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PHILOSOPHY by Dr. Ambuj Srivastava

HEAD OFFICE: 53/5, BASEMENT OLD RAJENDER NAGAR MARKET, DELHI -60. BRANCH: 105-106, TOP FLOOR, MUKHERJEE TOWER, MUKHERJEE NAGAR, DELHI-9 9999329111, 011-45596505 Website: www.vvrias.com || Email: [email protected] PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Ambuj Srivastava (Ph.D. Philosophy)

About the Mentor He Started teaching in 1996 and operating in delhi far last four years.Initially he established “DarshanKendra” (Centre for Philosophy) in 1997 at Allahabad(The city known for it's excellence in Philosophy). He has had hundreds of results under his belt in UPSC, state Civil Services and other examination conducted by upsc and state public service commissions, but he never took credit of any selection and say that Can I dare to take responsibility of failures, if not then how can I take the credit of selections. You can simply understand this with Dronacharya and Arjuna factor because if it would have been the credit of dronacharya than all of his deciples would have become arjuna. l A living Philosopher. l 18 year teaching experience. l UGC Qualified in Philosophy. l Ph.D. in Philosophy. l Published so many articles and research papers. l 25% Success rate

MESSAGE Dear Aspirants, This is a universal fact that the job profile of civil services in India is most prestigious, dignified and skilled. That's why the common dream of all rational youths is to crack civil services examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission. This examination is conducted in three tiers and at the second tier; that is mains, aspirants have to choose one optional among the prescribed 51 subjects. Here all aspirants are free to go with any of the subjects prescribed in the notification of UPSC. This liberty actually makes you confused when you have multiple advises, opinions and suggestions. I am not an authority to write about any subject because subject is totally subjective and relative thing and a subject may be good for someone and contrary to others. All the subjects are good and providing hundreds of results as well. Instead of searching good optional subject now aspirants of civil services are searching good guides and rightly so, because the simplest subject can give negative result with an incompetent guide and toughest subject can produce positive result with a competent guide. Dr. AMBUJ SRIVASTAVA (Mentor, VVR PHILOSOPHY PREP) PHILOSOPHY 1 PHILOSOPHY ABOUT PHILOSOPHY

If you look in the dictionary you will discover that the philosophy is derived from two words – philos and sophia, that means – Love of Knowledge. So in principle, any area of human concern can become the subject of philosophical interest. Originally philosophers were interested in everything. And that's why one can see the diversity in the syllabus of philosophy. PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY IS A PARENTAL SUBJECT Related To All Subjects A Parental Subject Science-science Of The Sciences Love of Knowledge Comman Man-violation Tendency In Reason No Knowledge without Rationality Geo-Geo. Condition Defines Philosophycal Apporach One and Only Rational Being is Human Being Environment And Ecology-sustainable Development

Directly to Human Problems Psychology- Be And Ought To Be

Diversity in Human Problems Management- Applied Form

Diversity in Syllabus of Philosophy Commerce-can And Ought To Be Mathematical Philosophy, Scientific Philosophy, Every Subject Has Its Own Philosophy Rational Philosophy, Empirical Philosophy & Critical Philosophy Social Philosophy, Political Philosophy & Religious Philosophy Second Order Function

Indian Philosophy & Western Philosophy Normative Subject

Deep Study

Maturity Needed

Degree Of Ph.d. After Research In Any Subject

MAIN BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

Metaphysics Epistemology Cosmology

Realism Logic Ethics Theology

Idealism

Etc. Aesthetics

2 PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY Opt Philosophy because:— · Short Syllabus · More Scoring · Based On Understanding · No Need To Learn · Analytical, Logical And Rational Subject · Makes You A Think Tank · Improvement In Writing Skill · Helps In Essay Writing, Interview and GS 4th Paper. · Nature of Questions Is More Or Less Same, So Student Comes In Safe Zone, Even With A Short Study.

Numbers of Quality Results Belong to philosophy “I have studied only two and half months and scored high marks” now it has become the synonym of philosophy optional in civil services main examination. In the changed pattern the scheduled of civil services mains is reduced to five days and now there is no gap during mains. So you have to that optional subject which is based upon concept and takes least time in revision. PITS – Philosophy is Topper's Subject.

