Philosophy Optional Question Paper 2024

The UPSC Philosophy Optional Question Paper 2024 for the Civil Services Mains examination is reproduced below in full: Philosophy Paper-I and Paper-II, Section A and Section B, with verbatim official questions and marks for every question as UPSC printed them. For topic-wise categorization across past 25+ years, explore our comprehensive repository on Philosophy Optional Topic-Wise PYQs. You can also refer to the complete Philosophy Optional Syllabus for detailed micro-topic mappings.

Philosophy Optional Question Paper-I (2024)

Time Allowed: Three Hours · Maximum Marks: 250
Eight questions divided into two sections. Question 1 and Question 5 are compulsory, and three more are to be attempted choosing at least one from each section.

Section ‘A’: History and Problems of Philosophy (Western Philosophy)

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) Differentiate between Plato’s and Aristotle’s conceptions of form. 10
   (b) How does Kant respond to Hume’s scepticism with regard to a priori judgments? Discuss. 10
   (c) What arguments are offered by Moore to prove that there are certain truisms, knowledge of which is a matter of common sense? Critically discuss. 10
   (d) Why does later Wittgenstein think that there cannot be a language that only one person can speak — a language that is essentially private? Discuss. 10
   (e) How does Kierkegaard define truth in terms of subjectivity? Critically discuss. 10
2. (a) Is rejection of Locke’s notion of primary qualities instrumental in Berkeley’s leaning towards idealism? In this context, also discuss how Berkeley’s subjective idealism is different from the absolute idealism proposed by Hegel. 20
   (b) How does Spinoza establish that God alone is absolutely real with his statement— “Whatever is, is in God”? Critically discuss. 15
   (c) Critically examine Kant’s objections against the ontological argument for the existence of God. 15
3. (a) Explain Russell’s notion of incomplete symbols. Also explain how this notion leads to the doctrine of logical atomism. 20
   (b) Is the sentence “All objects are either red or not red” meaningful in the same way as “This page is white,” according to the logical positivists? Discuss with arguments. 15
   (c) Among the rationalists, whose account of mind-body problem is compatible with the notion of human freedom and free will? Critically discuss. 15
4. (a) What do the existentialist thinkers mean by the slogan “existence precedes essence”? How is human existence related to human freedom according to them? Discuss. 20
   (b) Why does Husserl think that essences exhibit a kind of continuity between consciousness and being? Discuss. 15
   (c) Explain the nature of the two dogmas that Quine refers to in his paper *Two Dogmas of Empiricism*. 15

Section ‘B’: History and Problems of Philosophy (Indian Philosophy)

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) Do you think Carvaka’s philosophy is positivistic in nature? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 10
   (b) Explain the six reasons offered by the Naiyayikas to prove the existence of the self. 10
   (c) Do these two sentences “Air does not have heat” and “Air is not fire” refer to the same type of absence or abhava, according to the Vaisheshikas? Discuss. 10
   (d) How does Bhatta’s view of nature of word-meaning and sentential-meaning differ from Prabhakara’s view? Critically discuss. 10
   (e) “In Vishishtadvaita philosophy, the relationship between God and the world is parallel to that between an individual self and its body.” Critically discuss. 10
6. (a) Differentiate between the Carvaka’s refutation of self as a transcendental category and the Buddhist rejection of atma. 20
   (b) How do the two schools of Buddhism arrive at two opposed conclusions, namely “everything is void” and “everything is real” from the same doctrine of Pratityasamutpada? Answer with arguments. 15
   (c) What is the distinction between Bhavabandha and Dravyabandha, according to the Jainas? Discuss. 15
7. (a) Present an account of evolution of Prakriti as propounded in *Samkhyakarika*. In this context, also explain the difference between buddhi, mahat and ahamkara. 20
   (b) “So long as there are changes and modifications in citta, the self is reflected therein, and, in the absence of discriminative knowledge, identifies itself with them.” Present an appraisal of Yoga Soteriology in the light of the above statement. 15
   (c) “Our Yoga is a double movement of ascent and descent.” Discuss the above statement in the context of Sri Aurobindo’s conception of Integral Yoga. 15
8. (a) How do I know that I know? Answer this question with reference to the Naiyayikas, the Bhatta Mimamsakas, and the Prabhakaras. 20
   (b) “A candidate who is never seen to be studying during the day time secures a high position in a competitive exam.” How would the Bhatta Mimamsakas and the Naiyayikas explain the success of this candidate? Discuss. 15
   (c) On what grounds do the Prabhakaras and the Naiyayikas reject memory as a source of knowledge? Discuss. 15

