PHILOSOPHY – Daily Answer Writing Challenge

2015

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 1

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 2

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 3

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 4

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 5

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 6

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 7

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 8

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 9

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 10

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 11

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 12

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 13

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 14

Mains – 2015: Philosophy Challenge – 15

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 16

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 17

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 18

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 19

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 20

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 21

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 22

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 26

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 27

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 28

Mains-2015: Philosophy Challenge – 29

 

 

2014

February

 Challenge 1

Topic: Social & Political Ideals

Question 1

Explain and evaluate Aristotle’s conception of Justice. (250 words/UPSC-2013)

Question 2

“Equality stands for equal treatment with equals and unequal treatment with unequals”- Aristotle. Comment. (250 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 2

Topic: Social & Political Ideals

Question 1

What is meant by justice as fairness’? Explain the basic tenets of Rawls’ theory of justice. (250 words/UPSC-2013)

Question 2

How is Amartya Sen’s approach to justice different from that of Rawls? (250 words/UPSC-2013)

ANSWERS

Challenge 3

Question 1

 The Fundamental idea of the conception of Justice is fairness. Discuss. (250 words/UPSC-2011)

Question 2

“Man is sovereign over his body, mind & soul”-Mill. Comment. (250 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 4

Topic: Sovereignty

Question 1

 Why did Kautilya think that sovereignty is hierarchical? Explain (200 words/UPSC 2010)

Question 2

Explain Kautilya’s Saptanga Theory of Sovereign State.(200 words/UPSC 2008)

ANSWERS

Challenge 5

Topic: Sovereignty

Question

 Explain notion of sovereignty. Critically consider the claim that sovereignty is illimitable & logically indivisible. (200 words/UPSC 2006)

ANSWERS

Challenge 6

Topic: Individual & State

Question

 What is the significance of including duties of citizens in the Indian Constitution? (150 words/UPSC 2013)

ANSWERS

Challenge 7

Topic: Individual & State

Question

 Are the claims of the State & the individual really mutually conflicting? Discuss. (200 words/UPSC 2000)

ANSWERS

Challenge 8

 Topic: Forms of Government

Question

 Is a democratic government better than a benevolent dictatorship? Give reasons for your answer. (250 words/UPSC 2013)

ANSWERS

Challenge 9

Topic : Forms of Government

Question

Is a democratic government able to represent the interests of minority groups? (250 words/UPSC 2013)

ANSWERS

Challenge 10

 Topic:Forms of Government

Question 

Explain nature of theocracy. In which way it is related to Secularism. Critically analyse. (200 words) 

ANSWERS

Challenge 11

 Topic:Crime and Punishment

Question

You are not punished for stealing the sheep, but you are punished so that no sheep is stolen. Discuss to which theory of punishment, the statement belongs  (200 words/UPSC 2009)

ANSWERS

Challenge 12

 Topic: Crime and Punishment

Question 

Does corruption have not only a moral dimension but also an economic dimension? (200 words/UPSC 2013)

ANSWERS

Challenge 13

 Topic:Crime and Punishment

Question 

Can capital punishment be justified? Give reasons for your answer.(250 words/UPSC 2011)

ANSWERS

Challenge 14

 Topic: Gender Discrimination

Question

What do you understand by ‘gender equality’ and why is it important? (250 words/UPSC 2013)

ANSWERS

Challenge 15

 Topic: Gender Discrimination

Question 

Is economic independence essential for equality between men and women? (250 words/UPSC 2013)

ANSWERS

Challenge 16

Topic: Gender Discrimination

Question

What in your view is source of gender inequality? Is it primarily rooted in human biology? In what way can this inequality be bridged? (250 words/UPSC 2003)

ANSWERS

Challenge 17

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – CHARVAKA

Question

Why do Charvaka reject the concept of Akasa. [UPSC-2011/ 250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 18

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – CHARVAKA

Question

State and evaluate critically Charvaka’s view that perception is the only valid source of knowledge. [UPSC-2002/ 250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 19

