UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 for IAS Religion and Social Political

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024: The UPSC Philosophy Optional Syllabus revolves around the examination of philosophical concepts, historical developments, and their impact on India’s cultural heritage. This subject holds popularity among candidates because a significant portion of it aligns with general studies and essay papers. Moreover, the static nature of the UPSC Philosophy Syllabus relieves candidates from preparing for the current affairs section specifically for this subject.

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 Overview

Explore the philosophy syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2 below, and structure your preparation accordingly. The philosophy subject in UPSC entails two papers, namely Paper 1 and Paper 2, each carrying 250 marks, culminating in a total of 500 marks. Check out the provided syllabus of Philosophy Subjects.

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024

Opting for Philosophy as an optional subject in the UPSC Mains exam is most suitable for candidates who possess exceptional proficiency and a genuine passion for the subject. The IAS Philosophy Optional Subject in UPSC Mains consists of two papers, namely Paper I and Paper II. Candidates can check out the following Paper I and Paper II.

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 for Optional Paper I

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024: Candidates can check out the Topic-wise UPSC Philosophy Syllabus for Mains Optional paper I.

History and Problems of Philosophy

1. Plato and Aristotle: Ideas; Substance; Form and Matter; Causation; Actuality and Potentiality.
2. Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz); Cartesian Method and Certain Knowledge; Substance; God; Mind-Body Dualism; Determinism and Freedom.
3. Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume): Theory of Knowledge; Substance and Qualities; Self and God; Scepticism.
4. Kant: Possibility of Synthetic a priori Judgments; Space and Time; Categories; Ideas of Reason; Antinomies; Critique of Proofs for the Existence of God.
5. Hegel: Dialectical Method; Absolute Idealism.
6. Moore, Russell and Early Wittgenstein: Defence of Commonsense; Refutation of Idealism; Logical Atomism; Logical Constructions; Incomplete Symbols; Picture Theory of Meaning; Saying and Showing.
7. Logical Positivism: Verification Theory of Meaning; Rejection of Metaphysics; Linguistic Theory of Necessary Propositions.
8. Later Wittgenstein: Meaning and Use; Language-games; Critique of Private Language.
9. Phenomenology (Husserl): Method; Theory of Essences; Avoidance of Psychologism.
10. Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger): Existence and Essence; Choice, Responsibility and Authentic Existence; Being-in-the-world and Temporality.
11. Quine and Strawson: Critique of Empiricism; Theory of Basic Particulars and Persons.
12. Carvaka: Theory of Knowledge; Rejection of Transcendent Entities.
13. Jainism: Theory of Reality; Saptabhanginaya; Bondage and Liberation.
14. Schools of Buddhism: Prat Ityasamutpada; Ksanikavada, Nairatmyavada.
15.  Nyaya—Vaiesesika: Theory of Categories; Theory of Appearance; Theory of Pramana; Self, Liberation; God; Proofs for the Existence of God; Theory of Causation; Atomistic Theory of Creation.
16. Samkhya; Prakrit; Purusa; Causation; Liberation.
17. Yoga; Citta; Cittavrtti; Klesas; Samadhi; Kaivalya.
18. Mimamsa: Theory of Knowledge.
19. Schools of Vedanta: Brahman; Isvara; Atman; Jiva; Jagat; Maya; Avida; Adhyasa; Moksa; Aprthaksiddhi; Pancavidhabheda.
20. Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 for Optional Paper II

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024: Candidates can check out the Topic-wise UPSC Philosophy Syllabus for Mains Optional paper II.

• Socio-Political Philosophy
  1. Social and Political Ideals: Equality, Justice, Liberty.
  2. Sovereignty: Austin, Bodin, Laski, Kautilya.
  3. Individual and State: Rights; Duties and Accountability
  4. Forms of Government: Monarchy; Theocracy and Democracy.
  5. Political Ideologies: Anarchism; Marxism and Socialism.
  6. Humanism; Secularism; Multi-culturalism.
  7. Crime and Punishment: Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide, Capital Punishment.
  8. Development and Social Progress.
  9. Gender Discrimination: Female Foeticide, Land and Property Rights; Empowerment.
  10. Caste Discrimination: Gandhi and Ambedkar.
• Philosophy of Religion

1. Notions of God: Attributes; Relation to Man and the World. (Indian and Western).
2. Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique (Indian and Western).
3. Problem of Evil.
4. Soul: Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
5. Reason, Revelation, and Faith.
6. Religious Experience: Nature and Object (Indian and Western).
7. Religion without God.
8. Religion and Morality.
9. Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth.
10. Nature of Religious Language: Analogical and Symbolic; Cognitivist and Non-cognitive.

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 Download PDF

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024: Candidates who are appearing in the UPSC Philosophy mains Exam can download the UPSC Philosophy Syllabus PDF Here. Click on the link below to Download the UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024.

Download PDF: UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 PDF

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