Philosophy is a popular subject which gets selected by a lot of UPSC aspirants as an optional subject for the main exam. As the competition level in civil services exams is immense, a candidate needs to prepare really well. To initiate the preparation, it is crucial to know the exact UPSC Philosophy syllabus 2023. The overall syllabus of Philosophy optional subject is quite big having a lot of topics. To clear the exam, aspirants should try to cover the entire syllabus without any topic. To help candidates prepare for the exam in a better way we are providing the latest UPSC Civil Service Syllabus for Philosophy subject.
IAS Philosophy Syllabus 2023
Similarly to the other optional subjects, there will be two papers in the Philosophy exam as well. Each of the papers will carry 250 marks. Check out the syllabus for both the papers as given below.
Syllabus for Paper – I
History and Problems of Philosophy
- Kant: Possibility of Synthetic a priori Judgments, Space and Time, Categories, Ideas of Reason, Antinomies, Critique of Proofs for the Existence of God.
- Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume): Theory of Knowledge, Substance and Qualities, Self and God, Scepticism.
- Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz), Cartesian Method & Certain Knowledge, Substance, God, Mind-Body Dualism, Determinism and Freedom
- Plato and Aristotle: Ideas, Substance, Form and Matter, Causation, Actuality and Potentiality.
- Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sarte, Heidegger): Existence and Essence, Choice, Responsibility and Authentic Existence, Being-in-the-world and Temporality.
- Phenomenology (Husserl): Method, Theory of Essences, Avoidance of Psychologism.
- Later Wittgenstein: Meaning and Use, Language-games, Critique of Private Language.
- Logical Positivism: Verification Theory of Meaning, Rejection of Metaphysics, Linguistic Theory of Necessary Propositions.
- Moore, Russell and Early Wittgenstein : Defence of Commonsense, Refutation of Idealism, Logical Atomism, Logical Constructions, Incomplete Symbols, Picture Theory of Meaning, Sying and Showing.
- Hegel: Dialectical Method, Absolute Idealism.
- Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution, Integral Yoga.
- Schools of Vedanta: Brahman, Isvara, Atman, Jiva, Jagat, Maya, Avida, Adhyasa, Moksa, Aprthaksiddhi, Pancavidhabheda.
- Mimamsa: Theory of Knowlegde.
- Yoga, Citta, Cittavrtti, Klesas, Samadhi, Kaivalya
- Samkhya, Prakrit, Purusa, Causation, Liberation
- 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
- Quine and Strawson: Critique of Empiricism, Theory of Basic Particulars and Persons.
- Carvaka: Theory of Knowlegde, Rejection of Transcendent Entities.
- Jainism: Theory of Reality, Saptabhanginaya, Bondage and Liberation
- Schools of Buddhism : Prat Ityasamutpada, Ksanikavada, Nairatmyavada
Syllabus for Paper – II
Socio-Political Philosophy
- Humanism, Secularism, Multi-culturalism.
- Crime and Punishment: Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide, Capital Punishment.
- Development and Social Progress.
- Gender Discrimination: Female Feticide, Land and Property Rights, Empowerment.
- Caste Discrimination : Gandhi and Ambedkar
- Social and Political ldeals: Equality, Justice, and 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.
Philosophy of Religion
- Religious Experience: Nature and Object (Indian and Western).
- 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).
- Religion without God.
- Religion and Morality.
- Problem of Evil
- Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation.
- Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth.
- Reason, Revelation and Faith.
- Nature of Religious Language: Analogical and Symbolic, Cognitivist and Non-cognitive
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