HOW TO PREPARE Like Any Other Optional Subjects Philosophy Has Also Two Papers In Main Examination And These Two Papers Have Been Divided In Two Subsections. First Paper Is Related With Philosophical Theories And Thinkers In Which Indian And Western Thinkers Have Been Included; While The Second Paper Is Related With Philosophical Problems In Which Religious And Socio-political Problems Have Been Included. Lecture Plan Is enclosed For Clarification Of Syllabus. Western Philosophy of Plato and his Impact on whole Western Philosophy. Aristotle's Scientific Theory of Causation, Matter and Form. Mathematical Philosophy of Rationalist like Descartes, Spinoza and Leibnitz. In Empiricist school the Philosophy of Locke, Berkeley and Hume. The Critical Philosophy of Kant and Comparison with Philosophy. Hegel's absolute Idealism and Dialectic. The Turner of Western Philosophy G.E. Moore and his Neo Realism. Russell's Analytical and Mathematical Philosophy. Linguistic Philosophy of Early and Later Wittgenstein. Logical Positivism as the Philosophical Revolution of 20th Century and It's Verification Principle & Elimination of Metaphysics. Phenomenology of Husserl and Avoidance of Psychologism. Existentialism of Kierkegaard, Sartre and Heidegger. Radical Empiricism of Quine. Strawson's theory of Basic Particulars and Person. 's Epistemology and materialistic Metaphysics. Jain's Theory of Reality, Nayas and Bondage & Liberation. Basic Principles of with it's Branches. Epistemological and Metaphysical Theories of -. Darshana and it's basic Principles. Darshana's Theory of Chitta and Ashtanga Yoga. Theory of Knowledge of Mimamsa Darshana. Vidanta Darshana of Shamkara, & . Philosophy of Aurbindo-Evolution, involution and integral yoga. Socio-Political Philosophy Equality, freedom and justice as socio-political ideals and their philosophical meanings. Concept of sovereignty of Bodin, Austin, Laski and Kautilya in the present aspect. Rights, Duties and Accountability as relation between PHILOSOPHY 3 PHILOSOPHY

Individual and State. Monarchy, Theocracy and Democracy as forms of government and Democracy as “Life Style”. Anarchism, Marxism and Socialism as Political Ideologies and their Philosophical Dimensions. Conceptual Study of Humanism, Secularism and Multi-Culturalism in Contemporary World. Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide and Capital Punishment under Crime and Punishment. Status of development and social progress have we actually done the progress? Female foeticide, land-property rights and empowerment of women. Gandhi and Ambedkar on Caste Discrimination. Philosophy of Religion Attributes of God, various proofs for his existence and his relation with man and the world. Problem of evil and efforts for solution. Immortality of soul, rebirth and liberation. Object of religious experience and reason, Revelation and faith as the sources of religious knowledge. Nature of analogical and symbolic religious language, cognitivist and non-cognitivist theories. Religion without God. Religion and Morality. Religious Pluralism and the Problem of absolute truth. ALTOGATEHR 60 only PROBABLE topics of QUESTIONS

PHILOSOPHY (MAINS) SYLLABUS (PAPER-I) History and Problems of Philosophy 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 ; 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. Ca-rva-ka : Theory of Knowledge; Rejection of Transcendent Entities. 13. Jainism: Theory of Reality; Saptabhan(ginaya; Bondage and Liberation. 14. Schools of Buddhism: Prati-tyasamutpa-da; Ksanikavada, Naira-tmyava-da 15. Nya-ya- Vais'esika: Theory of Categories; Theory of Appearance; Theory of Prama-na; Self, Liberation; God; Proofs for the Existence of God; Theory of Causation; Atomistic Theory of Creation. 16. Sa-mkhya: Prakrti; Purusa; Causation; Liberation 17. Yoga: ; Cittavrtti; Klesas; ; Kaivalya. 18. Mima-msa-: Theory of Knowledge

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19. Schools of Veda-nta: ; I-s'vara; A-tman; Jiva; Jagat; Ma-ya-; -; Adhya-sa; Moksa; Aprthaksiddhi; Pancavidhabheda 20. Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.

