Philosophy Optional · Question papers

UPSC Philosophy Optional Question Papers 2013–2026

All 28 Philosophy Optional papers from CSE Mains 2013 to 2026, Paper I and Paper II as set, with the marks for every sub-part. For every question since 1990 sorted by syllabus unit, open the topic-wise PYQ bank.

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Exam pattern

  • Two papers of 250 marks each, three hours per paper: Paper I (History and Problems of Philosophy) and Paper II (Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion).
  • Eight questions per paper in two sections of four. Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory; three more are answered with at least one from each section, five in all.
  • Questions 1 and 5 have five parts of 10 marks each, to be answered in about 150 words. Every other question carries 50 marks split into parts.

CSE Mains 2026

2026 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026. The 2026 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)How does Spinoza explain the relationship between states of mind and bodily processes? (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Explain the distinction between Intuitive knowledge and Demonstrative knowledge as propounded by Locke. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Explain Hegel’s idea that the concept of the Absolute as being is the concept of the Absolute as becoming as a process of self-development. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Compare and contrast the notion of entelechy as presented in Aristotle’s and Leibniz’s philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)“I can prove now, for instance, that two human hands exist.” How does Moore use this illustration to prove the existence of an external world? Critically discuss. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)What, according to Aristotle, is the fundamental problem of metaphysics? Discuss this in relation with Aristotle’s account of the essence of the world, where he rejects the views of both the Atomists and Plato. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)How does Hume account for ideas of reason? How does Kant respond to Hume’s views in this regard? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Describe Sartre’s notion of consciousness as ‘nothing’. How is it different from Husserl’s notion of consciousness? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Why are states of consciousness ascribed to anything at all and why are they ascribed to the same things to which we also ascribe physical properties? How does Strawson answer these questions in his work Individuals? (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Explain Heidegger’s conception of authenticity and inauthenticity as modes of Dasein’s being. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Can words be viewed as the ideas in the mind of the person who uses them? Answer with reference to the philosophy of later Wittgenstein. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)“Wittgenstein’s difficulty about not being able to say anything within a given language about the structure of that language can be met by the idea of a hierarchy of languages.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Analyze and discuss the different ways in which Kant and Hegel conceived the relationship between reality and our thinking about reality. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)How did the logical positivists try to make philosophy a handmaid to science and establish a unified language of science? Why did their project fail? Discuss. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)According to Nyaya view of inference (Anumana), what are the characteristics that ascertain the validity of inferential sign (Hetu)? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)How does the Buddhist theory of momentariness problematize the issue of human action and responsibility? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is Purusha one or many? Explain and examine the Samkhya position in this context. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Critically explain the nature of Samavaya (inherence) as propounded in Vaisheshika philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Explain, as per Yoga philosophy, the nature of Samadhi with special reference to the difference between Samprajnata Samadhi and Asamprajnata Samadhi. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)“A mango tree is grown out of a mango seed.” How do the Samkhya philosophers explain this process through their theory of causation by rejecting their rival perspectives? (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Explain the basic characteristics of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga for the realization of supramental consciousness through triple transformation. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Bring out the main points of contestation between Naiyayikas and Prabhakara Mimamsakas with reference to knowledge through words (Shabdabodha). (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Critically explain the arguments presented by the Akhyativadins for explaining erroneous cognition. Evaluate the arguments against Akhyativadins by the Anyathakhyativadins. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Explain the meaning of seven steps of judgement (Saptabhanginaya) and its application in Jaina’s Syadvada for advocating a philosophy of non-absolutism (Anekantavada). (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Do you agree with Nimbarka’s explanation of the nature of God, Souls and Matter? Justify your answer. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Present an account of Upamana as an instrument of knowledge (Pramana). How is Nyaya view of Upamana different from Mimamsa view? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Critically explain Ramanuja’s conception of Brahman with special reference to the difficulties in explaining the relation of Brahman to Spirit (Cit) and Matter (Acit). (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Why does the Dualistic School of Vedanta consider that differences (Bhedas) have separate existence and constitute the unique nature of things? Answer with reference to the theory of five-fold difference (Pancavidhabheda). (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Why does Rawls consider it necessary that the two principles of justice be applied in lexical order? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Is Plato’s vision of an ideal state compatible with the rights and liberties of individual citizens? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Anarchism is not an independent political ideology in itself, rather it is inspired by liberalism on the one hand and socialism on the other. Analyze. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)On what grounds does Marxism criticize pure democracy? (10 marks)
  • 1(e)How does value based education address the problem of corruption? (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Evaluate the importance of Kautilya’s theory of Rajamandala in the context of sovereignty. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Does providing land and property rights to women constitute a necessary condition or a sufficient condition or both for ensuring social equality among the genders ? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Examine the challenges faced by a multicultural society in creating a harmonious balance between group rights and individual rights. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Retributivism presents a deontological justification for capital punishment, whereas deterrence presents a consequential justification for it. Explain. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)“The two antagonistic state structures – monarchy and democracy, both share some common features with dictatorship”. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Negative liberty seems to embody the idea of ultimate personal freedom, whereas positive liberty enables individuals to achieve their full potential. Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)How has Ambedkar applied the concept of ‘Social Endosmosis’ for annihilation of castes. Evaluate its relevance for contemporary debates on identity and the politics of difference. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Explain the contrast between the monistic and pluralistic approaches to sovereignty. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Examine the relationship between democracy and development. Does democracy promote or hinder development? (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)On what grounds does William James characterize mystical states as a genuine expression of religious experience? Elaborate. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Discuss Aquinas argument from the contingency of the world to prove the existence of God. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)How does Paul Tillich’s idea of faith as ultimate concern address the relation between faith, doubt and reason? Evaluate. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Critically discuss the views of R. B. Braithwaite on the nature of religious language. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)“If religion were a subject of reason alone, it would have lacked an experiential account.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons in support of your answer. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)In what sense does St. Augustine’s identification of all evil as either sin or as the punishment of sin succeed or fail in providing a coherent account of both moral and natural evil? Evaluate. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)How does the issue of moral autonomy conflict with conception of religion as a source of morality? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Does the idea of Religious Pluralism necessarily entail moral relativism? Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Analyse R. M. Hare’s concept of ‘blik’ and assess whether it successfully defends the meaningfulness of religious language. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Discuss the difference between personalistic and impersonalistic notions of God in the context of devotion. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Can conflicting truth claims among religions be reconciled within the framework of religious pluralism? Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Critically evaluate the shift in Gandhi’s view from ‘God is Truth’ to ‘Truth is God’, in the context of interrelation between religion and morality. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Explain and examine Madhvacharya’s arguments for the existence of God. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Present an account of criticisms against omniscience and omnipotence as attributes of God. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2025

