Philosophy Optional · Paper I · Western Philosophy

Existentialism: Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger Notes · PYQs

Free notes and every UPSC previous year question for Existentialism: Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger, Unit 10 of Paper I, Section A: the official syllabus, 8 topic-wise notes in syllabus order, and all 34 questions from 2000 to 2026 grouped by sub-topic.

8

Free notes

34

Questions listed

24

Asked since 2013

2000–2026

Years covered

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Syllabus Free notes Previous year questions All Philosophy units

Official UPSC syllabus

Existentialism: Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger: syllabus

The syllabus text for this unit in Paper I, Section A (Western Philosophy) of Philosophy Optional. Every note and question on this page maps to it.

Existence and Essence; Choice, Responsibility and Authentic Existence; Being-in-the-world and Temporality.

Free practice

Previous year questions: Existentialism: Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger

All 34 questions UPSC has set from this unit between 2000 and 2026, grouped by sub-topic with the most-asked first, newest first within each. Questions from 2013 onwards are shown; earlier ones open on a tap.

How often UPSC asks each sub-topic

Sub-topicQuestionsSince 2013Last asked
Sartre · Freedom and Choice532021
Kierkegaard · Subjectivity442024
Sartre · Existence-Essence422024
Sartre · Consciousness332026
Sartre · For-itself/In-itself322025
Heidegger · Authenticity222026
Heidegger · Temporality222019
Heidegger vs Husserl212018
Heidegger · Dasein212015
Kierkegaard · Choice222014
Heidegger · Being-in-the-world112022
Sartre · Bad Faith112018
Existentialism (General)102012
Kierkegaard · Faith102012
Spinoza and Sartre102009

Sartre · Freedom and Choice

5 questions · 3 since 2013 · last asked 2021

Asked since 2013 · 3

  • 2021“I can always choose, but I ought to know that if I do not choose, I am still choosing”. Critically discuss Sartre’s conception of choice and responsibility in the light of the above statement. (15 marks)
  • 2020“You can always make something out of what you have been made into.” Critically discuss this statement by Sartre with reference to his views on existentialism. (20 marks)
  • 2019How does Sartre look at the problem of freedom of choice and determinism? Explain. (15 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)

2004–2011 · 2 questions

  • 2011I am responsible for myself and for everyone else.” Discuss this statement in the light of Sartre’s existentialism (15 marks)
  • 2004Discuss Sartre’s conception of freedom (60 marks)

Kierkegaard · Subjectivity

4 questions · 4 since 2013 · last asked 2024

Asked since 2013 · 4

  • 2024How does Kierkegaard define truth in terms of subjectivity? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 2023How does Kierkegaard argue against Hegel’s idea of universal spirit in favor of the individual as the essence of spirit? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 2022How does Soren Kierkegaard define the notion of ‘subjectivity’ ? Explain it with reference to three stages of existence as propounded by him. (20 marks)
  • 2020What does Kierkegaard mean by saying “Subjectivity is the truth” in the context of the problem of ‘the single individual’? (20 marks)

Sartre · Existence-Essence

4 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2024

Asked since 2013 · 2

  • 2024What do the existentialist thinkers mean by the slogan “existence precedes essence”? How is human existence related to human freedom according to them? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2015Bring out the relationship between existence and essence in the case of human being. Explain the issues it gives rise to for human beings according to Sartre. (15 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)

2003–2009 · 2 questions

  • 2009Existence precedes essence”. Comment (20 marks)
  • 2003Existence precedes essence (20 marks)

Sartre · Consciousness

3 questions · 3 since 2013 · last asked 2026

Asked since 2013 · 3

  • 2026Describe Sartre’s notion of consciousness as ‘nothing’. How is it different from Husserl’s notion of consciousness? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 2023“Consciousness is what it is not and is not what it is.” In the light of this statement bring out the chief features of Sartre’s conception of consciousness. (15 marks)
  • 2016Discuss Sartre’s notion of ‘Nothingness’. (15 marks)

Sartre · For-itself/In-itself

3 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2025

Asked since 2013 · 2

  • 2025Explain the difference between being-for-itself and being-in-itself as presented by Sartre. (10 marks)
  • 2013Examine Sartre’s distinction between Being-for-itself and Being-in-itself. (12.5 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)

2000 · 1 question

  • 2000Sartre’s phenomenological ontology. (20 marks)

Heidegger · Authenticity

2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2026

Asked since 2013 · 2

  • 2026Explain Heidegger’s conception of authenticity and inauthenticity as modes of Dasein’s being. (15 marks)
  • 2017Discuss Heidegger’s concept of authenticity and explain how an inauthentic Dasein regains the lost self? (15 marks)

Heidegger · Temporality

2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2019

Asked since 2013 · 2

  • 2019Is Dasein authentic existence for Heidegger? How does he relate temporality with Dasein? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2014State and evaluate Heidegger’s claim that temporality is the horizon against which the being of any entity is understood. (15 marks)

Heidegger vs Husserl

2 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2018

Asked since 2013 · 1

  • 2018What is Epoché? How does Heidegger reject this method of phenomenological reduction? Explain Heidegger’s concept of ‘being in the world’ as opposed to the concept of a transcendental ego. (20 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)

2010 · 1 question

  • 2010How is the empirical ego and Heidegger different from the transcendent ego in Husserl? (30 marks)

Heidegger · Dasein

2 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2015

Asked since 2013 · 1

  • 2015Discuss why Heidegger introduces the concept of Dasein in his metaphysics. (15 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)

2008 · 1 question

  • 2008Heidegger’s contention that essence of “Dasein is its existence” (20 marks)

Kierkegaard · Choice

2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2014

Asked since 2013 · 2

  • 2014Explain Kierkegaard’s concept of choice. How does the concept of choice in metaethics differ from normative ethics? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 2013Analyse Kierkegaard’s concept of choice. Can there be, in his view, correct or incorrect choice Discuss. (12.5 marks)

Heidegger · Being-in-the-world

1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2022

Asked since 2013 · 1

  • 2022Provide a critical account of Heideggaer’s Being-in-the-world and discuss the problem of ‘authenticity’ in the context of Dasein. (20 marks)

Sartre · Bad Faith

1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2018

Asked since 2013 · 1

  • 2018How does Sartre connect inauthenticity with bad faith? Why does Sartre show that inauthenticity and bad faith lead to alienation? Discuss. (10 marks)

Existentialism (General)

1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2012

2012 · 1 question

  • 2012Elucidate Existentialism and indicate its strong and weak points in your own words (15 marks)

Kierkegaard · Faith

1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2012

2012 · 1 question

  • 2012Soren Kierkegaard clarified that “The function of prayers is not to influence God but rather to change the nature of one who prays.” Comment on this statement (12 marks)

Spinoza and Sartre

1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2009

2009 · 1 question

  • 2009Compare the views of Spinoza and Sartre on Freedom. (30 marks)

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Critique of Empiricism; Theory of Basic Particulars and Persons.

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