Philosophy
PHILOSOPHY AS AN OPTIONAL SUBJECT
Philosophy optional is one of the most scored optional subjects in UPSC. In the annual report of 2014-15 and 2015-16 of UPSC, the success rate of philosophy is mentioned as 7.9% and 7.0% respectively. This is substantially higher than other popular subjects like History, Political Science & International relations.
The best part about Philosophy optional is that it has a static syllabus. The questions are often repeated in past papers. The subject has close to no updates from current affairs. This makes it a viable option to choose.
The syllabus is short and concise. It can be completed in 75-90 days. In this way, ample time is left for preparing and concentrating on GS Paper preparation. The subject matter is relevant to other papers including GS-IV Ethics, Integrity and aptitude, and the essay paper. The Essay paper in 2021 featured at least three questions that needed philosophical engagement.
No prior academic engagement with philosophy is required to opt for Philosophy Optional. We build concepts from the ground up and employ constructive learning and pedagogical practices for greater learning outcomes, with a focus on exam preparedness.
Aspirants who choose Philosophy optional are likely to have higher critical thinking, analytic and conceptual capabilities, argumentative reasoning skills, and constructive feedback ability. These skills give the aspirant an edge in interviews and GS papers, both.
Philosophy Optional Books to Boost Your UPSC Preparation
- A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy by CD Sharma
- An Introduction to Indian Philosophy by Datta and Chatterjee
- A Critical History of Western Philosophy by Y Masih
- A History of Philosophy by Frank Thilly
- Introduction to Western Philosophy by Donald Palmer
- Social and Political Philosophy by OP Gauba
- Introduction to Religious Philosophy by Y Masih
- Philosophy of Religion by John Hick
Philosophy optional features:
- Comprehensive coverage of syllabus in a time-bound manner.
- Detailed notes for preparation and revision.
- In-depth understanding and concept-building from scratch.
- Exam-specific discussions and previous year question paper solving.
- Tips and tricks to grasp and learn new concepts across the board.
- Interactive classes to engage critical thinking.
PHILOSOPHY SYLLABUS
History and Problems of Philosophy
- Plato and Aristotle: Ideas; Substance; Form and Matter; Causation; Actuality and Potentiality.
- Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz); Cartesian Method and Certain Knowledge; Substance; God; Mind-Body Dualism; Determinism and Freedom.
- Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume): Theory of Knowledge; Substance and Qualities; Self and God; Scepticism.
- Kant: Possibility of Synthetic a priori Judgments; Space and Time; Categories; Ideas of Reason; Antinomies; Critique of Proofs for the Existence of God.
- Hegel: Dialectical Method; Absolute Idealism.
- Moore, Russell and Early Wittgenstein: Defence of Commonsense; Refutation of Idealism; Logical Atomism; Logical Constructions; Incomplete Symbols; Picture Theory of Meaning; Saying and Showing.
- Logical Positivism: Verification Theory of Meaning; Rejection of Metaphysics; Linguistic Theory of Necessary Propositions.
- Later Wittgenstein: Meaning and Use; Language-games; Critique of Private Language.
- Phenomenology (Husserl): Method; Theory of Essences; Avoidance of Psychologism.
- Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger): Existence and Essence; Choice, Responsibility and Authentic Existence; Being-in-the-world and Temporality.
- Quine and Strawson: Critique of Empiricism; Theory of Basic Particulars and Persons.
- Carvaka: Theory of Knowledge; Rejection of Transcendent Entities.
- Jainism: Theory of Reality; Saptabhanginaya; Bondage and Liberation.
- Schools of Buddhism: Pratityasamutpada; Ksanikavada, Nairatmyavada.
- 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.
- Samkhya; Prakrit; Purusa; Causation; Liberation.
- Yoga; Citta; Cittavrtti; Klesas; Samadhi; Kaivalya.
- Mimamsa: Theory of Knowledge.
- Schools of Vedanta: Brahman; Isvara; Atman; Jiva; Jagat; Maya; Avida; Adhyasa; Moksa; Aprthaksiddhi; Pancavidhabheda.
- Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.
Socio-Political Philosophy
- Social and Political ideals: Equality, Justice, 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.
- Humanism; Secularism; Multi-culturalism.
- Crime and Punishment: Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide, Capital Punishment.
- Development and Social Progress.
- Gender Discrimination: Female Foeticide, Land and Property Rights; Empowerment.
- Caste Discrimination: Gandhi and Ambedkar.
Philosophy of Religion
- 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).
- The Problem of Evil.
- Soul: Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
- Reason, Revelation, and Faith.
- Religious Experience: Nature and Object (Indian and Western).
- Religion without God.
- Religion and Morality.
- Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth.
- Nature of Religious Language: Analogical and Symbolic; Cognitivist and Non-cognitive.
If you have an interest in knowing in and out about any topic but with a different perspective then yes philosophy can be a good optional subject for IAS. But please keep in mind that the optional subject which you desire to join should be your favorite subject which can help you upgrade your grades. Just focus on the point that the optional subject which you choose has to be studied by you in detail. Think and then decide which optional subject will be best for you. All the best!