Philosophy involves critical reflection, arising out of a need for us to understand our existence and our role in our families, in the world. Unlike fish, humans are aware of their experiences, want to make sense of those experiences, and also understand the very ability to reflect on how all of these fit together. Ultimately, philosophy arises from our need to understand.
Once we ask, “Why?”, we open the door for philosophical analysis. We are all philosophical in orientation because of our tendency as children to ask “why?”, although we often lose it as we get older, as we settle into our comfortable or uncomfortable existence. Philosophical thinking is grounded in asking questions and examining the assumptions underlying the answers that we offer to these questions. One of the most fundamental questions (if not the most fundamental) that is of concern to the philosopher is, “What is the purpose of human life?”
–is there even a purpose? – or to put it more simply, “How should we live?”. Answering this question requires thinking closely about what it means to be human: is a human only one who lives within a society; or is a human a being that is not purely physical, but has a non-physical side? If we have a non-physical aspect, what happens to it when the physical body goes? The answers that we give to these questions are dependent on how we view the nature of the world in which we live, because what we can do and know is limited by the physical environment that we inhabit.
The philosophical method and philosophical
theories are used in helping to examine specific
issues or concerns such as parenting, death, sex, identity, education, sport and food. Further, for each subject area that is taught, there is philosophical analysis that can be undertaken, so there is a philosophy of history, physics, language, psychology, law, sociology, etc. The aim in all of these meta-analyses is to examine the methods, assumptions and foundational principles on which these areas of study are built, and how these are related to the practical matters in the subject area.
MEET THE FACULTY
Is there even a
purpose?
What is the
purpose of
Human life?
PHILOSOPHY AT
CAVE HILL CAMPUS
PHILOSOPHY AT CAVE HILL
The discipline of philosophy at Cave
Hill Campus is relatively young. The
Bachelors programme in philosophy
was introduced in 1999 and the first
postgraduate
student
registered
in 2003. The Department is in the
process of formalizing and expanding
its postgraduate programme in
philosophy. The activities of the
discipline are in inverse proportion
to its youthfulness at the Cave
Hill Campus, and its small staff
complement.
The Department offer courses in
African, Caribbean, Asian and Western
Philosophy. Courses include ethics,
human nature, critical thinking, philosophy
of law, theory of knowledge, metaphysics,
philosophy of sex and love, philosophy of
gender, and philosophy of education.
Dr. Ochieng’-Odhiambo’s research interest and area of specialization is African philosophy with emphasis on philosophic sagacity. His other research interests include logic and social-political philosophy.
For a long time now the discipline of philosophy has continued to benefit from the services of
Mr. Ed Brandon. A graduate of University of York, Mr. Brandon represents the analytic tradition of
the discipline.
Roxanne Burton’s presence has helped diversify and expand the research activities and interests within the discipline of philosophy. Though her research interests fall within the broad areas of Caribbean philosophy and the interface between philosophy and literature, her continued research interest in mainstream Western
philosophy is also evident.
CONTACT US: The Department of History and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Education, The University of the West Indies,
Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.
TELEPHONE: (246) 417-4403 FAX: (246 424-0634 E-MAIL: [email protected]
WHY
?
Dr. Frederick
Ochieng’-Odhiambo
Ed Brandon
Roxanne Burton
How should
we live?
PHILOSOPHY AT
CAVE HILL CAMPUS
CAVE HILL PHILOSOPHY
SYMPOSIUM (CHiPS)
The annual flagship activity of Philosophy at Cave Hill. The aim of the CHiPS is to foster dialogue between various approaches to philosophy on a wide variety of topics in the hope that, even if resolution is not possible, it might at least be possible to encourage different traditions to converse with each other.
It additionally aims to explore links between philosophy and related theoretical endeavours in such fields as politics, literature and psychology. In its five years of existence, CHiPS has developed a reputation for providing what participants describe as a unique experience for philosophical conversations because of “the variety of voices and ideas…brought together”. Keynote speakers have included the 2009 Woman Philosopher of the Year Lorraine Code, Lewis Gordon, D.A. Masolo and Simon Critchley. The majority of the papers presented are available on the Department’s website: http://www.
cavehill.uwi.edu/fhe/histphil/Philosophy/CHiPS
RESEARCH
AND
OUTREACH
ACTIVITIES
PHILOSOPHY
COLLOQUIUM
The Department organizes Philosophy Colloquia every other week during each semester. The aim of the Colloquium, which started in 2004-2005, is to provide a forum for the discussion of working papers by staff in the Department and other persons interested in the exploration of philosophical issues. The colloquium has also been the means through which final year students in the philosophy programme present some aspect of their research paper, bolstering their ability to defend their ideas. Our postgraduate students have also often used the colloquium to present ideas of their M.Phil research work for discussion.
AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY CONFERENCE
PHILOSOPHY INTEREST
GROUP
In May 2009, a monthly Saturday afternoon discussion group began, where staff, current and former students and others interested in philosophical discussion, meet in a relaxed and informal setting to explore a topic of interest to members of the group. Topics discussed so far include: knowledge, pleasure, religion, freedom and consciousness.
CARIBBEAN
JOURNAL OF
PHILOSOPHY
Working in collaboration with faculty at the Mona Campus, Philosophy at UWI has started an online journal of philosophy. The journal aims to encourage the critical, analytical and deliberate application of philosophical methodology to the understanding of Caribbean experiences and life, though it is not limited to philosophy of and in the Caribbean alone. The articles are available at: http://ojs.mona.uwi.edu/index.php/cjp.
Members of the discipline regularly participate in international conferences. Pictured below are Prof. Barry Hallen, Ms. Roxanne Burton, Prof. Kwasi Wiredu, Dr. Ochieng’-Odhiambo, and Dr. Kola Abimbola at the African Philosophy Conference on “Reason, Culture, and Humanism: The Philosophy of Kwasi Wiredu”, held on October 31-November 1, 2008 at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.
In 2008, Conversations in Philosophy: Crossing the Boundaries, a collection of papers from the inaugural and second CHiPS conversations was published.