IAS Mains Philosophy Papers 2005

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IAS Mains Philosophy 2005

Paper I

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300

Candidates should attempt Questions 1 and 5 which are compulsory, and any THREE of the remaining questions selecting at least

ONE question from each Section.

Section A

  1. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each: 20 × 3 = 60
    1. Distinction between opinion and knowledge
    2. Mind and Body as two interacting substances
    3. Spinozas conception of the Ultimate Substance
    4. Quines criticism of analytic-synthetic distinction
  2. How does Kant respond to Humes scepticism? 60
  3. State and discuss the logical positivists attempts to eliminate metaphysics. 60
  4. What is epoche? Bring out its significance for Husserls conception of rigorous science. 60

Section-B

  1. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each: 20 × 3 = 60
    1. Jaina definition of Dravya
    2. The nature of Brahman, Jiva and Jagat according to Madhva
    3. Nature and kinds of pratyaksa according to Nyaya
    4. Samkhya conception of Purusa.
  2. State and discuss the Buddhist notion of Sunyata. 60
  3. State and discuss the nature and kinds of Dravyas according to Vaisesikas. 60
  4. Elucidate Sari. Karas conception of Adhyiisa. 60

Paper II

Section A

  1. Write critical notes on any THREE of the following in about 200 words each: 20 × 3 = 60
    1. “State is the actuality of concrete freedom.”
    2. “Political democracy is hollow unless accompanied by power in the area of economics.”
    3. “Sex is the biological category, whereas gender is the culturally shaped expression of sexual difference.”
    4. “Socialism avoids the totalitarian implications of Communism, and works within liberal democratic Constitutions.”
  2. What do you understand by progress? Have human beings made progress in all fields of their activity? Discuss. 60
  3. Examine the central issues in the philosophy of ecology. Are these concerns merely utilitarian? Discuss. 60
  4. What is humanism? What are its different kinds? In what way, if any, is M N Roys Radical Humanism different from Marxism? Discuss. 60

Section B

  1. Write critical notes on any THREE of the following in about 200 words each: 20 × 3 = 60
    1. “God is the first reason of things.”
    2. “If God exists only in someones mind, the greatest conceivable being is not after all the greatest conceivable being.”
    3. “The Problem of evil is the problem of reconciling the imperfect world with the goodness of God.”
    4. “Mysticism is the power of spiritual access to domains of knowledge closed off to ordinary thought.”
  2. Is Christian doctrine of the immortality of the soul compatible with Gitas doctrine of atman? Discuss. 60
  3. Can Atheism be a religion? Discuss. 60
  4. What do you understand by liberation? Is it possible for one to be liberated in this very life? If it is, what are the, characteristics of a liberated person? Discuss. 60