IAS Main Philosophy Question Paper II- 2010

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds the Civil Services Examination every year in two parts, i.e. Preliminary Test and Main Examination; the Main Examination comprises a written Test and a Personality Test. The Question paper of the IAS Main Philosophy Paper II - 2010 is given as below:

PHILOSOPHY

Paper II

Time Allowed: Three Hourse

Maximum Marks: 300

INSTRUCTIONS

Each question is printed both in Hindi and in English.

Answer must be' written in the medium specified in the admission Certificate issued to you, which must be stated clearly on the cover of the answer-book  in the space provided for the purpose. No marks will be  given for the answer written in an medium other than that specified in the admission Certificate.

Candidates should attempt Question Nos. 1, and 5 which are compulsory, and any three of the reamining questions selecting at least one question from each Section.

The number of marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question.

Answer should be precise and to-the -point.

Section-A

1. Answer all the four parts below in not more than 150 words each:   15×4=60

(a) Discuss the nature of relationship between Liberty and Equality.

(b) Why did Kautilya think that sovereignty is hierarchical ? Explain.

(c) Does Accountability necessarily contribute to moral perfection ? Offer your views.

(d) Is social progress possible without Humanism ? Examine.

2. Answer all the three parts below in about 200 words each:       20×3=60

(a) Which type of Socialism, according to you, is superior- Utopian or Democratic ? Why ?

(b) " Caste is not a sin, but caste discrimination is." As a concerned citizen, comment critically on this statement.

(c) Dose the right to property bring economic diosparity and threaten human fraternity ? Discuss.

3. Answer all the three parts below in about 200 words each:           20×3=60

(a) Is majority - rule meaningfully reflected in present - day democratic governments ? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples.

(b) Can only the Political empowerment of women wipe out gender discrimination in male - dominated Indian society ?

(c) If capital punishment is legally awarded, then no ethicopolitical consideration should subvert it. Express your opinion for or against.

4. Answer all the three parts below in about 200 words each:     20×3=60

(a) which type of individual, according to you, can contribute more to strengthen  the  State - a liberalist or a socialist ?

(b) Does Bodin's theory of sovereignty 'float in the air? Critically examine.

(c) List the various 'sanctions' permitting genocide and clearly bring out the ethical counter - arguments against each.

Section - B

5. Answer each of the following in not more than 150 words:    15×4=60

(a) What is the central concept in a religion without God? Discuss.

(b) " The problem of evil arises when we attribute infinite knowledge, power and goodness to God acknowledging the fact of innocent persons' suffering. One cannot be mistaken about one's own experiance, God  cannot have at least one of the three attributes: infinite knowledge, power and goodness." Evaluate this argument.

(c) What sort of criterion can one provide for identifying rebirth as opposed birth ? Discuss.

(d) If morality has to follow from religion, can there be rational justification for moral actions ? Discuss.

6. Answer each of the follwoing in about 200 words:   20×3=60

(a) Is contingment argument for the existence of God anything more than a logical exercise? Discuss.

(b) If each and every argument has to take that his premises are true, would the causalargument are true, would the causal argument for the existence of God as First Cause be different from assuming that it is truw ? Argue in favour of vour position.

(c) Human mind is such that it naturally observes order in nature. Given this, can one use argument from  Design for the existence of God? Discuss.

7. Answer each part below in about 200 words:  20×3=60

(a) Why is grace of God needed for liberation ? Discuss with an example.

(b) Distinguish between Indian concept of 'Jivatma' and Plato's concept of 'Soul'.

(c) If ignorance is the cause of suffering, knowledge ahould remove suffering. What is the notion of knowledge which a liberated person acquires ? Discuss.

8. Answer each part below in about 200 words:  20×3=60

(a) If religious experience is unique, what makes it an experience is unique, what makes it an experience ? How is this experience logically different from the experience of loneliness, happiness, ect.?

(b) Religious language is dependent on natural language for an analogy and a symbol top work. Why not then treat religious lenguage as a specialized language like telegraphic language ? Discuss.

(c) The fact that different religions originated at different places and in different centuries bproves that plurality of religions say that all religions are essentially the same ? Discuss.