PAPER-II

Socio-Political Philosophy 1. Social and Political Ideals: Equality, Justice, Liberty. 2. Sovereignty: Austin, Bodin, Laski, Kautilya. 3. Individual and State: Rights; Duties and Accountability 4. Forms of Government: Monarchy; Theocracy and Democracy. 5. Political Ideologies: Anarchism; Marxism and 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; Empowernment. 10. Caste Discrimination: Gandhi and Ambedkar 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 and 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 Non- cognitive.

CLARIFICATION OF SYLLABUS & PLAN OF LECTURE (MAINS: PAPER – I) HISTORY AND PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY (WESTERN AND INDIAN) WESTERN PHILOSOPHY · Idealism Of Plato And His Impact On Whole Western Philosophy. · Aristotle's Scientific Theory Of Causation, Matter And Form. · Mathematical Philosophy Of Rationalist Like Descartes, Spinoza And Leibnitz. · In Empiricist School The Philosophy Of Locke, Berkeley And Hume. · The Critical Philosophy Of Kant And Comparison With Vedanta Philosophy. · Hegel's Absolute Idealism And Dialectic. · The Turner Of Western Philosophy G.E. Moore And His Neo Realism. · Russell's Analytical And Mathematical Philosophy. · Linguistic Philosophy Of Early And Later Wittgenstein. · Logical Positivism As The Philosophical Revolution Of 20th Century And It's Verification Principle & Elimination Of Metaphysics. PHILOSOPHY 5 PHILOSOPHY

· Phenomenology Of Husserl And Avoidance Of Psychologism. · Existentialism Of Kierkegaard, Sartre And Heidegger. · Radical Empiricism Of Quine. · Strawson's Theory Of Basic Particulars And Person.

LECTURE PLAN OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

Western Philosophy an Introduction Greek Period, Medieval Period, Modern And Contemporary Period. Characteristics Of Western Philosophy And It Distinction From Indian Philosophy. Plato Plato As A Perfect Greek, What Are The Ideas? Realism Of Ideas, Characteristics Of Ideas, Pyramidical System Of Ideas, Example Of Cave, Plato's Epistemology As Criticism Of Sophists, Example Of Vertical Line, Theory Of Soul And God, Plato's Criticism By Aristotle And It's Evaluation. Aristotle Aristotle As An Encyclopedic Genius. Theory Of Four Causes And Its Co-ordination. Matter And Form, Their Relation And Results, Concept Of God And Evaluation Of Aristotle's Philosophy. Rationalist Descartes Origin And Features Of Rationalism, Descartes As Father Of Modern Western Philosophy, Philosophical Method, Sceptic Process Of Knowing. “I Think Therefore I Am”, Theory Of Three Substances, Interactionism As Mind-body Relation. Rationalist Spinoza Spinoza And Descartes, Spinoza's Theory Of Substance And Its Geometrical Explanation, Pantheism, Relation Between God And World. Determinism And Freewill, Comparison Between Pantheism And Theism, Spinoza's Theory Of Attributes And Modes. Rationalist Leibnitz Journey Of Rationalism From Descartes To Leibnitz. Theory Of Substance It's Features, System And Concerning Problems And Solution. Leibnitz Concept Of God And Pre-established Harmony, Evaluation Of Leibnitz Philosophy. Empiricist Locke Rise And Features Of Empiricism, Locke's Refutation Of Innate Ideas, Epistemology Of Locke, Ideas And Its Types, Type And Limits Of Knowledge, Locke's Three Substances As Matter, Self And God, Locke's Theory Of Qualities And Evaluation Of Locke's Philosophy. Empiricist Berkeley Berkeley And Locke. Berkeley's Criticism Of Locke's Material Objects. Idealism Of Berkeley. Is Berkeley A Subjective Idealist? Berkeley's Concept Of God And Evaluation Of Berkeley's Philosophy. Empiricist Hume Journey Of Empiricism From Locke To Hume, Hume's Epistemology. Impressions And Ideas. Hume's Theory Of Causation And Scepticism. His Concept Of Self And Personal Identity And Evaluation Of Hume's Philosophy.

