In a first in the state, Lucknow University shall start a course in Philosophical Counselling and Consultancy, which shall be affiliated to the Department of Philosophy. Launching from the upcoming academic session, this course shall be available at the undergraduate level. Though introduced as a new field on the global level in the 1980s, philosophical counselling is still taking roots in India and this step by Lucknow University shall only promote its avenues and application.
In sync with NEP-2020
Falling in line with the objectives of the New Education Policy-2020, which aims at promoting interdisciplinary studies, this course shall create high-quality trained people in applied or practical philosophy. Such individuals, upon completion of their course requirements, shall go on to provide counselling and consultancy services for relevant organisations.
The course in philosophical counselling and consultancy shall be introduced as an elective for students who are currently pursuing a degree in philosophy. Further, it is also being introduced as a vocational course for students enrolling for the upcoming academic session. These steps are being taken with the support of the University of Delhi.
Apart from this course, Lucknow University’s Department of Philosophy is offering Philosophy of Education as an optional subject. Under this, students shall explore the teachings of Mahatama Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as contemporary thinkers, as per the latest reports.
Why study philosophical counselling?
Peter Koestenbaum’s book ‘The New Image of the Person’, published in 1978, is said to have heralded the development of philosophical counselling as a separate discipline. It is different from psychological counselling for it doesn’t diagnose you with medical issues.
A philosophical counsellor guides you through life problems via critical thinking, conceptual analysis, phenomenology, thought experiment and creative thinking. This has become the need of the hour with the ongoing pandemic affecting the mental health, personal life and job prospects of everyone. Even if you don’t take up philosophical counselling as a profession, studying it will prove beneficial in resolving personal life issues positively.
