contemporary debates, and strategies for promoting inclusion and diversity.
- Postmodern Philosophy: This course introduces students to postmodern thinkers such as Foucault, Derrida, and De Beauvoir. Students examine critiques of traditional philosophy, deconstruction techniques, and implications for knowledge, power, and identity.
- Philosophy of Music and Literature: Students explore aesthetic theories of music and literature, analyzing how artistic expression reflects philosophical ideas about beauty, emotion, and meaning. The course integrates comparative analysis with cultural studies.
- Philosophy of Law and Justice: This course examines the relationship between law and morality, focusing on principles of justice, rights, and legal interpretation. Students engage with classical and contemporary theories of jurisprudence and apply them to real-world cases.
- Philosophy of Science and Scientific Methodology: Students explore the nature of scientific inquiry, causality, prediction, and theory formation. The course discusses historical developments in science and addresses philosophical questions about scientific realism and anti-realism.
- Philosophy of Mind and Cognition: This course investigates consciousness, perception, memory, and mental processes using both philosophical and empirical approaches. Students examine cognitive science theories and their implications for understanding the mind-brain relationship.
- Philosophy of Sustainability: Students explore sustainability from ethical, economic, and ecological perspectives. The course addresses concepts such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and intergenerational responsibility.
- Comparative Religious Ethics: This course compares ethical frameworks across major world religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Students examine shared values and distinct approaches to moral reasoning in different traditions.