6 PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY

Immanuel Kant Representative Of A Philosophical Era. Kant's Critical, Transcendental, Idealism. Co-ordination Of Rationalism And Empiricism, Kantian Epistemology And Possibility Of Synthetic Apriori Judgements And It's Review, Concept Of Space And Time, Kant's Theory Categories, Paralogisms Contradictions And Antinomies As Transcendental Illusion. Hegel What Is Absolutism? Hegel's Absolute Idealism, Identity Of Real And Rational, Dialectic Method And It's Review. G.E. Moore First Thinker Of Contemporary Western Philosophy. Refutation Of Idealism And Defence Of Common Sense And Neo-realism. Russell Difference Between Name And Description Theory Of Description, Indefinite And Definite Descriptions, Incomplete Symbol And Logical Construction, Russell's Logical Atomism, Atom And It's Types, Fact And It's Types, Proposition And It's Types. Wittgenstein A Linguistic Philosopher. In Early Wittgenstein Picture Theory Of Meaning And Difference Between Saying And Showing, In Later Wittgenstein Meaning And Use, Language Game And Critique Of Private Language. Logical Positivism A Philosophical Revolution Of 20th Century. Schlick's, Carnep's And Ayer's Verification Principles. Elimination Of Metaphysics And Linguistic Theory Of Necessary Proposition. Husserl A Phenomenologist. Phenomenological Method Epoche And Reduction. Consciousness And Subjectivity, Avoidance Of Psychologism. Existentialism Main Features Of Existentialism. Kierkegard's Truth Is Subjectivity, Sartre's Existence And Essence, Freedom Choice And Accountability, Heidegger's Being In The World, Existent Human Or Dasein, Inauthentic And Authentic Existence. Quine Critique Of Empiricism. Attack On Analytical And Syntheitical Statement. Refutation Of Reductionism. Strawson Theory Of Basic Particualrs. Ownership And No-ownership Theories Of Person And Strawson Criticism. Person As Primitive Concept. INDIAN PHILOSOPHY · Charvaka's Epistemology And Materialistic Metaphysics · Jain's Theory Of Reality, Nayas And Bondage & Liberation · Basic Principles Of Buddhism With It's Branches · Epistemological And Metaphysical Theories Of Nyaya-vaisheshikas · Samkhya Darshana And It's Basic Principles PHILOSOPHY 7 PHILOSOPHY

· Yoga Darshana's Theory Of Chitta And Ashtanga Yoga · Theory Of Knowledge Of Mimamsa Darshana. · Vedanta Darshana Of Shamkara, Ramanuja & Madhvacharya. · Philosophy Of Aurbindo-evolution, Involution And Integral Yoga. · Comparative Study of Epistemological and Metaphysical Concepts of Indian Schools of Philosophy.

LECTURE PLAN OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHY Indian Philosophy An Introduction The Meaning And Features Of Indian Philosophy, Blames On Indian Philosophy And Their Answer, Orthodox And Heterodox Branches Of Indian Philosophy, Development Of Indian Philosophical Literature. Charvaka Darshana Origin And Sources. Perception As One And Only Pramana Refutation Of Inference. Materialistic Metaphysics And Hedonistic Ethics Of Charvaka. Jaina Darshana Lord And Origin Of Jainism, Theory Of Reality, Nayavada, Syadavada And Theory Of Bondage And Liberation. Bauddha Darshana Lord Buddha And Origin Of Buddhism, Vaibhashika And Sautrantika Under Hinayana, Shunyavada And Vigyanvada Under . Four Nobel Truths, Ashtangika Marga Pratityasamutpada Kshnikavada And Anatmavada. Samkhya Darshna Origin And Sources, Dwaitavada Of Samkhya, Nature Of Prakriti, Argument For Existence Of Prakriti And Evolutionism, Nature Of And Argument For Its Existence And Multiplicity, Theory Of Bondage And Liberation. Yoga Darshana Cittabhumi And Cittavritti Of Yoga. Klesha Samadhi And Kaivalaya. Nyaya – Darshana Scholars And Scripts, Nyaya – Vaisheka As Parallel, Schools. Padarthas And Paramanu Theory Of Vaisheshika. Self, God And Bondage And Liberation Of Nyaya. Mimamsa Darshana Scholars And Scripts, Abhihitanavayavada, Anvitabhi Dhanvada Triputi Pratyakshavada And Gyatatavada. Vedanta Darshana From To Vedanta. Advaitavada Of Shamkarachrya. Theory Of Bhraman Ishvara, Mayavada, Jiva, Adhyasa And Bondage And Liberation. Vishitadvaitvada Of Ramanujacharya, Ishvara, Jagata, Jiva And Bondage And Liberation. Dvaitvada Of Madhvacharya And Panchavidhabheda, Comparision Of Madhvacharya With Shamkaracharya And Ramanujacharya. Aurbindo's Darshana Evolution, Involution And Integral Yoga. Epistemology Of Indian Philosophy Prama And Aprama, , Anumana, Shabda, Upamana, Arthapatti And Anuplabdhi Pramanas Of Indian System. Theory Of Causation In Indian Philosophy, And Asatkaryavada, Pramanyavada, Or Theory Of Error In Indian Philosophy.