2025 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2025. The 2025 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)“Ideas are timeless and spaceless.” Elucidate this statement with reference to Plato. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)“In the empirical world, everything is a compound of Matter and Form.” Evaluate this statement with reference to Aristotle. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Explain the difference between being-for-itself and being-in-itself as presented by Sartre. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)“The golden mountain is very high.” Discuss this statement in the context of Russell’s theory of descriptions. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)How does Hegel challenge Kant’s distinction between Phenomena and Noumen ? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)What are the basic tenets of Rationalism? How does Descartes build a system of Philosophy in consonance with them? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)“All determination is negation.” Comment with reference to Spinoza. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Examine Hume’s refutation of Causal relation and Kant’s response to it. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)“We should look not to an ideal language which derives its meaning from facts and has a precise logical structure but empirically, to the ways in which languages are actually used.” Explain the transition from early views of Wittgenstein to his later views on language and meaning with reference to this statement. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Present an exposition of the verification theory of meaning as propounded by the logical positivists. In this context also differentiate between the “strong” and the “weak” sense of the word “verifiable”. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)“Blue is one object of sensation and green is another, and consciousness, which both sensations have in common, is different from either.” Present an account of Moore’s refutation of idealism with reference to this statement. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)How is Husserl’s account of “I think” different from that of Descartes? Critically discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)“We can affirm the truth of any sentence in our total system, in the face of whatever experience, just so long as we are prepared to make adjustments elsewhere.” Discuss this statement in the light of Quine’s ‘Two Dogmas of Empiricism’. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Explain Berkeley’s doctrine of nominalism and his refutation of Abstract ideas. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Explain the ground on which Carvaka rejects inference (anumana) as a valid source of knowledge. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Present an exposition of the debate between Naiyayikas and Buddhists with reference to the notion of Pramana and Pramanaphala. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Delineate the main points of difference between the theory of intrinsic validation (svatah pramanyavada) and theory of extrinsic validation (pratah pramanyavada) in classical Indian philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Examine Ramanuja’s seven objections against Mayavada of Advaita. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Present an exposition of Nyaya-Vaisheshika’s theory of causation. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Present a detailed account of Gautama’s definition of Perception. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)How is Brahman conceptualised in Advaita philosophy as both Nimitta and Upadana Karana of the World? Discuss with suitable examples. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Discuss the debate between the Bhatta and the Prabhakara mimamsakas with reference to the nature of Non-existence (Abhava) and its knowledge. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Why does Sharnkara consider Sämkhya Philosophy as his chief opponent ( pradhana malla )? Examine his arguments against Samkhya Philosophy. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Explain the nature of God and its role in Kaivalya in yoga philosophy. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Is Jaina philosophy pluralistic and realistic? Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Discuss the idea of Bimba-pratibimbavada as presented in Vedanta philosophy along with its soteriological significance. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)‘Both Ascetic and materialist are partial in their negation of each other’. Explain Sri Aurobindo’s integral philosophy in the light of the above statement. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Is Buddhist notion of Nirvana in consonance with their conception of Kshanikavada (momentariness) and Nairatmyavada (no-soul theory)? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)“Corrupt practices reveal an inherent tension between particularistic and universalistic normative standards.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons and justification for your answer. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)How does gender as a social construct affect individuals’ opportunities, rights, and access to resources? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Is the idea of secularism necessarily related to the idea of religious pluralism? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Comment on Plato’s critique of Democracy. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Discuss the salient features of equality according to J.S. Mill. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Present a detailed account of the debate between Gandhi and Ambedkar on the issue of caste discrimination. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Evaluate Marxism as a Political Ideology. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)There is no permanent friend or permanent enemy.’ Discuss this statement in the light of Kautilya’s view on Sovereignty. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Can one’s right to life be absolute? Answer with reference to the idea of Capital Punishment. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)How does the reconciliation of opposites take place in the Humanism of Tagore? Evaluate. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Is it possible to reconcile the concept of development with tribal values to bring social and economic progress? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)How are both equality and liberty inadequate as social and political ideals without justice? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Can Theocracy be accepted as a valid form of Government? Give reasons and justification in support of your answer. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)“Duties are of the nature of obligation while Rights are of the nature of entitlement. Therefore there is no necessary connection between the two.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons and justification for your answer. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Discuss Carvaka’s critique of the belief in the existence of suprasensible entities. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Is religious language symbolic? Give reasons and justification in support of your answer. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Present an account of Nietzsche’s criticism of religion and morality. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Discuss the nature of embodied liberation (jivanmukti) with reference to Advaita Vedanta. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)How does Aquinas’ account of Faith as “an intellectual assent” reconcile the juxtaposition between Reason and Faith? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Present an account of Design argument to prove the existence of God along with its criticism by David Hume. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Explain the main tenets of the Process Theodicy as an explanation of the problem of evil. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Distinguish between Natural Theology and Revealed Theology in the context of the Propositional view of Revelation. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)How does the Vedantic view of Religious Pluralism address the conflicting truth claims of different faiths? Answer with reference to Swami Vivekananda’s view of Universal Religion. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)What proofs do Nyaya philosophers offer for the existence of God? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Is the concept of immortality of soul a necessary condition for Rebirth? Discuss with reference to the Bhagavad Gita. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Evaluate the nature and object of Religious Experience as explained by Radhakrishnan in ‘The Hindu View of Life’. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Is it necessary for the normative principles to bear reference to God in order to produce a feeling of obligation in a moral agent? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Discuss the Advaitic notion of indescribability (anirvachaniyata) in the context of nature of religious language. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2024

2024 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2024. The 2024 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Differentiate between Plato’s and Aristotle’s conceptions of form. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)How does Kant respond to Hume’s scepticism with regard to a priori judgments? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(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 marks)
  • 1(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 marks)
  • 1(e)How does Kierkegaard define truth in terms of subjectivity? Critically discuss. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 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 marks)
  • 2(b)How does Spinoza establish that God alone is absolutely real with his statement— “Whatever is, is in God”? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Critically examine Kant’s objections against the ontological argument for the existence of God. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Explain Russell’s notion of incomplete symbols. Also explain how this notion leads to the doctrine of logical atomism. (20 marks)
  • 3(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 marks)
  • 3(c)Among the rationalists, whose account of mind-body problem is compatible with the notion of human freedom and free will? Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 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 marks)
  • 4(b)Why does Husserl think that essences exhibit a kind of continuity between consciousness and being? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Explain the nature of the two dogmas that Quine refers to in his paper *Two Dogmas of Empiricism*. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Do you think Carvaka’s philosophy is positivistic in nature? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Explain the six reasons offered by the Naiyayikas to prove the existence of the self. (10 marks)
  • 5(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 marks)
  • 5(d)How does Bhatta’s view of nature of word-meaning and sentential-meaning differ from Prabhakara’s view? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(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 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Differentiate between the Carvaka’s refutation of self as a transcendental category and the Buddhist rejection of atma. (20 marks)
  • 6(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 marks)
  • 6(c)What is the distinction between Bhavabandha and Dravyabandha, according to the Jainas? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 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 marks)
  • 7(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 marks)
  • 7(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 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)How do I know that I know? Answer this question with reference to the Naiyayikas, the Bhatta Mimamsakas, and the Prabhakaras. (20 marks)
  • 8(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 marks)
  • 8(c)On what grounds do the Prabhakaras and the Naiyayikas reject memory as a source of knowledge? Discuss. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Briefly discuss Plato’s concept of justice. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Present a brief account of origin and development of Social Contract Theory. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Discuss the main factors responsible for caste discrimination. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Present an exposition of the concept of alienation as propounded by Marx. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Compare socialism and communism as two distinct political ideologies. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Delineate the central tenets of Humanism. How does advent of enlightenment in Europe pave the way for Humanism? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Critically evaluate the concepts of liberty and equality as political ideals. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Present an exposition of Gandhi’s views on secularism as one of the foundational principles of democracy. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 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 marks)
  • 3(b)On what grounds would you accept or reject the idea of capital punishment as an effective deterrent? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 3(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 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 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 marks)
  • 4(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 marks)
  • 4(c)Discuss the role of ethical principles of tolerance and coexistence for the rise of multicultural societies. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Can there be a religion without morality? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Write a note on the notion of absolute truth in the context of religion. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Discuss the concept of liberation (Apavarga) according to Nyaya-Vaisheshika. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Discuss the role of reason in religion. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Explain the analogical nature of religious language. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 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 marks)
  • 6(b)How does the notion of God in Spinoza’s philosophy embedded in his metaphysics of substance and attributes? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)“The problem of evil is a direct offshoot of how God is conceptualised in a system.” Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)State and evaluate Buddhism as a religion without God. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)What kind of epistemic justifications are possible with regard to claims to revelation? Discuss with your own comments. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Present an exposition of ontological proof for the existence of God along with its criticism. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 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 marks)
  • 8(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 marks)
  • 8(c)Discuss the main features of religious experience according to Advaita Vedanta. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2023

