UPSC Mains 2019 Philosophy Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Philosophy Optional PYQs

1. What does Plato want to prove by his 'Allegory of Cave'?

2. Can hallucination be regarded as an intentional act by Husserl? Explain.

3. What is the role of dialectics in realizing the truth in Hegel's philosophy?

4. How does Descartes prove the existence of things other than himself and God? Discuss.

5. Explain Quine's arguments against synthetic-analytic distinction.

6. How do the logical positivists account for the meaning of general statements? Can the same account be applied to metaphysical statements? Discuss.

   20 marks

7. What are the reasons for developmental changes in substance according to Aristotle? Discuss.

8. What do you understand by Spinoza's statement that what is, cannot be other than what it is? Explain.

   5 marks

9. ifs Is Dasein authentic existence for Heidegger? How does he relate temporality with Dasein? Discuss.

   20 marks

10. Show how Wittgenstein's critique of solipsism culminates in the critique of private language.

11. Why is Moore's philosophy called common-sense realism?

    15 marks

12. How does Kant argue for the transcendence of Space and Time? Discuss.

    20 marks

13. Is there any element of necessity in causal relations according to Hume? Discuss.

14. How does Sartre look at the problem of freedom of choice and determinism? Explain.

    15 marks

15. Justify the status of Abhava as a category in Vaisesika philosophy.

16. How do the Yogacara Buddhists deny the existence of the external world? Discuss.

17. Are the Carvakas consistent when they hold that inference is not a source of knowledge? Discuss.

18. Critically discuss the metaphysical status of a Jiva and a Purusa according to Sankhya philosophy.

19. How does Mimarhsa establish the authority of Vedic knowledge?

20. How is reality defined by the Jainas? How is this theory of reality reflected in their view on judgements? Discuss.

    20 marks

21. What is the role of Jfidnalaksana-pratyaksa in explaining Anyathakhyati?

22. 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.

23. How does Descartes prove the existence of God through Karyat, Ayojanat, Dhrtyadeh and Sruteh? Discuss.

    20 marks

24. How would Yoga philosophy comprehend the Citta-levels of a Scientist, a God-realized Devotee and a Self-realized Yogi? Justify your answer.

25. What is Pratityasamutpadda? How do the Buddhists apply this concept to prove that everything is momentary?

    15 marks

26. Explain the logical consequences of the metaphysical absolutism of Advaitism.

    20 marks

27. Explain the unique position of the Supermind in the metaphysical scheme of Which philosophy.

28. Which Sankhya proof for the existence of Prakrti actually shows that there can be only one Prakrti? Justify your answer. ia kak 20SB—768