UPSC Mains 2025 Philosophy Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Philosophy Optional PYQs

1. "Ideas are timeless and spaceless." Elucidate this statement with reference to Plato.

   10 marks

2. "In the empirical world, everything is a compound of Matter and Form." Evaluate this statement with reference to Aristotle.

3. Explain the difference between being-for-itself and being-in-itself as presented by Sartre.

   10 marks

4. "The golden mountain is very high." Discuss this statement in the context of Russell's theory of descriptions.

   10 marks

5. How does Hegel challenge Kant's distinction between Phenomena and Noumena? Discuss

   10 marks

6. What are the basic tenets of Rationalism? How does Descartes build a system of Philosophy in consonance with them? Discuss.

   20 marks

7. "All determination is negation." Comment with reference to Spinoza.

8. Examine Hume's refutation of Causal relation and Kant's response to it.

9. "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

10. 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".

11. "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.

    5 marks

12. How is Husserl's account of "I think" different from that of Descartes? Critically discuss.

    20 marks

13. "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'.

    5 marks

14. Explain Berkeley's doctrine of nominalism and his refutation of Abstract ideas.

    5 marks

15. Explain the ground on which Carvaka rejects inference (anumana) as a valid source of knowledge.

    10 marks

16. Present an exposition of the debate between Naiyayikas and Buddhists with reference to the notion of Pramana and Pramanaphala.

17. 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. 0 3 SLPM-—P—PHL

18. Examine Ramanuja's seven objections against Mayavada of Advaita.

    10 marks

19. Present an exposition of Nyaya-Vaisesika's theory of causation.

    10 marks

20. Present a detailed account of Gautama's definition of Perception.

    20 marks

21. How is Brahman conceptualised in Advaita philosophy as both Nimitta and Upadana Karana of the World? Discuss with suitable examples.

    5 marks

22. Discuss the debate between the Bhatta and the Prabhakara mimamsakas with reference to the nature of Non-existence (Abhava) and its knowledge.

    5 marks

23. Why does Sarnkara consider Sarnkhya Philosophy as his chief opponent (pradhana malla)? Examine his arguments against Sarnkhya Philosophy.

    20 marks

24. Explain the nature of God and its role in Kaivalya in yoga philosophy.

    5 marks

25. Is Jaina philosophy pluralistic and realistic? Critically discuss.

    5 marks

26. Discuss the idea of Bimba-pratibimbavada as presented in Vedanta philosophy along with its soteriological significance.

    20 marks

27. 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.

    5 marks

28. Is Buddhist notion of Nirvana in consonance with their conception of Ksanikavada (momentariness) and Nairatmyavada (no-soul theory)? Critically discuss.