UPSC Philosophy Syllabus – IAS Mains Optional Subjects 2020

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus: Check out the latest UPSC Mains Philosophy Syllabus 2020. Philosophy subject is one of the optional papers in the UPSC IAS Mains Exam. Earlier we’ve provided UPSC Mains Syllabus, Now we are providing UPSC Mains Optional Subject Syllabus of Philosophy Paper. There is only “ONE” optional subject to choose from the list of optional subjects which are given below. It comprises of two papers each of 250 marks. So, the optional paper has a total 500 marks. In UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam, Philosophy is one of the Optional Subjects and consists of 2 papers. Each paper is of 250 marks with a total of 500 marks. Find below the UPSC Syllabus for Philosophy Optional Subject.

Also Check: UPSC Mains Optional Subjects List

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus

UPSC Mains Part B  – Optional Subjects
Subject: Philosophy Main Examination Syllabus

UPSC Mains Philosophy Syllabus PAPER – I

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus

History and Problems of 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:

The 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 Commonsense; 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, Sartre, 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. Cârvâka : Theory of Knowledge; Rejection of Transcendent Entities. Jainism: Theory of Reality; Saptabhaòginaya; Bondage and Liberation.

Schools of Buddhism:

Pratîtyasamutpâda; Ksanikavada, Nairâtmyavâda. Nyâya- Vaiúesika: Theory of Categories; Theory of Appearance; Theory of Pramâna; Self, Liberation; God; Proofs for the Existence of God; Theory of Causation; Atomistic Theory of Creation. Sâmkhya: Prakrti; Purusa; Causation; Liberation. Yoga: Citta; Cittavrtti; Klesas; Samadhi; Kaivalya. Mimâmsâ: Theory of Knowledge. Schools of Vedânta: Brahman; Îúvara; Âtman; Jiva; Jagat; Mâyâ; Avidyâ; Adhyâsa; Moksa; Aprthaksiddhi; Pancavidhabheda Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.

UPSC Mains Philosophy Syllabus PAPER – II

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). The 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 Noncognitive.

In this website, We’ve provided UPSC Philosophy Syllabus in pdf, UPSC Mains Philosophy Previous Question Papers (Last 5 years), and how to prepare UPSC / IAS / Civil Services Mains Philosophy Paper. Still, have any issues and queries regarding UPSC Philosophy Subject, you can drop a comment below.