2023 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2023. The 2023 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)“Percepts without concepts are blind and concepts without percepts are empty.” In the light of this statement discusses how Kant reconciles rationalism with empiricism. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)“History is a process of dialectical change.” In the light of this statement discuss Hegel’s approach in understanding history. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)“That thing is said to be free which exists solely from the necessity of its own nature, and is determined to action by itself alone-” Discuss Spinoza’s views on freedom and determinism in the light of the above statement. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)How does Kierkegaard argue against Hegel’s idea of universal spirit in favor of the individual as the essence of spirit? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)What are the main arguments offered by Kant to prove that apriori synthetic are judgments possible? Discuss with examples. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Critically analyse Hume’s argument that causality is a matter of habit/custom involving psychological principle of association. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Present an exposition of Aristotle’s distinction between actuality and potentiality. Does it provide a solution to the problem of being and becoming as presented in ancient Greek philosophy? Discuss with suitable examples. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Discuss Descartes’ theory of innate ideas and the grounds on which Locke refutes it. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Does the rejection of metaphysics as proposed by Logical Positivists relate to problem of meaning or problem of knowledge or nature of things or all of them together? Discuss with suitable examples. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Elucidate the significance of bracketing and reduction in Husserl’s phenomenological method. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)“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)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Why does Strawson consider person to be a primitive concept? What implication does does it have for the mind-body dualism? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Why according to Russell is the proposition & “The present king of France is bald” problematic? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)What were the main reasons that led Wittgenstein to shift from picture-theory of meaning to use-theory of meaning? Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)“All human knowledge is empirical and therefore relative.” Critically examine Jaina theory of sevenfold judgement (saptabhanginaya) in the light of the above statement. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)“If Purusha and Prakriti are two completely independent realities, then no relation between the two is possible-” In the light of this statement make a brief presentation of Shankara’s criticism of Samkhya dualism (10 marks)
  • 5(c)What is the Advaitin interpretation of the great sentence (mahavakya) “Thou art that’ (tattvam asi)? Briefly discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Present an account of Vaiseshika’s view of negation in the light of their statement. “Negation always has a counterpositive and absolute negation is an impossibility (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Explain the nature and role of Supermind in evolution as per Aurobindo’s philosophy. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Discuss Ramanuja’s criticism of Shankara’s conception of Brahman and ishvara (God). (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Present Bhatta’s view of anupalabdhi (non-cognition) as a valid means of knowledge. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Elucidate Naiyayikas view of ordinary and extraordinary perception. Are they justified in accepting that universals are perceived? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Elucidate Naiyayikas account of fallacies of the middle term in relation to five characteristics of a valid middle term. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Liberation is defined by Advaita Vedantins as ‘attainment of that which is already attained’. How does Shankara illustrate this statement? Discuss with your own comments. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Explain Chitta and its modifications in the philosophy of Yoga. Why does Yoga philosophy prescribes cessation of modifications of Chitta? Give reasons in support of your answer. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)“Ignorance of dependent origination is suffering while its knowledge is cessation of suffering.” Present an account of Buddhist soteriology in the light of the above statement. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Write a note on Nyaya notion of Pragabhava (prior non-existence). How does this notion help Naiyayikas in defending their position on causation against the Samkhya View of causation ? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Do words refer to universals or particulars or both? Present an exposition of Nyaya and Mimamsa position with regard to the above question along with suitable examples. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)What is meant by justice as fairness? Explain Rawls’ theory of justice. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Critically examine the anarchist’s view that “all States always and everywhere are illegitimate and unjust.” (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Do you agree that the rights concerning land and property have empowered women? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Critically examine the challenges faced by a multicultural society with reference to India. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)If monarchs are above politics, can monarchy be a systematic form of government? Discuss . (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Elucidate why the absolute nature of sovereignty was rejected by Laski. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Do you agree that duty and accountability must be given priority over rights for the better functioning of a State? Justify your answer. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)In the present scenario, will the emphasis on skill education enhance development? Evaluate. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Explain Historical Materialism and discuss its relevance in the context of social development and change. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Critically analyze the social and political significance of Ambedkar’s notion of annihilation of caste. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)How does gender discrimination lead to female foeticide and social imbalance? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)“Severity of punishment should be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime.”– Do you agree that while punishing a juvenile, the nature of the crime should be considered? Justify your answer. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Explain the challenges faced by a democratic state and the ways to overcome them. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Secularism is not a rejection of religion but acceptance of all religions. Discuss. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Elucidate the personalistic and impersonalistic aspects of God. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Can religious beliefs be justified? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Does religion influence moral behavior? Explain the interactive relation between religion and morality. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Discuss Wittgenstein’s view about the non-cognitive nature of religious language. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)What is Agnosticism? How do agnostics conceptualize the relation between religion and God? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Critically examine Plato’s apriori proofs for the immortality of the soul. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)In what sense is God both immanent and transcendent in theism? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Explain the rational and irrational aspects of faith in the discourse of religion. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Critically examine the arguments of Nyaya for the existence of God. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Examine the significance of the concept of rebirth in the theory of Karma. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Explain the symbolic nature of religious language according to Tillich. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)All evil is either sin or punishment for sin. –St. Augustine. Critically discuss. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Does religious pluralism invite inter-religious conflicts and destroy the truth of religion? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Examine the relation between mystical experience and revelation and expound their significance in religious life. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2022

2022 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2022. The 2022 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)How does Plato use the theory of forms to establish the realtion between epistemology and metaphysics? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)What is Bertrand Russell’s method of logical anaysis? How does it ultimately end in establishing atomic theory of meaning? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Establish the tenabilty of later Wittgenstein’s motion of language as form of life. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)What is psychologism? Critically discuss the way Edmund Husserl avoids the problem of psychologism in the discourse of transcendental phenomenology. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)What is apperception, according to Immanuel Kant? Discuss with reference to his transcendental exposition of space and time. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Provide a critical account of Heideggaer’s Being-in-the-world and discuss the problem of ‘authenticity’ in the context of Dasein. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Is Aristotle’s view of nature of identity in consonance with his metaphysical view of causes as processes? Discuss giving suitable examples. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Discuss the concept of substance according to Spinoza. Does his discussion on substance lead to pantheism? Substantiate your view. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)How does Kant construct and antinomies to illustrate the illusory tendencies of pure reason? Explain and examine the antinomies presented by Kant. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)What is the dialectical method in the philosophy of George Wilhelm Hegal? How does this method help in realizing the Absolute? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Is there any difference between pictorial form and logical form in Ludwig Wittgenstein’s picture theory of langauge? How does the logical form define the realtion between language and reality? Explain. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)How does Soren Kierkegaard define the notion of ‘subjectivity’ ? Explain it with reference to three stages of existence as propounded by him. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)How does Rene Descartes explain the notion of certainty with reference to knowledge of the self? Critically discuss the way it differs from the knowledge of the world. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Why and how does John Locke refute the innate ideas? Elucidate the nature and source of knowledge in Locke’s epistemology. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Examine and evaluate the proofs given by Samkhya philosophy to prove the existence of Purusa. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)What is the ontological status of Samanya, according to Vaisesika Philosophy ? Critically examine. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Discuss the nature and different stages of Samadhi as per Patanjala voga and examine the role of Isvara in it. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)How does Jaina view of Karma bear upon their soteriology? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Do you agree with the view that ‘Vivartavada is the logical development of Parinamavada’? Give reasons in support of your answer. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)How compatible is Buddhist theory of momentariness with their theory of Karma? In this regard how do Buddhists respond to objections raised by their opponents? Critically discuss. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)‘The doctrine of ‘Relativism’ of Jain Philosophy cannot be logically sustained without postulating ‘Absolutism’.’ Critically examine this view and give reasons in the favour of your answer. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)How do refute the Nyaya view that Implication (arthapatti) is reducible to Inference (anumana) and establish Implication as an independent means of valid a knowledge (pramana)? Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Inspite of accepting the intrinsic validity of knowledge, why and how Prabhakar and Kumarila differ in their interpretation of erroneous cognition? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Explain Buddhist concept of Trratna and their internal relation. Critically examine the consistency of Trratnas with the Buddhist concept of No-soul (Nairatmyavada). (15 marks)
  • 7(c)How do Naiyayikas respond to Carvika’s objections against inference (anumana) and establish inference as an independent means of knowledge? Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)‘Brahma satyam jaganmithya, jivo Brahmaiva näparah’. In the light of this statement explain the ontological status of Isvara, Jiva and Säksi as elucidated in Advaita Vedanta. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Explain and evaluate the role of integral yoga in the process of triple transformation for individual evolution as expounded by Sri Aurobindo. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)How does the concept of liberation (Moksa) of Madhvacarya differ from that of Ramanujacarya ? Explain. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Discuss the role of enlightenment movement in the rise of humanism. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)In the age of individualism and universal franchise, what role does caste play in body-politic? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)In corruption a systemic issues or an ethical issue? Give your critical comments. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)“Complete liberty may lead to inequality while order and restrictions imply a necessary loss of freedom.” Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)What are the moral justifications of capital punishment? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)What arguments does Bodin present to contend that sovereignty must be absolute, perpetual and undivided? Is Bodin’s conception of sovereignty compatible with the social and political ideals of equality, justice and liberty? Critically discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Critically evaluate Gandhi’s views on eradication of caste discrimination. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Explain the difference between the notion of equity and equality with reference to Marxian philosophy. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Do you agree that economic development does not on its own lead to human development and social progress? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Discuss gender as a cultural category as opposed to sex as a biological category. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Critically analyze the descriptive and normative aspects of multiculturalism. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Discuss propaganda as a challenge to democratic form of government. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Does idea of unconditional rights necessarily lead to anarchy? Critically examine. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Are monarchy and theocracy necessarily related? Discuss with reference to the theory of Divine Right. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Write an essay on Spinoza’s notion of God and His attributes. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)“One can have morality without religion but not religion without morality.” Discuss? (10 marks)
  • 5(c)“Immortality of Soul is a necessary postulate for rebirth.” Critically examine with reference to Buddhism. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Is the notion of faith indispensable for the idea of revelation? Critically comment. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Explain the difference between the cognitivist and non-cognitivist approaches to the religious language with reference to the statement– “God exists”. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Present a critical exposition of different arguments offered by St. Thomas Aquinas to prove the existence of God also known as ‘Five Ways’. Which one of them do you find philosophically most interesting? Give reasons in support of your answer. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Explain the relation between the God and the Self according to Ramanujacharya. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)If God is the Absolute Creator, then the responsibility of the evil cannot belong to the human agent. Critically examine. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)“An unquestionable acceptance of only one Absolute Truth will ineviatably result in religious exclusivism.” Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Is it possible to have an idea of Liberation without the conception of a real agent? In this context, discuss the difference between Advaita and Vishistadvaita systems of thought. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Discuss the nature and variety of religious experiences as presented by William James. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Discuss the main points of distinction between a priori and a posteriori arguments for the existence of God. Which one according to you should be preferred over the other? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Discuss the nature of Soul and Bondage according to Jainism. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Critically examine the idea of Brahman in Advaita philosophy of Shankara. Does Shankara’s conception of Brahman leave room for theism? Discuss. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2021