8 PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY

MAINS – PAPER – II PART – A (SOCIO – POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY) · Equality, Freedom And Justice As Socio-political Ideals And Their Philosophical Meaning. · Concept Of Sovereignty Of Bodin, Austin, Laski And Kautilya In The Present Aspect. · Rights, Duties And Accountability As Relation Between Individual And State. · Monarchy, Theocracy And Democracy As Forms Of Government And Democracy As “Life Style”. · Anarchism, Marxism And Socialism As Political Ideologies And Their Philosophical Dimensions. · Conceptual Study Of Humanism, Secularism And Multi-culturalism In Contemporary World. · Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide And Capital Punishment Under Crime And Punishment. · Status Of Development And Social Progress Have We Actually Done The Progress? · Female Foeticide, Land-property Rights And Empowerment Of Women. · Gandhi And Ambedkar On Caste Discrimination.

LECTURE PLAN OF SOCIO-POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Introduction Of Socio-political Philosophy What Is Society? Sociology And Social Philosophy. Political Science And Political Philosophy. Definition, Nature And Scope Of Socio-political Philosophy. Equality, Freedom And Justice As Socio-political Ideals European Renaissence And Political Ideals. Necessity Of Equality, It's Philosophical Meaning And Various Dimensions. Negative And Positive Meanings Of Freedom And It's Various Dimensions, Justice And It's Changing Approach, Thoughts Of Plato, Aristotle And Different Features Of Justice As A Modern Socio-political Ideals. Sovereignty As An Integral Part Of State Meaning, Features And Types Of Sovereignty, Evaluation Of Singular Sovereignty Of Bodin And Legal Soveveignty Of Austin. Pluralistic Sovereignty Of Laski And Kautilya's Concept Of Sovereiglty. Rights, Duties And Accountability As Relation Between Individual And State Individualistic, Idealistic, Anarchist, Totalitarian And Socialistic Approaches Regarding Relation Between Individual And State. Rights And Its Theories And Relation With Duties. Accountability And Concerning Problems. Forms Of Government Theocracy It's Features And Causes Of Declination, Causes Behind The Rise Of Monarchy And It's Positive And Negative Outcomes. Meaning, Definition, Types, Ideals And Merits-demeits Of Democracy. Necessary And Sufficient Conditions For Democracy. Democracy As A Life-style. Political Ideologies What Is Socialism? Developing And Revolutionary Socialism And Merits-demerits Of Socialism. Sources Of Marxism, Process, Objectives, Theories And Evaluation Of Marxism And Its Comparision With Socialism. Anarchism And Its Basic Features And Marxist, Terrorist And Non-violent Or Moral Anarchism. Conceptual Study Of Humanism Secularism And Multiculturism Rise Of These Thoughts, Metaphyisical And Epistemological Approaches Of Humanism And It's Different Types. Origin Meaning And Basic Features Of Secularism And Characteristics Of A Secular State. Culture, It's Features, Cultural Diversity And It's Reasons.

