CHUKA UNIVESITY
DDEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES
COURSE OUTLINE
Semester: SEPTEMBER- DECEMBER, 2025/2026.
Course Title: PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIETY
Course Code: PHIL-104
Credit Hours: 3
Lecturer’s Name: Dr. Pascal Mwina
Lecturer’s Contact: +254719 406 529
[email protected]Course Purpose
To introduce the students to the basic concepts in arguments and thus enable them express ideas
clearly and concisely as well as formulate sound
arguments.
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course students should be able to:
1. State the nature of philosophical inquiry.
2. Differentiate truth and opinion.
3.Justify why truth is not dependent on the affirming mind but is objective.
4.Take a stand on issues and be defender of truth.
Course Content
COURSE CONTENT:
WEEK TOPICS READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK 1 General introduction -Briefings on general introduction and expectations
concerning the course
-Meaning of philosophy
-Definition of society
-The causes of a society
WEEK 2 Branches(divisions) of philosophy -Origin and growth of philosophy
-Logic
-Epistemology
WEEK 3 Divisions (divisions) of philosophy -Metaphysics
-Ethics
WEEK 4 Logical thinking and philosophy’s nature Logical reasoning and nature of philosophical inquiry
WEEK 5 Problems of knowledge -What is knowledge/ problems of knowledge:
-Empiricism
-Rationalism
-Theory of intuitive knowledge
WEEK 6 Problems of knowledge -Forms of realism
-subjective idealism
Assignment one
WEEK 7 -Forms of realism -Materialism and nature of the universe
-subjective idealism -Evolutions versus creation
WEEK 8 Problems of reality -Teleological arguments
-Human nature and the mind/body problem (Plato,
Assignment two
Aristotle, Rene Descartes
Assignment two
WEEK 9 Freedom and determinism -Freedom and determinism
WEEK 10 Ethics and human behaviour -Ethics and human behaviour
WEEK 11 Culture (Characteristics) -inter-dependency of culture: Characteristics of
culture
-cultures are learned
-Cultures dynamic
-Culture as integrative
-Culture as influential to our behaviour
-Culture as diverse
WEEK 12 Morality Morality; religion
WEEK 13 General evaluation Evaluation of the course outcomes and objectives
AND 14
WEEK 15 Exams End of semester Examinations
AND 16
Teaching Methodology
Lectures, problem-based learning style, group discussions/ projects, practical exercises.
Course Assessment
C.A.Ts 30%, Final examination 70%, Total 100%
References
Plato’s Dialogues: Theaetetus, Phaedo, Apology, Republic, Crito, etc.
Aristotle’s Physics, Metaphysics, Ethics.
Norman, M. The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to the History of Philosophy.
New York: McGrawHill Companies Inc. 2002.