2021 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2021. The 2021 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)“There is a red chair.” How would Plato explain this statement with the use of his theory of forms? Examine. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)“Potentiality is indefinable” according to Aristotle. Explain the relationship between potentiality and actuality with reference to the above philosophical position by taking the example of a “wooden table”. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)“Sensible things are those only which are immediately perceived by sense.” Explain Berkeley’s theory of knowledge with reference to the above statement. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Examine the concept of personal identity by Locke. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)“The relation between cause and effect is one of constant conjunction”. Examine Hume’s “criticism of causation in the light of the above statement. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Discuss Hegel’s Dialectical method. Explain how his dialectical method leads him to the Absolute Idealism. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)What according to Logical Positivists are “pseudo statements”? How does one identify “pseudo statements”? Critically discuss with examples. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Explain how Cartesian formulation of ontological argument is criticized by Kant. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)What are the main arguments put forward by Moore in his paper “A Defence of Common Sense” to prove that there are possible propositions about the world that are known to be true with certainty? Do you think Moore’s arguments provide a sufficient response to objections presented by the sceptic against the possibility of knowledge? Give reasons in support of your answer. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)What according to Strawson are basic particulars? What reasons does Strawson offer to believe that ‘material bodies’ and ‘persons’ are basic particulars? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Critically examine Quine’s postulate of empiricism without the dogmas with reference to his ‘Two Dogmas of Empiricism’. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Present a critical exposition of Husserl’s criticism of ‘natural attitude’. How does Husserl propose to address the problems involved in natural attitude through his phenomenological method? (20 marks)
  • 4(b)“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)
  • 4(c)What does Wittgenstein mean by the statement – “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent?” Critically discuss. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Does the seed contain the tree? Discuss with reference to Nyaya-Vaišeshika Philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Explain with reference to Nyaya Philosophy, the nature of sabda as the advice of apta (a reliable person). (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is ‘inseparability’ (ayuta-siddhatva) a necessary condition or a sufficient condition for defining characteristics (laksana) of samavaya (inherence)? Explain with reference to Vaiseshika Philosophy.’ (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Distinguish between pudgala-nairatmyavada and dharma-nairatmyavada with reference to Buddhist Philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Comment on the bearing of Carvaka epistemology on the rejection of transcendental entities by them. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Explain with reference to Yoga Philosophy, the nature of klešas. How does the removal of these lead to kaivalya? (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Explain the Sankhya view on three gunas (guna-traya) and their modifications. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)What, according to Mimarsakas, is the ontological status of abhava (absence) and how does one know it? Explain and examine. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)How do the advocates of (anirvacaniya-khyati)refute the position of the Naiyayikas and establish the position of Advaitins regarding the problem of error? Critically discuss. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)If everything is momentary then how do the Buddhists explain the problem of memory and personal identity? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Explain the Jain view of seven-fold (sapta-bhangi) ‘Naya’. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)According to Shri Aurobindo, “the awakening of the psychic being and its gradual prominence over all other parts of the being is the first step in the conscious evolution of man’. Explain and examine. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Compare and contrast the views of Shankara and Ramanuja regarding the status of the world. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Explain the status of jiva and jagat in the philosophy of Madhvacarya. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Discuss critically the distributive theory of justice as propounded by R. Nozick. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)How does Rousseau distinguish between natural and artificial inequality? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Is Austin’s theory of sovereignty compatible with democracy? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Does monarchy as a form of government leave room for individual freedom? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)How far can land and property rights be effective in empowerment of women? Explain. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Discuss whether Amartya Sen’s idea of justice is an improvement upon Rawl’s theory of justice. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Explain the reformative theory of punishment and discuss whether this is in tune with human dignity. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Can humanism be a substitute for religion? Explain and evaluate in the context of the present Indian society. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Discuss anarchism as a political ideology. Is it possible to dispense with political authority completely? Give reasons for your answer. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Discuss the distinctive features of Gandhian Socialism and its contemporary relevance. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Discuss Kautilya’s contribution regarding the concept of sovereignty. Is it applicable in a democratic form of government? Explain. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Discuss the views of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar regarding caste-discrimination in Indian Society. What are the measures suggested by him for its elimination? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)What are the main causes of female foeticide in India? Is it the result of demonic application of technology only? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Evaluate whether the social contract theory adequately addresses the different issues of human rights. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Discuss the nature of God as propounded in Nyaya philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Discuss the possibility of Absolute Truth in the context of religious pluralism. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is religious freedom possible in a multireligious society? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Is religious life possible without the belief in God? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Discuss the paradox of omnipotence of God in the context of the existence of evil. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Discuss the concept of immortality of soul with special reference to Hindu tradition. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Elucidate the concept of liberation according to Advaita Vedanta. Explain the role of knowledge in the attainment of liberation. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Do you consider that religion and morality are inseparable? Give reasons for your answer. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Discuss the role of reason and faith in religion. Can reason be a regulative force in the formulation of religious beliefs? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Give a critical account of moral argument to prove the existence of God. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Explain the concept of religious experience in the light of Vedantic tradition. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)What is the non-cognitive theory of religious language? Explain critically in the light of R.B. Braithwaite’s views. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Discuss and evaluate the doctrine of Karma as an essential postulate of Hinduism. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Explain the symbolic nature of religious language with special reference to Paul Tillich. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2020

2020 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2020. The 2020 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)How does Aristotle argue for the priority of Form over Matter and Actuality over Potentiality? Critically discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)How does Leibniz’s conception of monads bear upon his views on determinism and freedom? Discuss with your own comments. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)What, according to Husserl, is wrong with psychologism? How does Husserl address the problems with psychologism in his phenomenological method? (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Examine the reality of the phenomenal world in the light of Hegel’s Absolute ldealism. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)“The Soul of Superman is Good.” Critically examine the above statement in the light of logical positivism. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)“I never can catch myself at any time without perception, and never can observe anything but the perception.” How does this statement by Hume problematize the philosophical notion of personal identity? How does Kant deal with this problem in his Critique of Pure Reason? (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Critically discuss the following statement by Moore: “If anyone tells us that to say ‘Blue exists’ is the same thing as to say that ‘Both blue and consciousness exists makes a mistake and a self-contradictory mistake. ” (15 marks)
  • 2(c)“The reason that I call my doctrine logical atomism is because the atoms that I wish to arrive at as the sort of last residue in analysis are logical atoms and not physical atoms” Write a note on the nature of atomic facts according to Russell in the light of the above statement. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)What does Kierkegaard mean by saying “Subjectivity is the truth” in the context of the problem of ‘the single individual’? (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Evaluate the role of spatio-temporal thinking in objective thinking with reference to Strawson’s theory of basic particulars. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)When does Pure Reason enter into the realm of Antinomies according to Kant? Is Kant’s notion of Antinomies of Pure reason a natural culmination of his distinction between Phenomena and Noumena: provide reasons in favour of your answer. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)“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)
  • 4(b)“From the necessity of the divine nature there must follow infinitely many ways.” Explain this statement by Spinoza along with some possible criticisms. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)But could we also imagine a language in which a person could write down or give vocal expression to his inner experiences, his feelings, moods and the rest-for his private use”? Critically discuss the answer offered by Witlgenstein to this question. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Examine the concept of Karma according to Jainism. How does it bear upon their conception of Liberation? (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Explain the difference between Samprajnata Samàdhi and Asamprajnata Samadhi (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Why is memory not a valid knowledge according to Mihatmasa? (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Point out the significance of the five-fold differences in the Dualistic School of Vedänta. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Discuss the nature and types of matier according to Nimbarka. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)How is Kanikavada a logical derivative of Pratityasamutpada in Buddhism? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Critically evaluate Carvaka’s’ rejection of Ákasa as one of the elements of reality and examine their criticism of transmigration of Soul. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Explain the concepts of ‘Anyathasiddha’ and ‘Ananyathâsiddha’ in the context of Asatkaryavada. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)A mango tree is grown out of a mango seed,” How will Samkhya system explain this process through their theory of causation by rejecting their rival perspectives? (20 marks)
  • 7(b)How does Buddhism explain Self in terms of Pancaskandhas? What is Liberation for Buddhism if there is no Soul? (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Explain the differences of conception of Reality between Cárvaka and Jainism. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)What does Aurobindo mean by lite divine as a possibility and inevitability? (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Critically evaluate the logical and metaphysical status of Visesa in the context of Vaisesika Philosophy. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Discuss the nature and relationship of Jiva and Jiva-sakshi to non-dualism. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Is the concept of ‘liberty’ realizable in the modern technological society? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)How far do the liberal democracies safeguard the interests of minorities? Evaluate critically. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Do you think that secularism requires complete separation of religion and ‘state’? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Explain the importance of Bodin’s theory of sovereignty. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Do you think that the prevailing pandemic will lead to anarchism in society? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)State and examine the Gandhian concept of social development. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)How far is Marxism as a philosophical doctrine relevant in the present context? Justify your answer. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Is Indian tradition antagonistic to Individual Rights? Consider it by taking recourse to the doctrine of Human Rights. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)State and examine B.R. Ambedkar’s contribution towards social changes in Independent India. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)What do you understand by multiculturalism? Explain the structural Characteristics that make a nation multicultural. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Do you think that retributive theory of punishment is against human rights? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Do you agree that empowering women can eliminate gender discrimination? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)State and explain the relevance of the doctrine of sovereignty in times of globalization. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)How far do the social and political regimes condition corrupt practices in a nation-state? Discuss. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Discuss the significance of ‘Religion’ vis-à-vis the present scientific and technological development. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)The concept of ‘Immortality’ is a basic presupposition of religion. Elaborate your answer. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is it acceptable that the History of Religions is the History of Conflicts? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Is there any compatibility between ‘Freedom of Will’ and ‘Omnipotent God’? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)What is the importance of religious tolerance in a multicultural pluralistic society? Justify your answer. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)It is ontological proof for the existence of God by St. Anselm logical? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)What is the logical problem of evil? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Critically examine the concept of God as prerequisite for a religion. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Discuss the nature of God in Hinduism with special reference to Vishisht Advaita (Qualified non-dualism). (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Distinguish between prayer and worship and determine their place in religion. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)What are the basic tenets of faith? Distinguish between faith and belief. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Does religious language carry cognitive content? Elucidate in detail. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Are religious beliefs and practices incompatible with moral behaviour ? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Do you accept that knowledge, Action and Devotion are the means to attain liberation in Indian tradition? Discuss. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2019

