Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Welcome to the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Our department is dedicated to exploring the most fundamental questions of human existence, including the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the questions of religiosity and religious phenomena in our society. Our faculty members are committed to providing our students with rigorous and thought-provoking education that will prepare them for a variety of carriers and life paths. Our research and teaching areas include fundamental philosophy, applied philosophy, religious studies, comparative religions, and more. These study areas offer our students a broad and deep understanding of the human experience. We encourage our students to engage in lively discussions and debates to challenge their own assumptions and to develop their critical thinking skills.

Since its establishment in 2013 the department has been at the forefront in nurturing leaders, business persons, academics and human resource persons for public service. We continue to ensure that our students’ time at this department is filled with intellectual excitement and philosophical rigor. We are proud to invite you to explore our website and learn more about what we have to offer. Whether you are a prospective student, a current student or a visitor to our campus, we welcome you to our department and look forward to engaging with you in meaningful conversations about the most important questions of human existence.

Programmes offered by the Department

About the Department

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies is one of the six departments constituting the College of Humanities at the University of Dar es Salaam. This department came into existence in 2013 following the establishment of the College of Humanities in the same year. We have more than 300 students and around 40 postgraduate students. We also have about 17 dedicated faculty and one administrative staff.

This department was conceived under the understanding that philosophical studies are needed in order to understand and cope with the rapidly changing world around us. Learning critical analysis and systematic argumentation is essential as Tanzania and Africa at large are going through significant economic, political, social, and environmental changes and are facing new challenges. Thus students’ ability for independent thinking and logical reasoning and understanding of issues of morality, ethics, and values is essential for building impartial, democratic, and just societies.

In the age of globalization that has increased the interaction between very different cultures and worldviews, it is important to learn to understand these differences in a rational manner that helps us to see ‘the two sides of the coin.’ Studies in philosophy provide students with the foundation for reflective thinking, insightful analysis, and balanced evaluation of matters not only in science and academics but also in various other fields of social and professional life.

Vision of the Department

To become a center for insightful reflection upon those enduring and ultimate questions that have driven the human quest for meaning throughout the history of scholarship and which continue to motivate all domains of disciplined exploration and research into the human condition and the wider environment.

• To facilitate the acquisition of those qualities, skills and values essential to envision, explore and fulfill individual aspirations and spiritual potentials
• To be a national Centre of excellence for lifelong learning and applied ethical training in the critical skills and moral intelligence essential to enriching institutional environments in both public service and private enterprise
• To explore and reinforce indigenous knowledge traditions and hidden legacies of expertise which remain essential to the well-being and sustainable development of Tanzania communities
• To enrich the wider academic community at the undergraduate level by teaching courses that apply across the disciplines, which hone students’ critical fitness for assessing and improving the clarity and quality for reasoning in all subject areas and practical endeavours
• To train students at all stages of learning to trust their own intellectual judgments, establishing in the population a resilience against political manipulation and religious authoritarianism
• To create an interdisciplinary meeting ground that facilitates advanced collaborative knowledge production among all social scientists and humanities scholars, to illuminate and deepen global understanding of African histories, identities and contemporary realities.

Mission of the Department

To enhance students’ capacities in critical thinking and philosophical analysis nurturing their abilities to:

• Synthesis and assess disparate information from varying sources
• Assess reasoning and construct valid arguments in a range of real world situations
• Discover original approaches to problem solving in all areas of human endeavour
• Form reliable judgments about complex arrangements and situations
• Communicate effectively at different levels of abstraction
• Maintain an active, vibrant and public service oriented philosophy club.

Goals of the Department

For Students

1. Nurturing Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills: We strive to equip students with the tools of critical thinking,logical reasoning, and systematic argumentation. Through our curriculum, students develop the ability to analyzeideas from multiple perspectives and engage in rigorous intellectual inquiry.
2. Understanding Philosophical and Religious Traditions: Our goal is to provide students with a comprehensiveunderstanding of both Western and non-Western philosophical traditions, as well as the study of various religioustraditions. By exploring these traditions, students gain insights into different worldviews, belief systems, andethical frameworks.
3. Promoting Intercultural Understanding: We encourage students to engage with diverse philosophical andreligious perspectives, including those from African traditions. Through this engagement, we aim to fosterintercultural understanding, respect, and dialogue, promoting a global perspective on philosophy and religiousstudies.

1. Scholarly Excellence and Teaching: We foster a community of scholars where teaching and learning are of theutmost priority. Our academic members of staff engage in scholarly research, creative expression, and innovativeteaching methods to contribute to the intellectual growth of both students and the wider academic community
2. Enriching the Department and Academic Community: We encourage our academic members of staff to activelyparticipate in departmental governance, collaborate in the development of academic programs, and contribute tothe enrichment of the cultural environment. Through interdisciplinary dialogue, we aim to advance knowledge inphilosophy and religious studies.

Activities of the Department

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies engages in a variety of activities to fulfi ll its mission and goals.These activities include:

1. Teaching and Research: We offer a wide range of Programmes that cover topics in philosophy and religious studies,allowing students to explore fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and religious belief. Ouracademic members of staff conduct research in diverse areas, contributing to the advancement of knowledge inthe fi eld.
2. Seminars and Conferences: We organize seminars and conferences where students and academic members ofstaff can present their research, engage in scholarly discussions, and learn from experts in the fi eld. These eventsprovide opportunities for intellectual exchange and collaboration.
3. Community Outreach: The department actively engages with the community, organizing workshops, publiclectures, and other outreach activities to promote public understanding of philosophy and religious studies.Through these initiatives, we aim to foster intellectual curiosity and encourage critical thinking in society
4. Field Research and Consultancy: We have a tradition of conducting fi eld research both within Tanzania andbeyond. Our academic members of staff engage in consultancy work, providing expertise in philosophy andreligious studies to various organizations and institutions.