The Department of Philosophy is one of the oldest departments of teaching and research in Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra. The Department was established in 1961 by KUK through the approval of Govt. of Haryana. It took a quantum leap right from the beginning both in teaching and research. The department has been engaged in improving teaching methods and materials in consonance with the requirement of the fast-changing scenario of Philosophical Studies. As a result, it has kept pace with the NET/SLET Programmes which is a part of UGC’s comprehensive plan to provide competent teachers to the nation. Epistemology, Logic (both Indian and Western), Scientific Method, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Social and Political Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Environmental Ethics and Gandhian Thought are the core courses being taught in the Department of Philosophy. Classical Indian and Western Philosophy, Modern Indian Thought, Contemporary Western Philosophy, Philosophy of Srimad Bhagvadgita and Buddhism are the thrust areas in research in the Department. The Department has produced more than 85 PhD scholars.
Moreover, Department has started one new course i.e. Certificate Course in Bhagvatgita. Keeping in view the ancient cultural background and sacredness of Kurukshetra where Lord Shree Krishna delivered the incredible sermon of Srimad Bhagvadgita and taught the secrets of Yoga, this course has found favours with students from different streams. The Department is also planning to start a course on Buddhism & Vipassana along with teachings, research and other allied activities in view of the emerging stress related problems in the present-day society.
The Department is playing very important role by conducting special classes for students to prepare them for the examinations of NET/SLET and other competitive exam by a course in Diploma-in-Reasoning which is attended by students drawn from different disciplines on the campus. The Department has a very high rate of its students absorbed both in traditional and modern professions.
Vision & Mission of the Department of Philosophy:
(I) To promote Indian Philosophy and Culture, Yoga, Spiritualism.
(II) To promote Religious Tolerance by the Study of Philosophy of Religion and Comparative Religion to create an atmosphere of religious harmony and tolerance and to prevent communal riots.
(III) To promote Moral Values for character building of our youth.
(IV) To develop Critical Analytical Ability to comprehend conceptual issue along with foundational rational insight in different domains of human knowledge and activity.
(V) This is what the Philosophy in its strict academic sense aims at. Ph.D. research in Philosophy aims at critical-analytical investigation into the conceptual and foundational issues in regard to a specified field of study. This kind of research is different from that mostly undertaken by empirical disciplines like. Physics, Chemistry etc. on the one hand, and Political Science, Sociology, Economics,etc. on the other hand. Philosophical research is neither field study nor practical exercise performed in a laboratory; it is primarily conceptual, that is theoretically presupposed by all sciences and different forms of human activities. Consequently, Philosophical Research is academically inevitable for the proper growth of all sciences as well as for performance of all human activities with the understanding of their rational justification and a critical insight into their own conceptual structures.
(VI) To prepare candidates for different competitive tests in respect of their reasoning ability. The course covers generally tests like NET, Banking, SLET, Entrance test for M.B.A., M.C.A., H.S.S.C. etc