2019 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2019. The 2019 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)What does Plato want to prove by his ‘Allegory of Cave’? (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Can hallucination be regarded as an intentional act of Husserl? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)What is the role of dialectics in realizing the truth in Hegel’s philosophy? (10 marks)
  • 1(d)How does Descartes prove the existence of things other than himself and God? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Explain Quine’s arguments against synthetic-analytic distinction. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 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 marks)
  • 2(b)What are the reasons for development changes in substance according to Aristotle? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)What do you understand by Spinoza’s statement that what is, cannot be other than what it is? Explain. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Is Dasein authentic existence for Heidegger? How does he relate temporality with Dasein? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Show how Wittgenstein’s critique of solipsism culminates in the critique of private language. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Why is Moore’s philosophy called common-sense realism? (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)How does Kant argue for the transcendence of Space and Time? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Is there any element of necessity in causal relations according to Hume? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)How does Sartre look at the problem of freedom of choice and determinism? Explain. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Justify the status of Abhava as a category in Vaisesika philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)How do the Yogacara Buddhists deny the existence of the external world? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Are the Carvakas consistent when they hold that inference is not a source of knowledge? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Critically discuss the metaphysical status of a Jiva and a Purusa according to Sankhya philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)How did Mimamsa establish the authority of Vedic knowledge? (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)How is reality defined by the Jainas? How is this theory of reality reflected in their view on judgements? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)What is the role of Jnanalaksana-pratyaka in explaining Anyathakhyati? (15 marks)
  • 6(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 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)How does Udayana prove the existence of God through Karyat, Ayojanat, Dhrtyadeh and Sruteh? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 7(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 marks)
  • 7(c)What is Pratityasamutpada? How do the Buddhists apply this concept to prove that everything is momentary? (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Explain the logical consequences of the metaphysical absolutism of Advaitism. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Explain the unique position of the super mind in the metaphysical scheme of Aurobindo’s philosophy. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Which Sankhya proof for the existence of Prakriti actually shows that there can be only one Prakriti? Justify your answer. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)How far do you think Jhon Rawls is continuing with Plato’s concept of justice? (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Discuss the status of theocracy in the modern secular state. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Evaluate Mahatma Gandhi as a political anarchist. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Is corruption not a form of mass violence? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Can gender equality be realized within a socialist regime? Analyse. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Do rights make citizens accountable to the state? Argue in the context of the present Indian scenario. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)What are the descriptive and normative perspectives on ideas of multiculturalism? (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Does technological development lead to progress in the ethical standards of the society? Explain. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Discuss how far does Austin’s concept of sovereignty go along with Kautilya’s concept of sovereignty. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Consider critically, that gender discrimination is a rather man-made concept but not naturally endowed. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)What do you consider to be the future of Marxism in the context of the prevalent free market economy? (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 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 marks)
  • 4(b)Does liberty put limitations to equality? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Does capital punishment weaken the doctrine of social justice? Discuss. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)What is instrumental to self-revelation: Faith or Reason? Justify your position. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Is religion a uniting force for humanity in the globalizing world as of today? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Can there be a philosophical argument to support violence in the name of religion? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Does a devoted commitment to a religious way of life make man go astray from social morality? Examine. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)State and evaluate the profs for the existence of God as propounded in Jainism. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Discuss whether and how does religious symbolism lead to mysticism. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)What role do the concepts of evil and profane play to provide a firm foundation to religion ? (15 marks)
  • 6(c)How would a religious person deny the possibility of a religion without God? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)expound and explain the central problem in the discussion between religious pluralists and religious exclusivists. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Secular ethics cannot fully resolve as to why one should be moral all the time. Examine. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)How far can religious experience be made a topic of public discourse Analyse. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)State and explain the doctrines of Karma, Rebirth and Rebirth and Reincarnation in Hinduism. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)State and evaluate the personalistic and impersonalistic aspects of God. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Discuss the relationship between man and God according to any one of the religions in India. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2018

2018 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2018. The 2018 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Are the two truths-“The Sun will rise tomorrow” and ‘2+2-4′ of the same necessity for Hume? Give reasons in favour of your answer. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Is there any place for freedom in Leibniz’s philosophy, when he speaks of “pre-established harmony’? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)How does the notion of ‘family resemblance’ help Wittgenstein to uphold that ‘Language is a game’? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)How does Sartre connect inauthenticity with bad faith? Why does Sartre show that inauthenticity and bad faith lead to alienation? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)How does Strawson explain the concept of person in his philosophy? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)What is the reason for the difference in the definitions and classifications of substances made by Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz in spite of the fact that they all belonged to the rationalist school of thought? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Explain the significance of the Kantian dictum, ‘Understanding makes Nature’. How far do you agree that Hegel’s Absolutism is the culmination of the Kantian Dualism? Discuss. Give reasons in favour of your answer. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)How does Quine show that the notion of a prior knowledge as discussed by Kant is a metaphysical article of faith’? Give reasons for your answer. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)How does Berkeley establish that Mind and its ideas alone are real? How do Moore and Russell react to Berkeley’s view in this regard? Do you find any difference between Moore’s reaction and Russell’s one? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)How do the logical positivists show that metaphysical sentences are meaningless? Can their verification theory of meaning account for the meaningfulness of all scientific sentences? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)How does Wittgenstein apply the distinction between ‘saying’ and ‘showing’ to point to a single way of apprehending the most decisive problems of philosophy? Is he justified? Give reasons for your answer. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)What 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)
  • 4(b)Is the relation between the Idea and the World as discussed by Plato logically consistent? Discuss Aristotle’s views regarding this and also give arguments in favour of your answer. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)How is Russell’s theory of definite description related to his Logical Atomisin? Discuss and give reasons for your answer. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)How do the Vaišeshika philosophers explain the difference of the relationships in the Iwo cases-(i) the brown color of the table and (ii) the book on the table? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)How do the Madhyamika Buddhists apply the notion of Pratityasamutpada to establish their doctrine of Sunyata? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)What is the difference between the indescribability (Anirvacaniyata) of Brahman and the indescribability (Anirvacaniyata) of Maya in the Advaita Vedanta system? Discuss (10 marks)
  • 5(d)How do the Buddhists and the Nyaya philosophers explain our knowledge of ‘the absence of the jar on the table’? Answer in detail. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Is Purusa one or many? Explain the Sámkhya position in this regard and give arguments in support of your answer. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)How do the Naiyayikas prove the existence of God? Do the Yoga philosophers prove God in the same way? If yes, how? And if not, why? Give reasons for your answer. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Is it consistent for the Buddhists to admit the theory of Nairatmyavada and the doctrine of Nirvana simultaneously? Give reasons in favour of your answer. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)How do the Jaina philosophers explain ‘bondage’? What, according to them, is the distinction between “liberated soul’ and ‘bound soul’? What do the Jainas think about the condition of the ‘liberated soul’? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Give a comparative cxposition of the concept of Moksa as found in the systems of Višistadvaita, Dvaita, Suddhadvaita and Acintyabhedabheda. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)How do the Advaita Vedantins react to the Prakritiparinamavada of the Samkhya philosophy? How do the Särhkhyas defend their own position in this regard? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)How does Ramanuja refute the doctrine of Maya as propounded by Shankara? Why is Maya needed by both Råmånuja and Shankara to establish their doctrines? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Does the admission of Svayamprakashavada necessarily lead to the admission of Svatahpramanyavada? Discuss after the Naiyayikas, the Mimamsakas and the Advaita Vedantins. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Is Carvaka rejection of inference acceptable to the other systems of Indian philosophy? If not, why? Do you think the views of other systems to be justified? Give reasons for your answer. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)What is Evolution according to Sri Aurobindo? Describe the process of triple transformation and the nature of gnostic being in his philosophy. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)What is meant by liberal democracy? Does it require deeper principles for social cohesion to balance its own strong affirmation of individual rights? Give reasons from the Indian context. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Do you subscribe to the view that Indian cultural identity needs to integrate the principles of multi-culturalism and respect for the dignity of each person? Justify your answer. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)It is said that the traditional hold of caste-based groups on Indian social behaviour has survived all attempts to build alternate identities. Discuss in the light of M.K. Gandhi. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Discuss Kautilya’s concept of sovereignty in the light of Danda-neeti’. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)What measures do you suggest to eradicate corruption in Indian democracy? (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)How far can liberty and equality be considered as distinctive features of democracy? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Critically evaluate Laski’s view on sovereignty as a satisfactory position in political theory. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Do you subscribe to the political ideology of Anarchists? Justify your answer. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)What do you understand by multi-culturalism? How are globalization and multi-culturalism related? How does their relationship affect cultural changes? (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Are Marxian Socialism and individual freedom consistent? Discuss critically. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)What form of humanism do you approve of as relevant in the present-day context? Discuss in detail. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)“Human rights and human dignity would no longer be the product of a particular culture, rather a common human aspiration for an ideal world.” Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)How do you evaluate gender discrimination in the context of female foeticide? (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Is feminism an ideology for empowerment or for equality? Discuss. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)In what sense is the secular use of language different from the religious use of language? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)How far is it plausible to argue that the anti-theistic religions’ stand on the concept of rebirth is philosophically significant? (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Can you justify religion without God? Support your answer. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Can one claim that there is an inter-relatedness between ‘religiosity’ and ‘immorality’? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Is Hinduism poly-theistic? Give reasons for your answer. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Distinguish between Exclusivism, Inclusivism and Pluralism with regard to the conflicting truth-claims of different religions. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)“Truth is one, yet people perceive differently.” Critically evaluate by considering the present Indian context. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Does the concept of God entail the existence of God? Examine from the perspective of ontological argument. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)The terms “Sacred’ and ‘Holy’ have come to serve as generic names for the object of religion. Do you agree that one can have God as the object of religion? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Critically examine Braithwaite’s non-cognitive theory of religious language. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Evaluate the concept of Bhakti (Devotion) as a pathway to attain liberation. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Compare St. Thomas Aquinas’ five ways of knowing God with the arguments of the Nyaya School of Indian Philosophy for the existence of God. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Critically evaluate the Buddhistic arguments against the existence of God as the creator of the world. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Explain the significance of religious symbols as transcendent referent that mediates into the cultural, spatial and temporal world. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2017

