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Syllabus

Unit I

Civilisational Overview & Knowledge Frameworks

  • What is civilisation? Scope, periodisation, and sources
  • Foundations of Indian civilisation
  • The concept of Darshana — philosophy as “seeing”
  • Heterodox (Nastika) vs Orthodox (Astika) schools
  • Why study Indian thought today? Relevance for science & humanities students
  • Concepts of Reality in Indian thought
Unit II

Pramana Shastra — Indian Theories of Knowledge

  • What is Pramana? Valid cognition vs error (Bhrama)
  • Pratyaksha (perception) — Nyaya vs Buddhist accounts
  • Anumana (inference) — structure, types, and formal rules
  • Shabda (testimony) — debate over reliability of the Veda
  • Upamana (comparison), Arthapatti (postulation), Anupalabdhi (non-perception)
  • Nyaya Prameyas — 16 categories and their purpose
  • Buddhist epistemology: Dignaga, Dharmakirti — apoha theory
  • Mimamsa on self-validity of knowledge (Svatah Pramanya)
Unit III

Indian Logic — Tarka, Hetvabhasa & Formal Debate

  • The five-membered syllogism (Panchaavayava Nyaya) vs Aristotelian syllogism
  • Vyapti (pervasion / universal relation) — the problem of induction
  • Hetvabhasa — catalogue of inference fallacies
  • Jati — futile rejoinders and debate tricks
  • Vada, Jalpa, Vitanda — three modes of debate; ethics of argumentation
  • Tarka (reductio ad absurdum) as a critical tool
Unit IV

Indian Thought in Dialogue — Colonial Encounter & Contemporary Relevance

  • Orientalism and the construction of Indian philosophy as “mysticism”
  • Selected modern thinkers and their contributions
  • Comparative philosophy today — global epistemology debates
  • AI, cognitive science, and Indian philosophy of mind
  • Student presentations: contemporary issue through an Indian philosophical lens

Course Objectives and Outcomes

Nature of Course: Theory 

Course Objectives

  • To introduce students to the foundations, diversity, and intellectual traditions of Indian civilisation and philosophical thought.
  • To develop an understanding of Indian epistemology, including theories of knowledge, perception, inference, and valid cognition.
  • To examine the principles of Indian logic, debate traditions, and methods of reasoning across classical philosophical schools.
  • To critically evaluate the contemporary relevance of Indian philosophical traditions in relation to modern disciplines such as ethics, cognitive science, AI, and global philosophy

Course Outcomes

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

CO Course Outcomes Knowledge level

[Bloom’s Taxonomy]
CO01 To introduce students to the foundations, diversity, and intellectual traditions of Indian civilisation and philosophical thought.

Statement: Develops an understanding of Indian civilisation, its philosophical traditions, and the diversity of knowledge systems that shaped cultural and intellectual history.

 Understand
CO02 To develop an understanding of Indian epistemology, including theories of knowledge, perception, inference, and valid cognition.

Statement: Promotes analytical thinking through the study of Indian epistemology, logic, debate traditions, and methods of inquiry.

 Analyze
CO03 To examine the principles of Indian logic, debate traditions, and methods of reasoning across classical philosophical schools.

Statement: Encourages critical reflection on knowledge, ethics, reasoning, and interpretation through engagement with classical and contemporary philosophical discussions.

 Analyze
CO04 To critically evaluate the contemporary relevance of Indian philosophical traditions in relation to modern disciplines such as ethics, cognitive science, AI, and global philosophy.

Statement: Fosters interdisciplinary awareness of the relevance of Indian thought in contemporary fields such as science, cognitive studies, artificial intelligence, ethics, culture, and global philosophy.

 Evaluate

*Programme Outcomes (PO) (As given by NBA and ABET) 

POs  COs
PO1 Engineering Knowledge
PO2 Problem Analysis
PO3 Design/Development of Solutions
PO4 Conduct Investigations of complex problems
PO5  Modern tools usage
PO6 Engineer and Society
PO7 Environment and Sustainability
PO8 Ethics
PO9 Individual & Teamwork
PO10 Communication
PO11 Project management & Finance
PO12 Lifelong learning

*B.Tech. – Programme Specific Outcome (PSO) 

  • CO1: To introduce students to the foundations, diversity, and intellectual traditions of Indian civilisation and philosophical thought.
  • CO2: To develop an understanding of Indian epistemology, including theories of knowledge, perception, inference, and valid cognition.
  • CO3: To examine the principles of Indian logic, debate traditions, and methods of reasoning across classical philosophical schools.
  • CO4: To critically evaluate the contemporary relevance of Indian philosophical traditions in relation to modern disciplines such as ethics, cognitive science, AI, and global philosophy.

CO-PO Mapping: [affinity#: 3 – high; 2- moderate; 1- slightly]

COs Program Outcomes [POs]

COs PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8 PO9 PO10 PO11 PO12
CO01  2  1  2  1  2  1  2
CO02  2  3  1  2  2  1  1  2  2
CO03  1  2  2  1  3  2  2  2
CO04  2  2  1  2  1  2  1  2  1  2  3

Evaluation Pattern

Evaluation Pattern

( Int : Ext = 60: 40 )
M-T CA ES Total
Mid Term Exam Continuous Assessment End Semester Examination
30 30 40 100
Remarks

  • CA refers to Continuous Assessment
  • MT refers to Mid Term Examination
  • ES refers to End Semester Examination
Total Marks = 100
Internal (60) External (40) Total (CA + MT + ES)
CA = (30)

Midterm (30)

 E S = (40) 30 + 30 + 40 = 100
G. Evaluation Pattern Split up (Int: Ext = 60: 40)
M-T CA ES Total
Mid Term Exam Assignment Class Test End Semester Examination
30 15 15 40 100
Remarks

  • CA refers to Continuous Assessment.
  • MT refers to Mid-term Examination.
  • ES refers to the End Semester Examination.
  • Assignments may include any one of the following: topic-based written submission, presentations, or rough book submission.
  • CA tasks will be similar across batches within a department.
  • Class Test will be a written exam for all batches within a department.
  • MT and ES will be conducted online through AUMS.
Total Marks = 100
Internal (60) External (40) Total (CA + ES)
Midterm + + CA = 30 +5+25 = 60 ES = (40) 60 + 40 = 100

Reference Books

  1. An Introduction to Indian Philosophy — Satishchandra Chatterjee and Dhirendramohan Datta
  2. Outlines of Indian Philosophy — Mysore Hiriyanna
  3. Philosophy in Classical India: The Proper Work of Reason — Jonardon Ganeri
  4. A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy — Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Charles A. Moore
  5. A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy — Chandradhar Sharma

Faculty Information


Dr. Sooraj M. S.
Assistant Professor, 
School of Spiritual and Cultural Studies
Amritapuri Campus, Kollam, India
Email : soorajms@am.amrita.edu

Faculty Room: A203

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