PHILOSOPHY 9 PHILOSOPHY Crime And Punishment Their Necessity In Philosophy. What Is Crime? Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide And Different Theories Of Punishment And Evaluation Of Capital Punishment. Development And Social Progress What Is Development? Necessity Of Scientific Temper And It's Positive And Negative Outcomes. Features And Conditions Of Progress And It's Comparision With Development. Discussion Over The Question That Have We Actually Done The Progress? Gender-discrimination And Gender Inequality Difference Between Gender And Sex, Gender Inequality And It's Instances, Nature And Bases Of Gender Equality. Study Of Gender Inequality In Respect Of Indian Society And Efforts For Women Empowerment. Caste-discrimination And Gandhi And Ambedkar Gandhian Sarvodaya Darshan As A Better Socialism And Better Option Of Revolution. Life History Of Ambedkar And Comarision Of Gandhi And Ambedkar On Caste-discrimination. PART – B (PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION) · Attributes Of God, Various Proofs For His Existence And His Relation With Man And The World. · Problem Of Evil And Efforts For Solution. · Immortality Of Soul, Rebirth And Liberation. · Object Of Religious Experience And Reason, Revelation And Faith As The Sources Of Religious Knowledge. Nature Of Analogical And Symbolic Religious Language, Cognitivist And Non-cognitivist Theories. · Religion Without God. · Religion And Morality. · Religious Pluralism And The Problem Of Absolute Truth. LECTURE PLAN OF PHILOSOPHY OR RELIGION Philosophy Of Religion An Introduction What Is Religion? What Is Philosophy? What Is Philosophy Of Religion? Difference Between Philosophy Of Religion And Theology. Utility Of Philosophy Of Religion. God As A Basic Problem Of Philosophy Of Religion Meaning Of Existence Of God, Cosmological Argument, Teleological Argument, Moral Argument Of Kant, Argument Of Religious Experiences, Ontological Argument And Their Evaluation, Discussion Over The Attributes Of God, Proofs Against The Existence Of God And Their Evaluation. Problem Of Evil What Is Evil? Types Of Evil Clarification Of Problem Of Evil, Discussion And Evaluation Of Different Solutions Of Problem Of Evil. Immortality Of Soul, Rebirth And Liberation What Is Soul? Different Types Of Immortality, Evaluation Of Arguments Given By Various Thinkers For And Against Immortality, Rebirth And Its Possibility. Meaning And Types Of Liberation. Detail Discussion Over Different Paths Of Liberation. Religious Experience, Religious Knowledge And Religious Language What Is Religious Experience? How It Is Different From Other Experiences? Discussion Over Factuality Of Religious Experience, Importance Of Reason, Revelation And Faith As The Means Of Religious Knowledge, Discussion Over The Mystical Features Of Religious Knowledge. What Is Religious Language? Analogical And Symbolic Theories And Cognitivist And Non-cognitivist Opinions In Respect Of Religious Language. Religion Without God Is Religion Without God Possible? Buddhism, Jainism And Humanism As Such Religion, Are These Religions Actually Without God? Critical Examination Of Arguments For And Against. Religion And Morality What Is Religion? What Is Morality, Discussions Over Questions Like, Is Religion The Basis Of Morality? Are They Complementary To Each Other? Is Religion Hurdle In Morality? Is Morality Necessary For Religion? Religious Plurality And Problem Of Absolute Truth Different Faiths Claiming The Truth, Structure Of Religious Plurality, Different Solutions Of Concept And “A Religion”.

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ARTICLE The Philosophy at a Glance