2017 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2017. The 2017 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Elaborate Hegel’s dictum: “All identity is identity and difference.” (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Explain Husserl’s reasons for advocating phenomenological reductionism. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)How is the statement, ‘I met a man’, semantically problematic for Russell? How does he account for the meaningfulness of this statement? (10 marks)
  • 1(d)In what sense can ideas be both immanent and transcendent? Discuss in this context Plato’s theory of universals and particulars. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Show how Hume’s analysis of experience leaves no ground for belief in any permanent reality either physical or mental. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)How is ‘all bodies are extended’ an analytic judgement but ‘all bodies are heavy a synthetic judgement? Is ‘every event has a cause an analytic or a synthetic judgement? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)What is Wittgenstein’s picture theory of meaning? What are his reasons for giving up this theory and suggesting the use theory of meaning? (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Explain Aristotle’s theory of form and matter. How does it help him resolve the problem of change and permanence? (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Elaborate Kant’s theory of space and time. How does this theory enable him to explain how mathematical propositions can be both synthetic and a priori? (20 marks)
  • 3(b)What, according to Descartes, is a ‘clear and distinct idea’? What is the epistemological status of clear and distinct ideas? Does this account help Descartes prove that material objects exist? Explain. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)What are the two dogmas of empiricism that Quine attacks? What are his arguments against what he calls the second dogma? (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)How does Locke draw a distinction between primary and secondary qualities? Does he also draw a distinction between the idea of primary qualities and primary qualities as well as the idea of secondary qualities and secondary qualities? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)‘Does the sentence, ‘Whatever is coloured is extended’, satisfy the criterion of meaningfulness proposed by the logical positivists? Explain. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Discuss Heidegger’s concept of authenticity and explain how an inauthentic Dasein regains the lost self? (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)“The soul is nothing but conscious body.” What are the reasons for Carvaka in holding this view? (10 marks)
  • 5(b)What are the necessary characteristics of padartha according to Vaiseshika philosophy? (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Explain the conditions of valid hetu as propounded in Nyaya philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)What is meant by “yogashcittavrittinirodhah” ? Explain cittavritti and its effects according to Yoga philosophy. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Elucidate the role of catushkoti in explaining the nature of reality according to Madhyamika school of thought. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Explain the early Nyaya definition of perception. Why this definition is considered inadequate by the later Naiyayikas ? (20 marks)
  • 6(b)“The Jaina metaphysics is relativistic and realistic pluralism.” Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)What are the arguments of the Buddhists to establish Kshanikavada ? Do they necessarily lead to krtanasha and akstabhyupagama ?, (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)How do Madhyamikas, Yogacaravadins and Sarvastivadins differ among themselves concerning the nature of reality? How do Sarvastivadins differ among themselves with regard to knowledgeability of reality? (20 marks)
  • 7(b)How does Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga help in the realization of supramental consciousness? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Distinguish between vivartavada and parinamavada with reference to causation and explain how in the light of these theories Shankara and Ramanuja differ on the status of the world. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Explain the theory of Validity of Knowledge (pramanyavada) according to Mimamsakas. How did they criticize the Nyaya theory of Validity? (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Explain Ramanuja’s conception of God and examine the difficulties he faced in explaining the relation of God to matter and spirit. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Given its theory of causation, is it possible for Samkhya to explain the presence of consciousness in the world? Discuss. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Discuss in the context of anarchy whether the freedom of an individual is consistent with the sovereignty of the State. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Discuss whether a blending of monarchy with democracy is conceivable to avoid their undesirable defects for making the governance better for citizens and State. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Is caste discrimination a result of the superiority complex of a privileged class of the society or of religious rituals? Discuss with reference to the views propounded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Out of rights and duties, which one is prior to the other? Discuss in the context of accountability. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Discuss the different aspects of the fundamental distinction between democratic equality and the Marxian notion of equality. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Do you agree with the view that secularism as a western ideal is redundant in the Indian context? Discuss in the context of the multicultural Indian society. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Critically evaluate whether the ideal of social progress gives a secondary significance to an individual’s freedom over his duties. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Discuss whether Kautilya’s concept of sovereignty turns into a despotic rule. How far is it comparable to Bodin’s concept? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Does Marxism curb individual freedom in the name of protecting social justice? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Can you justify capital punishment for crimes like rape, murder and corruption? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Is empowerment of women a sufficient means to their equal rights to land, property and divorce? Discuss in the context of religious sanctions. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Evaluate the concept of social development as rooted in ethical principles against the concept of social progress being based on economic and political ideals. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)How far do Marx, Gandhi and Amartya Sen agree and disagree on the concept of justice in the Indian democracy? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Will a severe punishment for crimes against women change the mind-set of society? Justify your position. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Does a committed religious person go against social morality? Discuss from the moral perspective. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)How do you define a non-theological concept of evil? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is God necessary for religion? Justify your answer. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Discuss whether the doctrine of immortality of soul is indispensable for a religion. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Critically discuss the relationship of man with God in the Yoga system of philosophy. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Is there an essential difference between the concept of Liberation in theological and non-theological approaches to life? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Does religion guarantee the absolute truth? Discuss in the context of religious pluralism. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Compare and contrast the different forms of cosmological argument. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Is not the language of analogies more confusing and the language of symbols more unintelligible? Evaluate it in the case of a religious language. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)What will be the authority and acceptance of the absolute ethical values in the non-theological system of social practices? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Discuss whether the voluntarist’s theories of faith are adequate. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Can a religious person take an elastic view about religious ideals, principles and practices, etc. which are supposed to be eternal? Will it make the religion progressive or will it demolish its authority? Discuss critically. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)What is a non-theological concept of God? How is it different from a theological concept of God? Discuss with arguments. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)In order to make expressions of religious experiences communicable, what kind of language needs to be constructed and used? Explain. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2016

