IAS Examination Syllabus : 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.