Philosophy optional syllabus for UPSC CSE

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PHILOSOPHY


PAPER-I

History and Problems of Philosophy
  1. Plato and Aristotle : Ideas; Substance; Form and Matter; Causation; Actuality and
    Potentiality.
  2. Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz); Cartesian Method and Certain Knowledge;
    Substance; God; Mind-Body Dualism; Determinism and Freedom.
  3. Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume) : Theory of Knowledge; Substance and Qualities; Self
    and God; Scepticism.
  4. Kant: Possibility of Synthetic a priori Judgments; Space and Time; Categories; Ideas of
    Reason; Antinomies; Critique of Proofs for the Existence of God.
  5. Hegel : Dialectical Method; Absolute Idealism.
  6. Moore, Russell and Early Wittgenstein : Defence of Commonsense; Refutation of Idealism;
    Logical Atomism; Logical Constructions; Incomplete Symbols; Picture Theory of Meaning;
    Sying and Showing.
  7. Logical Positivism : Verification Theory of Meaning; Rejection of Metaphysics; Linguistic
    Theory of Necessary Propositions.
  8. Later Wittgenstein : Meaning and Use; Language-games; Critique of Private Language.
  9. Phenomenology (Husserl): Method; Theory of Essences; Avoidance of Psychologism.
  10. Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sarte, Heidegger): Existence and Essence; Choice,
    Responsibility and Authentic Existence; Being-in-the-world and Temporality.
  11. Quine and Strawson : Critique of Empiricism; Theory of Basic Particulars and Persons.
  12. Carvaka : Theory of Knowlegde; Rejection of Transcendent Entities.
  13. Jainism : Theory of Reality; Saptabhanginaya; Bondage and Liberation.
  14. Schools of Buddhism : Prat Ityasamutpada; Ksanikavada, Nairatmyavada.
  15. Nyaya—Vaiesesika : Theory of Categories; Theory of Appearance; Theory of Pramana; Self,
    Liberation; God; Proofs for the Existence of God; Theory of Causation; Atomistic Theory of
    Creation.
  16. Samkhya; Prakrit; Purusa; Causation; Liberation.
  17. Yoga; Citta; Cittavrtti; Klesas; Samadhi; Kaivalya.
  18. Mimamsa: Theory of Knowlegde.
  19. Schools of Vedanta : Brahman; Isvara; Atman; Jiva; Jagat; Maya; Avida; Adhyasa; Moksa;
    Aprthaksiddhi; Pancavidhabheda.
  20. Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.
PAPER-II

Socio-Political Philosophy
  1. Social and Political ldeals : Equality, Justice, Liberty.
  2. Sovereignty : Austin, Bodin, Laski, Kautilya.
  3. Individual and State : Rights; Duties and Accountability.
  4. Forms of Government : Monarchy; Theocracy and Democracy.
  5. Political Ideologies: Anarchism; Marxism and Socialism.
  6. Humanism; Secularism; Multi-culturalism.
  7. Crime and Punishment : Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide, Capital Punishment.
  8. Development and Social Progress.
  9. Gender Discrimination : Female Foeticide, Land and Property Rights; Empowerment.
  10. Caste Discrimination : Gandhi and Ambedkar.
Philosophy of Religion
  1. Notions of God : Attributes; Relation to Man and the World. (Indian and Western).
  2. Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique (Indian and Western).
  3. Problem of Evil.
  4. Soul : Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
  5. Reason, Revelation and Faith.
  6. Religious Experience : Nature and Object (Indian and Western).
  7. Religion without God.
  8. Religion and Morality.
  9. Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth.
  10. Nature of Religious Language : Analogical and Symbolic; Cognitivist and Non-cognitive.


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