The Philosophy syllabus for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination is divided into two papers: Paper-I and Paper-II. Below is the breakdown of the Philosophy syllabus paper-wise:
Paper-I:
- History and Problems of Philosophy:
- Plato and Aristotle: Ideas and substance; Form and matter; Theory of knowledge; Realism and idealism.
- Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz): Cartesian method and certain knowledge; Substance as infinite and finite; Monism and Pluralism.
- Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume): Theory of ideas; Substance and qualities; Self and God; Skepticism and realism.
- Kant: Sources of knowledge; Phenomena and noumena; Categories and schemata; Ideas of reason; Antinomies; Dialectical method.
- Hegel: Dialectical method; Absolute idealism; Spirit and absolute knowledge; Subjective, objective, and absolute spirit.
- Socio-Political Philosophy:
- Social and Political Ideals: Justice, Equality, Liberty.
- Sovereignty: Austin, Bodin, Laski.
- Individual and State: Rights, Duties, Citizenship.
- Civil Disobedience, Democracy, Political Obligation.
Paper-II:
- Philosophy of Religion:
- Notions of God: Attributes; Relation to Man and the World.
- Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique (Indian and Western).
- Problem of Evil.
- Soul: Immortality, Rebirth, Liberation.
- Reason, Revelation, and Faith.
- Philosophy of Science:
- Nature and Scope of Philosophy of Science.
- Positivism and its critique.
- Method and its roles.
- Science, Technology, and Social Change.
- Logical positivism, its antecedents, and developments.
- Philosophy of Mind:
- Mind-Body dualism; Arguments for and against.
- Problem of Other Minds.
- Consciousness: Phenomenal and Access consciousness.
- Personal Identity: Criteria, Theories.
- Ethics:
- Meta-Ethics: Good, Right, Duty, Obligation.
- Normative Ethics: Deontological, Consequentialism, Virtue Ethics.
- Applied Ethics: Environmental Ethics, Bioethics, Business Ethics, Professional Ethics.
This breakdown provides a detailed overview of the Philosophy syllabus for the UPSC examination. Candidates opting for Philosophy as their optional subject should thoroughly study each topic to perform well in both Paper-I and Paper-II.
