DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY, ARUL ANANDAR (AUTONOMOUS) COLLEGE, KARUMATHUR, MDU

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Integral formation for social Transformation Through Philosophy and Research Communication
Philosophical Formation & Academic Audit - Minutes - 8
th
August 2014

The Department of Philosophy, AAC conducted a workshop on PHILOSOPHICAL FORMATION on 8
th
August
2014 at 9.00 a.m for the purpose of holding an Academic Audit and Strengthening of our Philosophy
Programme here. The workshop was attended by 41 persons inclusive of Fr. Secretary, Fr. Principal, Fr.
Rectors, Philosophy Formation personnel of various religious societies,
Formation Counsel Members of Provinces, Faculty Members and I & II
Post Graduate Philosophy Students. After the prayer song (Instrument
of Peace) by the I year PG students. Fr. Antony Pappuraj SJ provided
the introductory note on the conditions of philosophy communication
on the part of the educators and the educated. Fr. Xavier Vedam
Principal-AAC welcomed the gathering and he briefed about the
academic and infrastructural avenues of Arul Anandar College that
promotes effective Philosophical Education/Formation at AAC. He also
intended that the department to go full fledged Research Department
sooner as possible. Then-after, the participants introduced themselves
briefly. Fr. Peter Amaladoss extended the vote of thanks at the end of days workshop.

Presentations:
1. Dr.S. Lourdunathan, Head of the Dept. proposed the
agenda of the workshop. He pointed out the fact that
the department and AAC Jesuit management has been
consistently committed to philosophical education with
research orientation for several years. In the course of
times it has evolved explicit educational-formation
frame work for Philosophical Formation
Communication. He also stated that, this year, the
department has already conducted:
(i) The Rectors and Faculty Meeting on 10
th
July 2014, a
planner-session for the Academic year 2014.
(ii) Invitation to philosophy programme for the fresh
students on July 14-15, 2014, coordinated by Fr. Basil Xavier SJ.
(iii) Faculty Seminar on Social Exclusion on 10
th
July 2014
resourced by Prof. Lourdu Raj and coordinated by Fr. Basil Xavier SJ.
(iv) Student
Associations Meetings directed by
Fr. Peter Amaladoss
(v) Central Questions
of Philosophy Lecture on The
Problem of Mind and Body on 8
th
July 2014 by Dr. S.
Lourdunathan, coordinated by Dr. Seshuraja.
(vi) International Guest Lecture on Challenges, New Horizons
& Philosophical Formation by Rev. Fr. Joseph M. Abella,
the Superior General (Rome) of the Claretian Missionary
Congregation.

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY, ARUL ANANDAR (AUTONOMOUS) COLLEGE, KARUMATHUR, MDU

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Integral formation for social Transformation Through Philosophy and Research Communication
2. Fr. Maria Arul CMF, Rector, Claret Bhavan,
thanked the Jesuit Management and the
Department staff for their committed service
to the formation-education of philosophy
students.
(i) He appreciated functional mode of
the department with its preferential
option for philosophical formation of
the students.
(ii) Thanks to Fr. Maria Arul for his thoughtful power point presentation on Spirituality of
Philosophical Formation i.e., Integrative of Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual and
Social or Pastoral formation of the person and the challenges
(iii) The role of Philosophy Professors in terms of competency, moral credibility and faith-
conviction in enabling philosophical formation.

3. Dr. Sesuraja articulated content of the
Encyclical Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) and
pointed out:
(i) The Philosophical Direction of the
document in terms of the complementary nature of
faith and reason to promote philosophical formation
of students.
(ii) The need for Unity of Truth and
becoming award of fragmentations of Faith and reason in the contemporary times.
4. Dr. Lawrence Fernandas SJ, Director, Satya Nilayam, Chennai explicated document The Decrees
on The Reform of Ecclesiastical Studies
of Philosophy where in he noted:
(i) Philosophy as The ultimate
framework of the unity of
human knowledge and action,
leading them to converge
towards a final goal and
meaning.
(ii) Impart intellectual habitus as
to provide solid philosophical
forma mentis know and
reason with precision the capacity to reach objective and universal truth as well as valid
metaphysical knowledge
(iii) Need of Three years of philosophy education required to achieve more completely the
objectives indicated for philosophy in order
for the student to reach a solid and coherent
synthesis of truth.
(iv) Avoid excessive mixing of
philosophical and theological subjects or ,
indeed, of subjects of another sort ends up
giving the students a defective formation in
the respective intellectual habitus, and
introduces confusion between the
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY, ARUL ANANDAR (AUTONOMOUS) COLLEGE, KARUMATHUR, MDU

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Integral formation for social Transformation Through Philosophy and Research Communication
methodologies of the various subjects and their specific epistemological configurations..,
it is highly preferable that the philosophy courses be concentrated. (v) The Ecclesiastical
Requirement In an Ecclesiastical Institute
of Philosophy. (vi) Qualifications of the
Teachers in terms 3 + 2 + Doctorate - as
mandatory to teach philosophy
5. Fr.Ceril, Rector, OMD House,
presented on the effectiveness of teaching
philosophy in formation and its adaptive
strategies in improving the faith and
reasoning. He insisted on Giving solid professional preparation, Promote group discussions and
exchange of ideas, the need of library hours for reading and to teach the methods of
philosophizing rather than mere teaching a subject.
6. Fr.Basil Xavier SJ brought the Jesuit vision of formation that would provide intellectual, moral and
social framework for Philosophical formation. The intellectual apostolate he noted, contributes to
the mission of the Society with a faith that promotes justice, which is present at the frontiers, that
form part of our human condition, and that multiplies efforts to promote reconciliation, an
openness and innovative when
faced with the challenges of our
world, thereby contributing in a
specific way to the development
of the sciences and the
beneficiaries of sciences.
7. Dr.George Joseph, presented the
UG & PG philosophy curriculum of
the department and pointed out
its systematic scheme over the 3+2
years, flexibility given to the Autonomous status of the College, and adoptive possibility given to
any future requirements.
8. Fr. Anto OCD highlighted the focus of the entire discussion of the workshop.
9. Observations and Suggestions:
Fr.Eeugene, Rector, Christ hall, appreciated the quality communication of the department of
philosophy in terms of philosophical Formation. He noted that the workshop is conducted
seriously with in-depth considerations and this type of Dialogue be continued at least twice in
an academic year, inviting various institutions of philosophy.
Fr.Rozario SMA, Prefect formation, Society of African Missionaries, Generalite, Rome,
observed that the curriculum of the dept. of philosophy is very rich, relevant and quite flexible
in consideration of philosophical formation of students and he thanked the dept. of
philosophy for its service.
Students Fr. Peter and Fr. Murali insisted upon the need contextual social dimension of
philosophical formation and the possibilities of introducing it in the curriculum of philosophy.
Thank you Dr. S. Lourdunathan, Head, Dept of Philosophy, AAC