DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Departmental Activities

The Philosophy Department organized a National Seminar on “Indian Philosophical Heritage: A Re-Understanding” sponsored by ICPR, New Delhi, from 8^th to 10^th March at this college. Dr. Appan Ramanujam was the Director and Prof. S. Krishnan, the Co-ordinator. Dr. V. Chandrasekhar , Prof. K. S. Kannan, Dr. P. Krishnaswamy, Prof. C. Venu, Prof. E. Ananda Vijayasarathy, Dr. G. Rajasekharan and Prof. K. Pravin Raut were members of the Organizing Committee. Professors from all over India attended.

Staff Activities:

Dr. A. Appan Ramanujam

Papers Published:

1. “Paradigms and verification in Science – Methodological Perspectives”, Quantanomics, January - March 2005, Depart-ment of Economics, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai-4.
2. “Habermas’s Rationality and Impersonal Economy”. July-September 2005, Quantanomics, Department of Economics, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai-4.

Papers Presented and Symposia Attended:

1. Presented a paper on “Reductionism in Scientific Theories” at the 80^th session of the Indian Philosophical Congress held at North Bengal University, Darjeeling from October 24^th to 27^th 2005.

2. Attended a National Seminar on “Jean Paul Sartre: Life and Works” sponsored by ICPR on 8^th &9^th December 2005 and responded to paper on Jean Paul Sartre.

3. Attended a Symposium on “ Creation of Wealth and Values” organized by the Department of Philosophy, Loyola College, Chennai in collaboration with Centre for International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China.

4. Attended a National Seminar on “ Language, Culture and Social Identities” sponsored by Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, from March 6^th to 8^th 2006 organized by the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras, Chennai.

Nomination:

Nominated as a symposiast for a symposium on “Justice: Contesting views” for the 81^st session of the Indian Philosophical Congress to be held in October, 2006, at the Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.

Prof. S. Krishnan

1. Attended a Symposium on “ Creation of Wealth and Values” organized by the Department of Philosophy, Loyola College, Chennai in collaboration with Center for International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China.

2. Attended a National Seminar on “ Language, Culture and Social Identities” sponsored by Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, from March 6^th to 8^th 2006 organized by the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras, Chennai.

3. Participated in the two-day workshop on “Swami Vivekananda – An Architect of Modern India” conducted by Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith Institute of Vivekananda Studies, Chennai, on 25^th & 26^th March 2006.

Dr. V. Chandrasekar

1. Functioning as a member of the advisory committee for Satya Nilayam Journal of Intercultural Philosophy
2. Attended Refresher Course in “Ethics and Applied Philosophy” conducted by the Department of Philosophy and Academic Staff College, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, from January 19, 2006 to February 09, 2006.

Publications:

1. Edited a newsletter published by the participants at the refresher course conducted by the University of Kerala. Also published an article titled “Study of Personality and Classical Yoga”.

2. Served as a reviewer for the textbook on “Indian Culture” for Standard XII published in the year 2005 by the Tamil Nadu Text Book Society.

3. Officiated as one of the Judges in the Inter-collegiate Sanskrit Recitation Competition conducted by the Department of Sanskrit, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College (Autonomous), on 23^rd March 2006

Prof. K. S. Kannan

1. Attended the Need Based Refresher Course on “Human Resource Management” conducted by the UGC - Academic Staff College, University of Madras, Chennai-5, for a period of 21 days from June 02, 2005 to June 22, 2005.

2. Attended a National Seminar on “Language, Culture and Social Identities” sponsored by Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, from March 6^th to 8^th 2006 organized by the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras, Chennai.

Dr. P. Krishnasamy

1. Attended a National Seminar on “Jean Paul Sartre: Life and Works” sponsored by ICPR on 8^th &9^th December 2005.

2. Attended the Need Based Refresher Course on “Earth and Environmental Science” conducted by the UGC - Academic Staff College, University of Madras, Chennai-5, for a period of 21 days from September 09, 2005 to September 29, 2005.

3. Participated in a conference on “Computing and Philosophy” sponsored by United States of Educational Foundation in India conducted by the Department of Sociology, Stella Maris College, Chennai from 8-9 February, 2006.

4. Presented a paper on “A Rational Approach to Ethical Hedonism and Atheism of Carvaka” in the ICPR Sponsored National Seminar on “Indian Philosophical Heritage: A Re-Understanding”.

Prof. C. Venu

1. Published a paper on:”The Philosophy of Poverty, Ignorance and Social evils in Quantanamics” – a quarterly journal of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College (Autonomous), Chennai-4 (October to December, 2005).

Prof. E. Ananda Vijayasarathy

1. Participated in a conference on “Computing and Philosophy” sponsored by United States of Educational Foundation in India conducted by the Department of Sociology, Stella Maris College, Chennai February, 2006.

2. Attended a National Seminar on “ Language, Culture and Social Identities” sponsored by Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, from March 6^th to 8^th 2006 organized by the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras, and Chennai.

3. Presented a paper on “A Comparative Study of Atomic Theory on the basis of Physics and Philosophy” in the ICPR Sponsored National Seminar on “Indian Philosophical Heritage: A Re-Understanding”.

Dr. G. Rajasekaran

1. Responded to a paper on “The Religious Philosophy of Swami Vivekananda” in the ICPR Sponsored National Seminar on “Indian Philosophical Heritage: A Re-understanding”

2. Participated in the two-day workshop on “Swami Vivekananda – An Architect of Modern India” conducted by Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith Institute of Vivekananda Studies, Chennai, on 25^th & 26^th March 2006.

Philosophy Association

The Association was inaugurated on 21^st June 2005. Dr T. Sathyamoorthy, Chief Superintendent, Archaeological Survey of India, delivered a lecture on “Philosophical Foundations of Indian Archaeology”. Dr N. C. Ramanujachary, President, Theosophical Federation, Adyar, delivered a lecture on “Contributions of Theosophy to Modern Science”. Swami Satyapriyananda, Secretary of the college, released a magazine on “Philosophy of Science”. Dr N. C. Ramanujachary received the first copy and Dr. V. V. Subramanian, Principal, presided over the function.

Francis X. Clooney, S.J., Professor of Comparative Theology & Divinity, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, gave a talk on “Philosophy of the Srimad Rahasyatrayasaram – in a Comparative Perspective” on 27^th July 2005.

Richard Kearney, Boston College, USA, delivered a lecture on “Postmodernism and Imagination” on 10^th January 2006. Dr. S. Panneerselvam, Professor of Philosophy, University of Madras, introduced the chief guest. Dr. V. V. Subramanian, Principal, gave the presidential address.

Dr. K. Rajasekaran, Former Head, Department of Tamil, delivered the Valedictory Address on “Tirukkuralil Araviyal” on 29^th March 2006. Swami Satyapriyananda, Secretary, distributed the certificates to students who participated in the National Seminar on “Indian Philosophical Heritage—A Re-understanding” sponsored by ICPR, New Delhi. Dr. V. V. Subramanian, Principal, presided.