2016 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2016. The 2016 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)What is the logical necessity for Locke to introduce the concept of secondary qualities? Give reasons for your answer. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Examine Kant’s criticism on Descartes’ view of Self. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Why does Wittgenstein reject the possibility of private language? (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Explain verification theory. Does it lead to elimination of metaphysics? (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Discuss Quine’s attack on the analytic-synthetic distinction. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Does Aristotle treat matter as a ‘Substance’? Give reasons for your answer. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Critically examine Hume’s views on the relation of cause and effect. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Discuss Sartre’s notion of ‘Nothingness’. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Does Plato’s “Theory of Form’ explain the ‘change’ and ‘sensibility’ of matter? Give reasons for your answer. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)What, according to Kant, are ‘pure concepts’? Examine their role in the process of knowing. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Explain Russell’s view that “the physical object is a logical construction from sense- data”. Why does he call his metaphysical view ‘neutral monism’? (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)What, according to Husserl, is the task of a philosopher? Do you think his methods are relevant to philosophy? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)What is Hegel’s view on God? Do you think that his interpretation of God was contributive to the colonial and imperial expansionist designs? Explain. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Discuss the various stances on God taken by Rationalists and Empiricists. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Differentiate the concept of ‘Kaivalya’ as discussed in Jaina and Yoga philosophies. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)How does ‘Kshanikavada’ strengthen the arguments for ‘Nairatmyavada’? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Critically examine the role of ‘Prakriti’ in the process of evolution. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Examine Jaina stance of ‘Naya’. How does it differ from ‘Syadvada’? (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Evaluate Shankara’s position on Ishvara. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Does the ‘Doctrine of Dependent Origination’ reconcile the two extreme views law of causation, namely Satkaryavada and Asatkaryavada? Give reasons for answer. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Can the ‘Tattvartha’ theory of Jainism be acceptable for scientific explanation? Explain. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Is the doctrine of ‘Self’ acceptable in the modern age of science and reason? Examine the view in the light of Indian philosophy. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Discuss Aurobindo’s views on ‘Evolution’ and ‘Involution’. How do they differ from traditional Yoga philosophy? (20 marks)
  • 7(b)What would be Carvaka’s view on Vyapti? Can this view be acceptable to the Naiyayikas? Give reasons for your answer. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)What is the logical necessity for the Mimamsakas to treat ‘Arthapatti’ as an independent Pramana ? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)How do the Naiyayikas justify the introduction of ‘Abhava’ as an independent category ? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)What are Kleshas ? How can these be eliminated? Explain. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Give a critical exposition of the concept of ‘Brahman’ as discussed by Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)“Sovereignty is the supreme power over citizens and subjects, unrestrained by law. ” Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)A well-ordered society, according to Rawls, is effectively regulated by a public conception of justice. Do you agree ? Give reasons. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)“Socialism itself is the fulfilment of democracy.” Analyse. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Evaluate the statement that all human beings have certain unalienable rights. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)“The goal in punishing should be to reform the individual.” Comment. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Is liberty a positive and equal opportunity of self-realization? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)On what grounds does Laski criticize Austin’s concept of sovereignty? (15 marks)
  • 2(c)“The right of free speech implies the genuine independence of the judiciary and its complete separation from the executive.” Evaluate. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Is the State an agency for expressing the will of the ruling classes ? Examine. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Can we consider “freedom from domination” as one of the justifications for multiculturalism? Give reasons for your answer. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Is it possible to measure social progress independent of economic development ? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)“To me the female sex is not the weaker sex. It is the nobler of the two.” Evaluate this statement of Gandhi. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Do you agree that women become empowered through collective reflection and decision-making? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)How did Ambedkar analyse the caste system from the historical and social perspectives ? Explain. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Critically discuss the view that ‘modern sensibility and total obedience to a despotic God’ do not go hand in hand. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)“World-religion is a spiritualistic and humanistic composite.” Evaluate. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is Religious absolutism a threat to Religious pluralism? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Buddhism disbelieves in the immortality of soul, but accepts the phenomenon of rebirth. Examine. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Faith means human awareness of God; but it cannot be irrational. Analyse. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)The content of revelation is a body of truths expressed in statements or propositions. But it cannot be against reason. Discuss (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Compare and contrast the relation of man to the world in the oriental religions. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Show how the attributes of immanence and transcendence of God go with omnipresence and infinitude. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)State and evaluate the nature and validity of mystic experience. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)“Moral principles function better when they remain independent and unconnected with religion.” Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)“It would be self-contradictory to say that the most perfect conceivable being lacks the attribute of existence” Analyse. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)“If God is all-powerful, God must wish to abolish all evils; but moral and natural evils are rampant in the world.” How would a theist react to this? (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Among the different views of religious language, which one is more satisfactory and why? (15 marks)
  • 8(c)“The natural world is as complexly and manifestly designed as a watch.” Evaluate. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2015

2015 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2015. The 2015 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Aristotle’s distinction between actually’ and ‘potentiality’. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)esse est percipi. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Husserl’s notion of ‘bracketing’. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Strawson’s distinction between ‘M’ and ‘P’ predicates. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)G.E. Moore’s refutation of idealism. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Explain Kant’s division of categories. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Discuss why Heidegger introduces the concept of Dasein in his metaphysics. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Elucidate Quine’s arguments to show that analyticity is not synonymity. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Bring out the relationship between language games and forms of life. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Explain Leibnitz’s principle of ‘identity of indiscernibles’. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)What do we understand by incomplete symbols? What role do they play in Russell’s theory of meaning ? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Explain Plato’s theory of forms. Does it entail a kind of essentialism? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Does Descartes Cogito principle entail that he is an essentialist? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Bring 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)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Pancavidhabheda (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Jain concept of Dravya (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Alayavijnana (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Satkaryavada (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Elaborate Nyaya-Mimamsa debate on Pramanyavada. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)‘Our knowledge is confined to gunas alone’. Examine this statement in the light of Vaisheshika and Buddhist controversy. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Is anyathakhyativada an adequate explanation of error? Elaborate. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Compare and contrast the notion of Brahman in Shankara and Ramanuja. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)State and examine the Samkhya proofs for the existence of Purusha. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Explain the arguments of Carvaka to reject transcendental entities. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)What is bondage according to yoga philosophy? Explain the method of attaining Kaivalya in Patanjali’s yogasutra. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)What do Samvara and Nirjara mean? Explain their significance in Jaina theory of liberation. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)What is the role of Pratityasamutpada in explaining Dukha? Elucidate the means to overcome it. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)“Equality does not mean treating everyone equal.” Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Is civil disobedience in a democratic State justifiable? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Explain Harold Laski’s critique of sovereignty. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)How are individual and group rights reconciled in democracy? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)“Inequitable development leads to social conflicts rather than social progress.” Explain. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)What does gender discrimination mean? Is it not a violation of equality and social justice? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Does economic empowerment of women eliminate gender discrimination? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Evaluate Ambedkar’s critique of caste system. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Is multiculturalism a need of global society? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)“The aim of punishment is to defend the moral law and to do justice to criminal.” Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Evaluate the nature and functions of parliamentary democracy. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)“Man must grow materially as well as spiritually.” Evaluate this statement of Ambedkar. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)“Equality will be of no value without fraternity and liberty.” Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)How is religious nationalism a threat to secular State? Explain. (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Write a critical note on the attributes of God. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Is existence of God a necessary condition for the survival of religion? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is morality necessarily based on religion? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Is God the cause of natural evil ? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Do faith and reason go together? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)How can the religious language be verified? Is it correct to say that religious language is verified because it cannot be falsified? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Explain the nature of mysticism in Hinduism and Islam. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Can revelation be justified by reason? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Do you think that evil is a bitter pill which no theist can easily swallow? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)“Immortality means absence of Karma and Rebirth.” Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Examine the Nyaya arguments in favour of the existence of God. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)“An atheist may be a better man than a religious person bereft of moral values.” Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Examine the ontological and cosmological arguments in favour of the existence of God. (15 marks)
  • 8(c)What is liberation? Briefly discuss the ways to attain it as outlined in the systems of Vedanta. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2014

2014 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2014. The 2014 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)How are the synthetic a priori judgements justifiable according to Kant? Explain. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Bring out the significance of language games’ in Wittgenstein’s use theory of meaning. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Explain the significance of ‘bracketing’ in Husserl phenomenology. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Does Leibniz’s theory of pre-established harmony necessarily lead to determinism ? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)How far are Quine’s arguments in “Two Dogmas of Empiricism” justified ? Discuss. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Distinguish between knowledge and belief according to Plato. How is it based on his metaphysics ? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 2(b)Explain the doctrine of Cartesian dualism and examine critically arguments in favour of it. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Evaluate critically Hume’s criticism of theory of causation. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Are empirical statements conclusively verifiable? Discuss the limitations of ‘verification theory of meaning’. (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Why does Wittgenstein disagree with Bertrand Russell’s interpretation of atomism in the philosophy of Tractatus? Discuss. (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Are G. E. Moore’s arguments in defence of common sense satisfactory ? Give reasons. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Explain Kierkegaard’s concept of choice. How does the concept of choice in metaethics differ from normative ethics? Explain. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)State and evaluate Heidegger’s claim that temporality is the horizon against which the being of any entity is understood. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)Explain the significance of Aristotle’s doctrine of form and matter in his theory of causation. (15 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)“Limits of knowledge and world are determined by my sense perception.” Discuss this claim of Carvakas. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Explain the epistemological differences between Sautrantika and Vaibhashika schools of Buddhism. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Bring out the significance of the concept of adhyasa in Shankara’s philosophy to develop his metaphysics. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Are the arguments given in favour of existence of prakrti adequate in Samkhya philosophy ? Discuss. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Can arthapatti (postulation) be reduced to anumana (inference) ? Discuss it from the Mimamsa point of view. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)How is the theory of causation central to the theories of Reality in classical Indian tradition ? Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Explain the concept of Karma and discuss its various types according to Jain philosophy. (15 marks)
  • 6(c)How is an absence of an object known according to Naiyayikas and Mimamsakas ? Discuss. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Bring out the philosophical implications of introducing extraordinary (alaukika) perception in Nyaya philosophy. (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Explain the nature and levels of samprajnata samadhi. How does each level lead more towards asamprajnata samadhi? (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Examine the Samkhya view on liberation that “the self is neither bound nor liberates, nor does it transmigrate”. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)How does the nature of Brahman differ in the philosophy of Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva? Discuss critically. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)How does Nagarjuna explain the concept of Sunyata? (15 marks)
  • 8(c)How is Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga an advancement over Patanjala yoga ? Discuss. (15 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)If caste discrimination has continuity and hierarchy, which principle of justice can dissolve this problem? (10 marks)
  • 1(b)How does multiculturalism redefine liberal notions like identity, freedom and equality and reformulate its assumptions? (10 marks)
  • 1(c)How do we distinguish Liberal humanism and Marxist humanism? (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Explain the significance of John Austin’s theory of sovereignty. How does it differ from that of Hobbes? (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Can we say that racial supremacy is the main reason for genocide? Give reasons for your answer. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Which theory of punishment, retributive or restorative, do you recommend and why? (20 marks)
  • 2(b)“One is not born a woman, but she becomes a woman.” Critically comment on it. (15 marks)
  • 2(c)By eliminating alienation can we bring social progress? Critically analyse. (15 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Analyse the statement with reasons that “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely” (20 marks)
  • 3(b)What are the basic differences between Gandhi and Ambedkar regarding caste system in India? (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Discuss Amartya Sen’s principle of Niti as a critique of Nyaya. (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)“All human rights are centred on individual rights.” Discuss. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)Explain descriptive and normative perspectives on multiculturalism. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)In what sense is democracy a better form of Government than theocracy? (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)If God is regarded as ‘One’, will it give rise to religious conflicts? (10 marks)
  • 5(b)On what grounds, the dichotomy between ‘is’ and ‘ought’ can either be justified or rejected? (10 marks)
  • 5(c)What are the arguments given in favour of the immortality of the Soul? (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Can pluralist perspective vindicate Absolute Truth? (10 marks)
  • 5(e)How do you justify rebirth’ with or without the Soul? (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)How far can religious morality incorporate individual freedom? (20 marks)
  • 6(b)How do you formulate religious language as non-cognitive? (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Can it be self-contradictory to accept the idea’ of God but deny the ‘existence’ of God? (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Is evil reconcilable with the benevolent God? (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Discuss cosmological argument for the existence of God, and show its merits and demerits. (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Compare and contrast the concept of liberation according to ‘Advaita’ and ‘Vishistadvaita’. (15 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Elucidate the status of man in the realm between immanence’ and ‘transcendence’. (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Can reason be used to justify faith? (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Discuss the conflicting nature of religious experiences with special reference to Buddhism and Jainism. (15 marks)

