UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 for Paper 1 & 2 Download PDF

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024

The UPSC Philosophy syllabus 2024 covers a wide range of topics including epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, social and political philosophy, and philosophies of India. Candidates are tested on conceptual comprehension of philosophical theories and ability to articulate complex ideas clearly. The paper evaluates critical thinking, logic, and analytical skills.

You can download the UPSC CSE Philosophy optional paper syllabus from the direct link given below.

UPSC Philosophy Syllabus 2024 Overview

There is a list of optional subjects for mains in which there are 48 subjects, from which candidates can choose according to their choice. Philosophy is one of the optional subjects for the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. The optional paper is conducted for 250 marks. The UPSC CSE optional subject Philosophy Syllabus 2024 has two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Optional Philosophy Syllabus for UPSC CSE 2024

The UPSC Philosophy optional syllabus emphasizes the history and evolution of philosophical thought and its influence on Indian culture. It covers epistemology, ethics, social and political philosophy, and Indian philosophies like Lokayata and Vedanta. Thorough preparation using the detailed syllabus and previous year papers is essential.

If you opt for Philosophy optional in UPSC mains, prepare it thoroughly. Go through the UPSC CSE Syllabus and previous years’ Philosophy papers. Also study relevant Philosophy books for UPSC preparation.

UPSC CSE Philosophy Syllabus 2024 Paper 1

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:

• Pratityasamutpada
• Ksanikavada
• Nairatmyavada

15. Nyaya-Vaisheshika:

• 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:

• Prakriti
• 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
• Avidya
• Adhyasa
• Moksa
• Aprthaksiddhi
• Pancavidhabheda

20. Aurobindo:

• Evolution, Involution
• Integral Yoga

UPSC CSE Philosophy Syllabus 2024 Paper 2

A. Socio-Political Philosophy:

1. Social and Political Ideals:
   • Equality
   • Justice
   • Liberty
2. Sovereignty:
   • Austin
   • Bodin
   • Laski
   • Kautilya
3. Individual and State:
   • Rights
   • Duties
   • Accountability
4. Forms of Government:
   • Monarchy
   • Theocracy
   • Democracy
5. Political Ideologies:
   • Anarchism
   • Marxism
   • Socialism
6. Humanism
   • Secularism
   • Multiculturalism
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

B. 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
   • 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 Noncognitive

Thorough preparation of Indian philosophies like Lokayata, Jainism, Buddhism, Sankhya, Nyaya and Vedanta is essential. Candidates must develop skills for structured essay writing within the prescribed word limit. Practicing answer writing along with a deep understanding of Western and Indian philosophical thought is key to mastering this abstract optional subject. Strong comprehension and clear, focused writing skills are vital to score high.

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