UPSC Mains PHILOSOPHY-PAPER-I 2025

28 Questions • 400 Marks • With Detailed Model Answers

1
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

"Ideas are timeless and spaceless." Elucidate this statement with reference to Plato.

Ancient PhilosophyPlato
2
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

"In the empirical world, everything is a compound of Matter and Form." Evaluate this statement with reference to Aristotle.

Ancient PhilosophyAristotle
3
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Explain the difference between being-for-itself and being-in-itself as presented by Sartre.

ExistentialismSartre
4
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

"The golden mountain is very high." Discuss this statement in the context of Russell's theory of descriptions.

Analytic PhilosophyRussell
5
10 Marks150 Wordshard

How does Hegel challenge Kant's distinction between Phenomena and Noumena? Discuss

German IdealismHegelKant
6
20 Marksmedium

What are the basic tenets of Rationalism ? How does Descartes build a system of Philosophy in consonance with them? Discuss.

Modern PhilosophyRationalismDescartes
7
15 Marksmedium

"All determination is negation.” Comment with reference to Spinoza.

Modern PhilosophySpinoza
8
15 Markshard

Examine Hume's refutation of Causal relation and Kant's response to it.

EpistemologyHumeKant
9
20 Markshard

"We should look not to an ideal language which derives its meaning from facts and has a precise logical structure but empirically, to the ways in which languages are actually used." Explain the transition from early views of Wittgenstein to his later views on language and meaning with reference to this statement.

Analytic PhilosophyWittgenstein
10
15 Marksmedium

Present an exposition of the verification theory of meaning as propounded by the logical positivists. In this context also differentiate between the "strong" and the "weak" sense of the word "verifiable".

Analytic PhilosophyLogical Positivism
11
15 Marksmedium

"Blue is one object of sensation and green is another, and consciousness, which both sensations have in common, is different from either." Present an account of Moore's refutation of idealism with reference to this statement.

British IdealismMoore
12
20 Markshard

"I think" this statement on Husserl's account of Descartes' explanation is different from what? Critically discuss.

PhenomenologyHusserlDescartes
13
15 Markshard

"Whatever the state of experience, we can affirm the truth of any sentence in our total system, as long as we are prepared to make adjustments elsewhere." Discuss this statement in the light of Quine's 'Two Dogmas of Empiricism'.

Analytic PhilosophyQuine
14
15 Marksmedium

Explain Berkeley's doctrine of nominalism and his refutation of Abstract ideas.

Modern PhilosophyBerkeley
15
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Explain the ground on which Cārvāka rejects inference (anumāna) as a valid source of knowledge.

Indian PhilosophyCārvāka
16
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Present an exposition of the debate between Naiyāyikas and Buddhists with reference to the notion of Pramāṇa and Pramānaphala.

Indian PhilosophyNyayaBuddhism
17
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Delineate the main points of difference between the theory of intrinsic validation (svataḥ prāmānyavāda) and theory of extrinsic validation (prataḥ prāmānyavāda) in classical Indian philosophy.

Indian PhilosophyEpistemology
18
10 Marksmedium

Examine Rāmānuja's seven objections against Māyāvāda of Advaita.

Indian PhilosophyAdvaita VedantaVishishtadvaita Vedanta
19
10 Marksmedium

Present an exposition of Nyaya-Vaiśeṣika's theory of causation.

Indian PhilosophyNyayaVaiśeṣika
20
20 Marksmedium

Present a detailed account of Gautama's definition of Perception.

Indian PhilosophyNyaya
21
15 Marksmedium

How is Brahman conceptualised in Advaita philosophy as both Nimitta and Upādāna Karana of the World? Discuss with suitable examples.

Indian PhilosophyAdvaita Vedanta
22
15 Marksmedium

Discuss the debate between the Bhatta and the Prabhākara mīmāmsakas with reference to the nature of Non-existence (Abhāva) and its knowledge.

Indian PhilosophyMīmāṃsā
23
20 Markshard

Why does Śamkara consider Sāmkhya Philosophy as his chief opponent (pradhāna malla)? Examine his arguments against Sāmkhya Philosophy.

Indian PhilosophyAdvaita VedantaSāmkhya
24
15 Marksmedium

Explain the nature of God and its role in Kaivalya in yoga philosophy.

Indian PhilosophyYoga
25
15 Marksmedium

Is Jaina philosophy pluralistic and realistic ? Critically discuss.

Indian PhilosophyJainism
26
20 Markshard

Discuss the idea of Bimba-pratibimbavāda as presented in Vedanta philosophy along with its soteriological significance.

Indian PhilosophyVedanta
27
15 Markshard

"Both Ascetic and materialist are partial in their negation of each other'. Explain Sri Aurobindo's integral philosophy in the light of the above statement.

Modern Indian PhilosophySri Aurobindo
28
15 Markshard

Is Buddhist notion of Nirvana in consonance with their conception of Ksanikavāda (momentariness) and Nairātmyavāda (no-soul theory)? Critically discuss.

Indian PhilosophyBuddhism