CSE Mains 2013

2013 Philosophy Optional question papers

Paper I and Paper II as set in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2013. The 2013 paper post has the same paper on one page.

Paper I · History and Problems of Philosophy · 250 marks

Section A: Western Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Explain and evaluate Strawson’s arguments for his conception of the nature of a person. (10 marks)
  • 1(b)Explain Wittgenstein’s arguments against the possibility of private language. (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Distinguish necessary from empirical propositions. How is a necessary proposition justified?’Explain. 10. (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Discuss how by refuting the different concepts of substances Aristotle establishes his own theory of substance. (10 marks)
  • 1(e)What is an antinomy? Describe the major antinomies discussed by Kant. (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)Explain Plato’s ontological theory of Forms. Is ‘knowledge’ one of the Forms? Give reasons. (12.5 marks)
  • 2(b)State Kant’s view of causality. How far is Kant able to answer Hume’s objection that causal relation lacks logical necessity? (12.5 marks)
  • 2(c)Distinguish between atomic and general propositions. Show how they are justified true. (12.5 marks)
  • 2(d)Write a short critical essay on Spinoza’s conception of freedom of the individual. (12.5 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)Explain Descartes’ method of doubt. Can this method be used to justify his belief in the existence of God? Argue your case. (12.5 marks)
  • 3(b)Comment: ‘Movement is contradiction itself.’ Examine, in this context, Hegel’s dialectical method. (12.5 marks)
  • 3(c)Examine John Locke’s theory of substance. (12.5 marks)
  • 3(d)Examine Sartre’s distinction between Being-for-itself and Being-in-itself. (12.5 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Comment: ‘Moore’s defence of common sense essentially is defence of ordinary language. (12.5 marks)
  • 4(b)Analyse Kierkegaard’s concept of choice. Can there be, in his view, correct or incorrect choice Discuss. (12.5 marks)
  • 4(c)Give a critical account of Leibnitz’s’ principle of the identity of indiscernibles. (12.5 marks)
  • 4(d)Give a critical account of Hume’s theory of the Self. (12.5 marks)

Section B: Indian Philosophy

Question 5

  • 5(a)Analyse the relation between the theory of saptabhanginaya and anekantavada. (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Explain the Buddhists’ position of ‘Impermanence’ and show how the idea of Impermanence leads to the theory of momentariness of reality. (10 marks)
  • 5(c)How is the pramanya (validity/truth) of a statement determined? Examine, in this context, the theory of paratah- pramanyavada. (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Explain the possibility of jivanmukti. Critically compare it with the Yoga account of kaivalya. (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Explain Sri Aurobindo’s conception of cosmic salvation through spiritual evolution of the individual. (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)Describe the five types of differences (panchavidhabheda). Bring out their philosophical significance for Madhva’s theory. (12.5 marks)
  • 6(b)What is samavaya ? What are the grounds for accepting samavaya as a distinct padartha ? Discuss. (12.5 marks)
  • 6(c)Evaluate the relation, if any, between purusa and prakrti. (12.5 marks)
  • 6(d)How can Ishvara (God) be distinguished from Brahman (Absolute)? Which of the two concepts are philosophically better? (12.5 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)Analyse the Nyaya concept of vyapti and examine its relation to tarka. (12.5 marks)
  • 7(b)Evaluate Prabhakara Mimamsaka’s arguments for accepting shruti as pramana. (12.5 marks)
  • 7(c)Examine, the Nyaya-Vaisheshika arguments for the existence of jivatma (soul) . (12.5 marks)
  • 7(d)Distinguish between Svarupa laksana and Tatastha laksana of Brahman after Shankara. (12.5 marks)

Question 8 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 8(a)Comment : ‘Accepting sunyavada makes one indifferent to the pursuit of dharma. Examine, in this context, Nagarjuna’s arguments for sunyavada. (12.5 marks)
  • 8(b)‘Not karma, but knowledge alone leads to moksha.’ (Samkara). Do you agree? Justify your answer. (12.5 marks)
  • 8(c)Evaluate Ramanuja’s critique of Samkara’s theory of maya. (12.5 marks)
  • 8(d)Give a critical account of the concept of cittavritti in Yoga philosophy. (12.5 marks)
Paper II · Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion · 250 marks

Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy

Question 1

  • 1(a)Does corruption have not only a moral dimension but also an economic dimension? (10 marks)
  • 1(b)What is the significance of including duties of citizens in the Indian Constitution? (10 marks)
  • 1(c)Does the idea of equal respect to all religions provide a consistent and viable state policy? (10 marks)
  • 1(d)Does the combination of democracy and socialism lead to a more equitable society? (10 marks)
  • 1(e)Is there any impact of caste discrimination on democracy in Indian context? (10 marks)

Question 2

  • 2(a)What is meant by ‘democracy’? What are the various forms of democratic governments? (15 marks)
  • 2(b)Is a democratic government able to represent the interests of minority groups? (15 marks)
  • 2(c)Is a democratic government better than a benevolent dictatorship? Give reasons for your answer. (20 marks)

Question 3

  • 3(a)What do you understand by ‘gender equality’ and why is it important? (20 marks)
  • 3(b)Is economic independence essential for equality between men and women? (15 marks)
  • 3(c)Why is adequate representation of women in political institutions important in this context? (15 marks)

Question 4 · Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

  • 4(a)Explain and evaluate Aristotle’s conception of justice. (20 marks)
  • 4(b)What is meant by justice as fairness’? Explain the basic tenets of Rawls’ theory of justice. (15 marks)
  • 4(c)How is Amartya Sen’s approach to justice different from that of Rawls? (15 marks)

Section B: Philosophy of Religion

Question 5

  • 5(a)Is God indispensable for religion? (10 marks)
  • 5(b)Is religious morality consistent with individual freedom? (10 marks)
  • 5(c)Is there anything else other than human efforts which may be conducive to attainment of liberation? (10 marks)
  • 5(d)Do theists succeed in explaining the natural evil in the world as a necessary counterpart to good? (10 marks)
  • 5(e)Is religious faith opposed to reason? (10 marks)

Question 6

  • 6(a)State and elucidate the cosmological argument for the existence of God in Western and Indian philosophy. (20 marks)
  • 6(b)Discuss two main objections against this argument. Are theists able to answer these satisfactorily? (15 marks)
  • 6(c)Critically evaluate three major objections against the argument from design for the existence of God. (15 marks)

Question 7

  • 7(a)What is the nature of mystical experience? (20 marks)
  • 7(b)Is mystical experience open to different interpretations? (15 marks)
  • 7(c)Can mystical experience be regarded as a valid source of knowledge? (15 marks)

Question 8

  • 8(a)What is meant by saying that religious language is non-cognitive? (20 marks)
  • 8(b)Can religious language be said to be verifiable? (15 marks)
  • 8(c)Do cognitivists provide a cogent answer to the objection based on falsifiability? (15 marks)