Philosophy UPSC PYQ 2014

Can it be self-contradictory to accept the 'idea' of God but deny the 'existence' of God?

How does Nagarjuna explain the concept of Sunyata ?

Evaluate critically Hume's criticism of theory of causation.

Which theory of punishment, retributive or restorative, do you recommend and why?

Explain the significance of 'bracketing' in Husserl phenomenology.

Bring out the philosophical implications of introducing extraordinary (alaukika) perception in Nyaya philosophy.

Explain the epistemological differences between Sautrāntika and Vaibhāsika schools of Buddhism.

How far can religious morality incorporate individual freedom?

Explain the doctrine of Cartesian dualism and examine critically arguments in favour of it.

"One is not born a woman, but she becomes a woman." Critically comment on it.

Can reason be used to justify faith?

"All human rights are centred on individual rights." Discuss.

In what sense is democracy a better form of Government than theocracy?

By eliminating alienation can we bring social progress? Critically analyse.

How do you justify 'rebirth' with or without the Soul?

How far are Quine's arguments in "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" justified ? Discuss.

Bring out the significance of 'language games' in Wittgenstein's use theory of meaning.

Examine the Sāmkhya view on liberation that "the self is neither bound nor liberates, nor does it transmigrate".

Explain the concept of Karma and discuss its various types according to Jain philosophy.

How is the theory of causation central to the theories of Reality in classical Indian tradition ? Discuss.

Is evil reconcilable with the benevolent God?

Are G.E. Moore's arguments in defence of common sense satisfactory ? Give reasons.

If God is regarded as 'One', will it give rise to religious conflicts?

Can we say that racial supremacy is the main reason for genocide? Give reasons for your answer.

How is Sri Aurobindo's integral yoga an advancement over Pātanjala yoga ? Discuss.

How does the nature of Brahman differ in the philosophy of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva ? Discuss critically.

State and evaluate Heidegger's claim that temporality is the horizon against which the being of any entity is understood.

Explain the significance of John Austin's theory of sovereignty. How does it differ from that of Hobbes?

How is an absence of an object known according to Naiyāyikās and Mīmāmsakas ? Discuss.

Explain the significance of Aristotle's doctrine of form and matter in his theory of causation.

How are the synthetic a priori judgements justifiable according to Kant ? Explain.

Distinguish between knowledge and belief according to Plato. How is it based on his metaphysics ? Explain.

How do we distinguish Liberal humanism and Marxist humanism?

Analyse the statement with reasons that "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".

"Limits of knowledge and world are determined by my sense perception." Discuss this claim of Carvakas.

Compare and contrast the concept of liberation according to 'Advaita' and 'Viśiṣṭādvaita'.

If caste discrimination has continuity and hierarchy, which principle of justice can dissolve this problem?

Why does Wittgenstein disagree with Bertrand Russell's interpretation of atomism in the philosophy of Tractatus ? Discuss.

Elucidate the status of man in the realm between 'immanence' and 'transcendence'.

Discuss cosmological argument for the existence of God, and show its merits and demerits.

Bring out the significance of the concept of adhyāsa in Sankara's philosophy to develop his metaphysics.

On what grounds, the dichotomy between 'is' and 'ought' can either be justified or rejected?

Can pluralist perspective vindicate Absolute Truth?

What are the basic differences between Gandhi and Ambedkar regarding caste system in India?

Explain Kierkegaard's concept of choice. How does the concept of choice in metaethics differ from normative ethics ? Explain.

Can arthāpatti (postulation) be reduced to anumāna (inference) ? Discuss it from the Mīmāmsā point of view.

Does Leibniz's theory of pre-established harmony necessarily lead to determinism ? Discuss.

Discuss the conflicting nature of religious experiences with special reference to Buddhism and Jainism.

Explain descriptive and normative perspectives on multiculturalism.

Discuss Amartya Sen's principle of Niti as a critique of Nyāya.

Are empirical statements conclusively verifiable ? Discuss the limitations of 'verification theory of meaning'.

How do you formulate religious language as non-cognitive?

Are the arguments given in favour of existence of prakṛti adequate in Sāmkhya philosophy ? Discuss.

Explain the nature and levels of samprajnata samadhi. How does each level lead more towards asamprajnata samadhi ?

How does multiculturalism redefine liberal notions like identity, freedom and equality and reformulate its assumptions?

What are the arguments given in favour of the immortality of the Soul?