It is difficult to define the philosophy in precision, and the attempt to do so forms an interesting and important part of philosophy itself. If you go through the dictionary you will find that the term philosophy is derived from two Greek words – PHILOS & SOPHIA, means “The love of wisdom or knowledge.” Right from the early period the term philosophy has taken on something of this meaning. First of all the philosophy is different from other subjects in its attempt to discover most general and fundamental underlying principles. But philosophy is also different in its method that can be described as rational reflection. So philosophy is not much different from simply the act of thinking hard about something. Unlike the science, the philosophy does not discover new empirical facts but instead reflects on the facts we are already familiar with. The philosophy differs from other subjects in being normative. By normative we mean that unlike other disciplines philosophy tries to distinguish, in very broad ways, what is from what ought to be. But still in order to define the subject this question is to be answered that what is the subject matter of philosophy? In principle any area of human concern can become the subject of philosophical interest. Originally philosophers were interested in everything, and much of what would now be classified as Physics, Zoology, Anthropology, Political science, Sociology and even Mathematics. In addition the ancient Greek philosophers also were interested in the principles of reasoning, the nature of beauty in art, the principles that regulate human conduct, the standard for distinguishing just from unjust societies, and even the nature of reality itself. That's why today if you ask a philosopher who is concerned with the principles that should govern human actions, you might be told that ethics is the heart of philosophy. On the other hand, a philosopher who is fascinated by the nature and function of language might tell you that the most important task of philosophy is linguistic analysis that dispels the ambiguity and confusion. A political philosopher might insist that the really important task of philosophy is to discover the principles of social justice. There we can say that the state of affair in philosophy is not so different from what you might find in physics. There are many different area investigated by physicists. Some are concerned with understanding atomic and subatomic reality. Others directed their attention outward to the exploration of space, and they would insist that astrophysics is the real subject matter of physics. Similarly each of thinkers raises its own questions and these may be the part brought to the surface by other events. For example, advances in medical science have forced the philosophers to deal with the wide range of bio-ethical issues. Environmental pollution and ecological imbalance have forced philosophers to think about environmental ethics and sustainable development. Of the many matters with which philosophers concern themselves, it would be difficult to say that any one is the real task of philosophy or that any one of the various questions dealt with by philosophers today is the most important, because what may be the most important to you may not seem to be as important to someone else. This explains that why it is so difficult to come up with a single definition of philosophy that all philosophers would accept as completely adequate.

Best Wishes Dr. AMBUJ SRIVASTAVA (Ph. D. Philosophy)

11 PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY MAINS TEST SERIES 2019 SCHEDULE

TEST No. DATE SECTION TOPICS DISCUSSION

TEST-01 28 Oct.-18 WESTERN PHILOSOPHY-I Plato to Hegel 16 Nov.-18

TEST-02 11 Nov.-18 WESTERN PHILOSOPHY-II Moore to Strawson 23 Nov.-18 Ca-rva-ka, Jainism, TEST-03 18 Nov.-18 INDIAN PHILOSOPHY-I Buddhism, Sa-mkhya, Yoga 30 Nov.-18 Nya-ya- Vais'esika, Mima-msa, TEST-04 25 Nov.-18 INDIAN PHILOSOPHY-II Schools of Veda-nta, Aurobindo 06 Dec.-18 Paper-II : Socio-Polical TEST-05 02 Dec.-18 SOCIO. POLITICAL-I (Unit-1 to 5) 13 Dec.-18 Paper-II : Socio-Polical TEST-06 09 Dec.-18 SOCIO. POLITICAL-II (Unit-6 to 10) 20 Dec.-18 Paper-II : Philosophy of Religion TEST-07 16 Dec.-18 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION-I (Unit-1 to 5) 27 Dec.-18 Paper-II : Philosophy of Religion TEST-08 23 Dec.-18 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION-II (Unit-6 to 10) 10 Jan.-19

TEST-09 06 Jan.-19 WESTERN PHILOSOPHY All Topics 17 Jan.-19 TEST-10 13 Jan.-19 INDIAN PHILOSOPHY All Topics 24 Jan.-19 TEST-11 20 Jan.-19 SOCIO. POLITICAL All Topics 31 Jan.-19

TEST-12 27 Jan.-19 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION All Topics 07 Feb.-19

TEST-13 03 Feb.-19 PAPER-I Comprehensive 14 Feb.-19 TEST-14 10 Feb.-19 PAPER-II Comprehensive 21 Feb.-19

TEST-15 &16 17 Feb.-19 MOCK TEST PAPER-I & II Comprehensive 28 Feb.-19 Available in Online/offline HEAD OFFICE : 25/8, OLD RAJENDER NAGAR MARKET, DELHI-110060. BRANCH OFFICE : 105-106, TOP FLOOR, MUKHERJEE TOWER MUKHERJEE NAGAR, DELHI-110009. #011-45596505, 9999329111 • www.vvrias.com • http://www.philosophy.vvrias.com/ • Email:[email protected] R-IAS Best institute for Philosophy Opt.

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HEAD OFFICE: 25/24, 2nd floor (opp. duke’s bakery), old rajinder nagar market delhi-60 BRANCH: 105-106, TOP FLOOR, MUKHERJEE TOWER, MUKHERJEE NAGAR, DELHI-9 9999329111, 011-45596505 Website: www.vvrias.com || Email: [email protected]