Philosophy Optional Question Paper 2019

The UPSC Philosophy Optional Question Paper 2019 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 (2019)

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) What does Plato want to prove by his ‘Allegory of Cave’? 10
   (b) Can hallucination be regarded as an intentional act of Husserl? Explain. 10
   (c) What is the role of dialectics in realizing the truth in Hegel’s philosophy? 10
   (d) How does Descartes prove the existence of things other than himself and God? Discuss. 10
   (e) Explain Quine’s arguments against synthetic-analytic distinction. 10
2. (a) How do the logical positivists account for the meaning of general statements? Can the same account be applied to metaphysical statements? Discuss. 20
   (b) What are the reasons for development changes in substance according to Aristotle? Discuss. 15
   (c) What do you understand by Spinoza’s statement that what is, cannot be other than what it is? Explain. 15
3. (a) Is Dasein authentic existence for Heidegger? How does he relate temporality with Dasein? Discuss. 20
   (b) Show how Wittgenstein’s critique of solipsism culminates in the critique of private language. 15
   (c) Why is Moore’s philosophy called common-sense realism? 15
4. (a) How does Kant argue for the transcendence of Space and Time? Discuss. 20
   (b) Is there any element of necessity in causal relations according to Hume? Discuss. 15
   (c) How does Sartre look at the problem of freedom of choice and determinism? Explain. 15

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

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) Justify the status of Abhava as a category in Vaisesika philosophy. 10
   (b) How do the Yogacara Buddhists deny the existence of the external world? Discuss. 10
   (c) Are the Carvakas consistent when they hold that inference is not a source of knowledge? Discuss. 10
   (d) Critically discuss the metaphysical status of a Jiva and a Purusa according to Sankhya philosophy. 10
   (e) How did Mimamsa establish the authority of Vedic knowledge? 10
6. (a) How is reality defined by the Jainas? How is this theory of reality reflected in their view on judgements? Discuss. 20
   (b) What is the role of Jnanalaksana-pratyaka in explaining Anyathakhyati? 15
   (c) What is wrong according to the Carvakas with the following argument? All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal. Justify your answer with arguments. 15
7. (a) How does Udayana prove the existence of God through Karyat, Ayojanat, Dhrtyadeh and Sruteh? Discuss. 20
   (b) How would Yoga philosophy comprehend the Citta-levels of a Scientist, a God-realized Devotee and a Self-realized Yogi? Justify your answer. 15
   (c) What is Pratityasamutpada? How do the Buddhists apply this concept to prove that everything is momentary? 15
8. (a) Explain the logical consequences of the metaphysical absolutism of Advaitism. 20
   (b) Explain the unique position of the super mind in the metaphysical scheme of Aurobindo’s philosophy. 15
   (c) Which Sankhya proof for the existence of Prakriti actually shows that there can be only one Prakriti? Justify your answer. 15

Philosophy Optional Question Paper-II (2019)

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) How far do you think Jhon Rawls is continuing with Plato’s concept of justice? 10
   (b) Discuss the status of theocracy in the modern secular state. 10
   (c) Evaluate Mahatma Gandhi as a political anarchist. 10
   (d) Is corruption not a form of mass violence? Discuss. 10
   (e) Can gender equality be realized within a socialist regime? Analyse. 10
2. (a) Do rights make citizens accountable to the state? Argue in the context of the present Indian scenario. 20
   (b) What are the descriptive and normative perspectives on ideas of multiculturalism? 15
   (c) Does technological development lead to progress in the ethical standards of the society? Explain. 15
3. (a) Discuss how far does Austin’s concept of sovereignty go along with Kautilya’s concept of sovereignty. 20
   (b) Consider critically, that gender discrimination is a rather man-made concept but not naturally endowed. 15
   (c) What do you consider to be the future of Marxism in the context of the prevalent free market economy? 15
4. (a) Examine whether there is any difference between the views of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on the philosophical foundations of secular democracy. 20
   (b) Does liberty put limitations to equality? Discuss. 15
   (c) Does capital punishment weaken the doctrine of social justice? Discuss. 15

Section ‘B’: Philosophy of Religion

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) What is instrumental to self-revelation: Faith or Reason? Justify your position. 10
   (b) Is religion a uniting force for humanity in the globalizing world as of today? Discuss. 10
   (c) Can there be a philosophical argument to support violence in the name of religion? Discuss. 10
   (d) Does a devoted commitment to a religious way of life make man go astray from social morality? Examine. 10
   (e) State and evaluate the profs for the existence of God as propounded in Jainism. 10
6. (a) Discuss whether and how does religious symbolism lead to mysticism. 20
   (b) What role do the concepts of evil and profane play to provide a firm foundation to religion ? 15
   (c) How would a religious person deny the possibility of a religion without God? Discuss. 15
7. (a) expound and explain the central problem in the discussion between religious pluralists and religious exclusivists. 20
   (b) Secular ethics cannot fully resolve as to why one should be moral all the time. Examine. 15
   (c) How far can religious experience be made a topic of public discourse Analyse. 15
8. (a) State and explain the doctrines of Karma, Rebirth and Rebirth and Reincarnation in Hinduism. 20
   (b) State and evaluate the personalistic and impersonalistic aspects of God. 15
   (c) Discuss the relationship between man and God according to any one of the religions in India. 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