UPSC Mains 2020 Philosophy Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Philosophy Optional PYQs

1. How does Aristotle argue for the priority of Form over Matter and Actuality over Potentiality? Critically discuss.

2. How does Leibniz's conception of monads bear upon his views on determinism and freedom? Discuss with your own comments.

3. What, according to Husserl, is wrong with psychologism? How does Husserl address the problems with psychologism in his phenomenological method?

4. Examine the reality of the phenomenal world in the light of Hegel's Absolute Idealism.

5. "'The Soul of Superman is Good."' Critically examine the above statement in the light of logical positivism.

6. "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

7. 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 exist', he makes a mistake and a self-contradictory mistake."

   5 marks

8. "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.

   5 marks

9. What does Kierkegaard mean by saying ''Subjectivity is the truth'"' in the context of the problem of 'the single individual'?

   20 marks

10. Evaluate the role of spatio-temporal thinking in objective thinking with reference to Strawson's theory of basic particulars.

    5 marks

11. 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? Give reasons in favour of your answer.

    15 marks

12. "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

13. "From the necessity of the divine nature there must follow infinitely many things in infinitely many ways."' Explain this statement by Spinoza along with some possible criticisms. 15 [ P.T.O.

14. "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 Wittgenstein to this question.

15. Examine the concept of Karma according to Jainism. How does it bear upon their conception of Liberation?

16. Explain the difference between Samprajfiata Samadhi and Asamprajiiata Samadhi.

17. Why is memory not a valid knowledge according to Mimarnsa?

18. Point out the significance of the five-fold differences in the Dualistic School of Vedanta.

19. Discuss the nature and types of matter according to Nimbarka.

20. How is Ksanikavada a logical derivative of Pratityasamutpada in Buddhism? Explain.

    20 marks

21. Critically evaluate Carvakas' rejection of Ak4§a as one of the elements of reality and examine their criticism of transmigration of Soul.

    5 marks

22. Explain the concepts of 'Anyathasiddha' and 'Ananyathasiddha' in the context of Asatkaryavada.

    5 marks

23. "'A mango tree is grown out of a mango seed."" How will Sarnkhya system explain this process through their theory of causation by rejecting their rival perspectives?

    20 marks

24. How does Buddhism explain Self in terms of Paficaskandhas? What is Liberation for Buddhism if there is no Soul?

    5 marks

25. Explain the differences of conception of Reality between Carvaka and Jainism.

    5 marks

26. What does Aurobindo mean by 'life divine' as a possibility and inevitability?

    20 marks

27. Critically evaluate the logical and metaphysical status of ViSesa in the context of Vaisesika Philosophy.

28. Discuss the nature and relationship of Jiva and Jiva-saksi according to non-dualism.