Philosophy Optional Question Paper 2025

The UPSC Philosophy Optional Question Paper 2025 for the Civil Services Mains examination is reproduced below in full: Philosophy Paper-I and Paper-II, Section A and Section B, with verbatim official questions and marks for every question as UPSC printed them. For topic-wise categorization across past 25+ years, explore our comprehensive repository on Philosophy Optional Topic-Wise PYQs. You can also refer to the complete Philosophy Optional Syllabus for detailed micro-topic mappings.

Philosophy Optional Question Paper-I (2025)

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

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

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) “Ideas are timeless and spaceless.” Elucidate this statement with reference to Plato. 10
   (b) “In the empirical world, everything is a compound of Matter and Form.” Evaluate this statement with reference to Aristotle. 10
   (c) Explain the difference between being-for-itself and being-in-itself as presented by Sartre. 10
   (d) “The golden mountain is very high.” Discuss this statement in the context of Russell’s theory of descriptions. 10
   (e) How does Hegel challenge Kant’s distinction between Phenomena and Noumenа? Discuss. 10
2. (a) What are the basic tenets of Rationalism? How does Descartes build a system of Philosophy in consonance with them? Discuss. 20
   (b) “All determination is negation.” Comment with reference to Spinoza. 15
   (c) Examine Hume’s refutation of Causal relation and Kant’s response to it. 15
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
   (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
   (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
4. (a) How is Husserl’s account of “I think” different from that of Descartes? Critically discuss. 20
   (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
   (c) Explain Berkeley’s doctrine of nominalism and his refutation of Abstract ideas. 15

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

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) Explain the ground on which Carvaka rejects inference (anumana) as a valid source of knowledge. 10
   (b) Present an exposition of the debate between Naiyayikas and Buddhists with reference to the notion of Pramana and Pramanaphala. 10
   (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
   (d) Examine Ramanuja’s seven objections against Mayavada of Advaita. 10
   (e) Present an exposition of Nyaya-Vaisheshika’s theory of causation. 10
6. (a) Present a detailed account of Gautama’s definition of Perception. 20
   (b) How is Brahman conceptualised in Advaita philosophy as both Nimitta and Upadana Karana of the World? Discuss with suitable examples. 15
   (c) Discuss the debate between the Bhatta and the Prabhakara mimamsakas with reference to the nature of Non-existence (Abhava) and its knowledge. 15
7. (a) Why does Sharnkara consider Sämkhya Philosophy as his chief opponent ( pradhana malla )? Examine his arguments against Samkhya Philosophy. 20
   (b) Explain the nature of God and its role in Kaivalya in yoga philosophy. 15
   (c) Is Jaina philosophy pluralistic and realistic? Critically discuss. 15
8. (a) Discuss the idea of Bimba-pratibimbavada as presented in Vedanta philosophy along with its soteriological significance. 20
   (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
   (c) Is Buddhist notion of Nirvana in consonance with their conception of Kshanikavada (momentariness) and Nairatmyavada (no-soul theory)? Critically discuss. 15

Philosophy Optional Question Paper-II (2025)

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

Section ‘A’: Socio-Political Philosophy

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) “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
   (b) How does gender as a social construct affect individuals’ opportunities, rights, and access to resources? Critically discuss. 10
   (c) Is the idea of secularism necessarily related to the idea of religious pluralism? Discuss. 10
   (d) Comment on Plato’s critique of Democracy. 10
   (e) Discuss the salient features of equality according to J.S. Mill. 10
2. (a) Present a detailed account of the debate between Gandhi and Ambedkar on the issue of caste discrimination. 20
   (b) Evaluate Marxism as a Political Ideology. 15
   (c) There is no permanent friend or permanent enemy.’ Discuss this statement in the light of Kautilya’s view on Sovereignty. 15
3. (a) Can one’s right to life be absolute? Answer with reference to the idea of Capital Punishment. 20
   (b) How does the reconciliation of opposites take place in the Humanism of Tagore? Evaluate. 15
   (c) Is it possible to reconcile the concept of development with tribal values to bring social and economic progress? Discuss. 15
4. (a) How are both equality and liberty inadequate as social and political ideals without justice? Discuss. 20
   (b) Can Theocracy be accepted as a valid form of Government? Give reasons and justification in support of your answer. 15
   (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

Section ‘B’: Philosophy of Religion

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
   (a) Discuss Carvaka’s critique of the belief in the existence of suprasensible entities. 10
   (b) Is religious language symbolic? Give reasons and justification in support of your answer. 10
   (c) Present an account of Nietzsche’s criticism of religion and morality. 10
   (d) Discuss the nature of embodied liberation (jivanmukti) with reference to Advaita Vedanta. 10
   (e) How does Aquinas’ account of Faith as “an intellectual assent” reconcile the juxtaposition between Reason and Faith? Discuss. 10
6. (a) Present an account of Design argument to prove the existence of God along with its criticism by David Hume. 20
   (b) Explain the main tenets of the Process Theodicy as an explanation of the problem of evil. 15
   (c) Distinguish between Natural Theology and Revealed Theology in the context of the Propositional view of Revelation. 15
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
   (b) What proofs do Nyaya philosophers offer for the existence of God? Discuss. 15
   (c) Is the concept of immortality of soul a necessary condition for Rebirth? Discuss with reference to the Bhagavad Gita. 15
8. (a) Evaluate the nature and object of Religious Experience as explained by Radhakrishnan in ‘The Hindu View of Life’. 20
   (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
   (c) Discuss the Advaitic notion of indescribability (anirvachaniyata) in the context of nature of religious language. 15

Related Philosophy Optional Resources

• Philosophy Optional Portal (Master Guide & Resources)
• Philosophy Optional Syllabus for UPSC Mains
• Philosophy Optional Topic-Wise PYQs (1990–2026)
• Philosophy Optional Booklist & Standard Reference Sources
• Philosophy Optional Preparation Strategy for 300+ Marks
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