Philosophy Optional Syllabus

Philosophy Optional Syllabus

Compiled syllabus for Philosophy Optional Paper for UPSC CSE

Published on 05 Dec 2024 / Updated on 05 Dec 2024

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We have compiled the syllabus for Philosophy Optional Paper for UPSC CSE 2024. This syllabus includes all the topics that are covered in the paper.

Paper 1: History and Problems of Philosophy

  • WESTERN PHILOSOPHY
    • Plato and Aristotle: Ideas; Substance; Form and Matter; Causation; Actuality and Potentiality.
    • Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz); Cartesian Method and Certain Knowledge; Substance; God; Mind-Body Dualism; Determinism and Freedom.
    • Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume): Theory of Knowledge; Substance and Qualities; Self and God; Scepticism.
    • Kant: Possibility of Synthetic a priori Judgments; Space and Time; Categories; Ideas of Reason; Antinomies; Critique of Proofs for the Existence of God.
    • Hegel: Dialectical Method; Absolute Idealism.
    • Moore, Russell and Early Wittgenstein: Defence of Common Sense; Refutation of Idealism; Logical Atomism; Logical Constructions; Incomplete Symbols; Picture Theory of Meaning; Saying and Showing.
    • Logical Positivism: Verification Theory of Meaning; Rejection of Metaphysics; Linguistic Theory of Necessary Propositions.
    • Later Wittgenstein: Meaning and Use; Language-games; Critique of Private Language.
    • Phenomenology (Husserl): Method; Theory of Essences; Avoidance of Psychologism.
    • Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sarte, Heidegger): Existence and Essence; Choice, Responsibility and Authentic Existence; Being-in-the-world and Temporality.
    • Quine and Strawson: Critique of Empiricism; Theory of Basic Particulars and Persons.
  • INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
    • Carvaka: Theory of Knowledge; Rejection of Transcendent Entities.
    • Jainism: Theory of Reality; Saptabhanginaya; Bondage and Liberation.
    • Schools of Buddhism: PratItyasamutpada; Ksanikavada, Nairatmyavada.
    • 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.
    • Samkhya; Prakrit; Purusa; Causation; Liberation.
    • Yoga; Citta; Cittavrtti; Klesas; Samadhi; Kaivalya.
    • Mimamsa: Theory of Knowledge.
    • Schools of Vedanta: Brahman; Isvara; Atman; Jiva; Jagat; Maya; Avida; Adhyasa; Moksa; Aprthaksiddhi; Pancavidhabheda.
    • Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.

Paper 2

Socio-Political Philosophy

  • Social and Political ideals: Equality, Justice, Liberty.
  • Sovereignty: Austin, Bodin, Laski, Kautilya.
  • Individual and State: Rights; Duties and Accountability.
  • Forms of Government: Monarchy; Theocracy and Democracy.
  • Political Ideologies: Anarchism, Marxism and Socialism.
  • Humanism; Secularism; Multiculturalism.
  • Crime and Punishment: Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide, Capital Punishment.
  • Development and Social Progress.
  • Gender Discrimination: Female Foeticide, Land and Property Rights; Empowerment.
  • Caste Discrimination: Gandhi and Ambedkar.

Philosophy of Religion

  • Notions of God: Attributes; Relation to Man and the World. (Indian and Western).
  • Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique (Indian and Western).
  • Problem of Evil.
  • Soul: Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
  • Reason, Revelation, and Faith.
  • Religious Experience: Nature and Object (Indian and Western).
  • Religion without God.
  • Religion and Morality.
  • Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth. Nature of Religious Language: Analogical and Symbolic; Cognitivist and Non-cognitive.