( UPSC Syllabus )
Part A - Preliminary Examination - Optional Subjects
Examination Syllabus - Subject : Philosophy

Section-'A' (Problems of Philosophy)

1. Substance and Attributes : Aristole, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley's criticism, Nyaya-Viasesika, Buddhist criticism of Pudgala.

2. God, Soul and the World : Thomas Acquinas, St. Augustine, Spinoza, Descartes, Nyaya-Vaisesika, Sankara, Ramanuja.

3. Universals : Realism and Nominalism (Plato, Aristotle, Berkeley's criticism of abstract ideas, Nyay-Vaisesika, Buddhism).

4. Bases of Knowledge : Pramanavada in Carvaka, Nyaya-Vaisesika, Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta.

5. Truth and Error : Correspondence Theory, Coherence theory, Pragmatic Theory; Khyativada (Anyathakhyati, Akhyati, Anivacaniyakhyati).

6. Matter and Mind : Descartes, Spinoza, Leibnitz, Berkerley.

Section-B (Logic)

1. Truth and Validity

2. Classification of sentences : Traditional and Modern.

3. Syllogism : Figures and Moods; Rules of Syllogism (General and special) validation by Venn Diagrames; Formal Fallacies.

4. Sentential Calculus : Symbolisation; Truth-Functions and their interdefinability; Truth Tables; Formal Proof.

Section-'C' (Ethics)

1. Statement of fact and statement of value.

2. Right and Good; Teleology and Deontology.

3. Psychological Hedonism.

4. Utilitarianism (Bentham; J.S. Mill).

5. Kantian Ethics.

6. Problem of the freedom of will.

7. Moral Judgements : Descriptivism, Prescriptivism, Emotivism.

8. Niskamakarma : Sthitaprajna.

9. Jaina Ethics

10. Four Noble Truths and Eight fold path in Buddhism.

11. Gandhian Ethics : Satya, Ahimsa, Ends and Means.
    
    Courtesy : UPSC