Philosophy Optional Question Paper-II (2024)

Time Allowed: Three Hours · Maximum Marks: 250
Eight questions divided into two sections. Question 1 and Question 5 are compulsory, and three more are to be attempted choosing at least one from each section.

Section ‘A’: Socio-Political Philosophy

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) Briefly discuss Plato’s concept of justice. 10
   (b) Present a brief account of origin and development of Social Contract Theory. 10
   (c) Discuss the main factors responsible for caste discrimination. 10
   (d) Present an exposition of the concept of alienation as propounded by Marx. 10
   (e) Compare socialism and communism as two distinct political ideologies. 10
2. (a) Delineate the central tenets of Humanism. How does advent of enlightenment in Europe pave the way for Humanism? Discuss. 20
   (b) Critically evaluate the concepts of liberty and equality as political ideals. 15
   (c) Present an exposition of Gandhi’s views on secularism as one of the foundational principles of democracy. 15
3. (a) Do you agree with the view that Aristotle was more successful than Plato in steering a middle course between ‘Statism’ and ‘Individualism’? Discuss with arguments. 20
   (b) On what grounds would you accept or reject the idea of capital punishment as an effective deterrent? Discuss. 15
   (c) Is economic development a necessary condition, sufficient condition, both or neither, in order to achieve social progress? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 15
4. (a) Discuss gender equality as a necessary condition to achieve empowerment of women. Also examine the role of women empowerment in curbing the menace of female foeticide. 20
   (b) What insights does the *Arthasastra* offer with regard to the concept of sovereignty? Does it have any relevance in the modern times? Critically discuss. 15
   (c) Discuss the role of ethical principles of tolerance and coexistence for the rise of multicultural societies. 15

Section ‘B’: Philosophy of Religion

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) Can there be a religion without morality? Discuss. 10
   (b) Write a note on the notion of absolute truth in the context of religion. 10
   (c) Discuss the concept of liberation (Apavarga) according to Nyaya-Vaisheshika. 10
   (d) Discuss the role of reason in religion. 10
   (e) Explain the analogical nature of religious language. 10
6. (a) Is it necessary to adhere to the notions of immortality of soul and rebirth in order to have a robust conception of liberation? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 20
   (b) How does the notion of God in Spinoza’s philosophy embedded in his metaphysics of substance and attributes? Critically discuss. 15
   (c) “The problem of evil is a direct offshoot of how God is conceptualised in a system.” Critically discuss. 15
7. (a) State and evaluate Buddhism as a religion without God. 20
   (b) What kind of epistemic justifications are possible with regard to claims to revelation? Discuss with your own comments. 15
   (c) Present an exposition of ontological proof for the existence of God along with its criticism. 15
8. (a) Distinguish between cognitivist and non-cognitivist account of religious language. Does the cognitivist account lead to any contradiction? Answer with reference to the philosophical views of R. B. Braithwaite. 20
   (b) “In order to be conceived as the ultimate cause of the world, God must necessarily have some form of physical manifestation.” Do you agree with this view? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. 15
   (c) Discuss the main features of religious experience according to Advaita Vedanta. 15

Related Philosophy Optional Resources

• Philosophy Optional Portal (Master Guide & Resources)
• Philosophy Optional Syllabus for UPSC Mains
• Philosophy Optional Topic-Wise PYQs (1990–2026)
• Philosophy Optional Booklist & Standard Reference Sources
• Philosophy Optional Preparation Strategy for 300+ Marks
• Philosophy Optional Success Rate in UPSC: Official Annual Report Data