Philosophy UPSC PYQ 2019

Does liberty put limitations to equality ? Discuss.

Discuss whether and how does religious symbolism lead to mysticism.

What role do the concepts of evil and profane play to provide a firm foundation to religion ?

Which Sankhya proof for the existence of Prakrti actually shows that there can be only one Prakrti? Justify your answer.

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

Can gender equality be realised within a socialist regime ? Analyse.

Does a devoted commitment to a religious way of life make man go astray from social morality ? Examine.

How would a religious person deny the possibility of a religion without God ? Discuss.

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

Examine whether there is any difference between the views of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on the philosophical foundations of secular democracy.

Is corruption not a form of mass violence ? Discuss.

Does technological development lead to progress in the ethical standards of the society ? Explain.

Explain the unique position of the Supermind in the metaphysical scheme of Aurobindo's philosophy.

State and evaluate the proofs for the existence of God as propounded in Jainism.

How far do you think John Rawls is continuing with Plato's concept of justice ?

Does capital punishment weaken the doctrine of social justice ? Discuss.

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

Explain Quine's arguments against synthetic analytic distinction.

Secular ethics cannot fully resolve as to why one should be moral all the time. Examine.

Explain the logical consequences of the metaphysical absolutism of Advaitism.

What is instrumental to self-revelation : Faith or Reason ? Justify your position.

What are the descriptive and normative perspectives on ideas of multiculturalism ?

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

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

Is religion a uniting force for humanity in the globalizing world as of today ? Discuss.

How far can religious experience be made a topic of public discourse ? Analyse.

What do you consider to be the future of Marxism in the context of the prevalent free market economy ?

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

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

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

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

Expound and explain the central problem in the discussion between religious pluralists and religious exclusivists.

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

Can there be a philosophical argument to support violence in the name of religion ? Discuss.

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

Do rights make citizens accountable to the State ? Argue in the context of the present Indian scenario.

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

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.

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

State and explain the doctrines of Karma, Rebirth and Reincarnation in Hinduism.

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

Discuss the relationship between man and God according to any one of the religions in India.

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

State and evaluate the personalistic and impersonalistic aspects of God.

What is Pratityasamutpada? How do the Buddhists apply this concept to prove that everything is momentary?

Evaluate Mahatma Gandhi as a political anarchist.

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

How does Mimamsa establish the authority of Vedic knowledge?

Consider critically, that gender discrimination is a rather man-made concept but not naturally endowed.

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

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

Discuss how far Austin's concept of sovereignty go along with Kautilya's concept of sovereignty.

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

Discuss the status of theocracy in the modern secular state.

What is the role of Jnanalaksana pratyaksa in explaining Anyathakhyati?

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