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – CHARVAKA

Question 

Inference is not possible, as it involves the fallacy of petition-principil.’Comment. [UPSC-1990/ 250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 20

Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – CHARVAKA

 Question 

The Charvaka system is not a consistent metaphysic; it is only a crude form of hedonism. Analyse. [UPSC-1992/ 250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 21

Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – CHARVAKA

Question 

Charvaka’s refutation of Anumana is itself a process of Anumana.Comment. [UPSC-2003/ 250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 22

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – CHARVAKA

Question 

The soil is nothing but the conscious body. Comment. [UPSC-1998/ 250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 23

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – CHARVAKA

Question 

Charvaka’s metaphysics is the logical culmination of his epistemology. Critically analyse. [250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 24

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

 Question 

Analyse the relation between the theory of saptabhanginaya and anekantavada. [UPSC-2013/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 25

 Topic:  INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

Question 

Expound anekantavada of Jainism. Is it a consistent theory of reality? Give reason. [UPSC-2003/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 26

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

 Question 

Why is Saptabhanginaya not treated as a doctrine of Scepticism. Discuss.[UPSC 2011/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 27

 Topic:  INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

Question

What according to Jainism is path to liberation. Discuss.[CSM 2011/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 28

Topic:  INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

 Question

Is syadvada a self-contradictory doctrine. Discuss. [UPSC 2010/300 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 29

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

 Question 

Explain theory of substance according to Jainism.[UPSC 2006/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 30

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

 Question 

Syadvada is a theory of relativity of knowledge. Comment.[250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 31

Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – JAINISM

 Question

What arguments does Jains give for Anekantavada ?[250 words]

 ANSWERS

Challenge 32

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 Question

“The Madhyamika philosophy tries to adopt the mean between extreme affirmation and extreme negation.” Comment. [UPSC 2008/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 33

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 State and discuss the Buddhist notion of Sunyata. [UPSC 2005/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 34

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

Question

State and discuss the Buddhist notion of Momentariness. [UPSC 2004/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 35

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

Question 

Discuss Four Arya Satya (Noble Truths) according to Buddhism. [UPSC 2007/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 36

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 Question 

Explain the Buddhists’ position of ‘Impermanence’ and show how the idea of Impermanence leads to the theory of momentariness of reality. [UPSC 2013/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 37

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 Question

Is the concept of Nirvana a logical necessity for the Buddhists. Give reasons for your answer.  [UPSC 2011/300 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 38

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 Question

How does the Buddhist accept the possibility of rebirth in absence of an eternal soul? Discuss. [UPSC 2010/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 39

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 Question

What is the importance of Buddhist concept of ‘Nama-Rupa’ in the exposition of the Doctrine of Dependent Origination. [UPSC 2010/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 40

 Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 Question

 Comment: ‘Accepting sunyavada makes one indifferent to the pursuit of dharma.’ Examine, in this context, Nagarjuna’s arguments for sunyavada. [UPSC 2013/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 41

Topic: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY – BUDDHISM

 Question

Explain Buddhist doctrine of Pratitya Samutapada. [UPSC 1995/250 words]

ANSWERS

Challenge 42

Topic: EQUALITY

 Question

Write short notes on Equality.  (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 43

Topic: EQUALITY

 Question

Analyse the concept of Equality and discuss the relationship between Equality and Justice?  (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 44

Topic: EQUALITY

 Question

Unless the ideal of equality is embedded within a broader theory of politics and society, it can be given no specific content- Notes.  (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 45

Topic: EQUALITY

 Question 

Analyse the idea of equality and show its relation, if any to the concept of justice.  (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 46

Topic: EQUALITY

Question 

Discuss the relationship between liberty and equality.  (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 47

Topic: EQUALITY

Question 

Comment on the relationship between Equality and Freedom. (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 48

Topic: EQUALITY

Question 

According to some liberal political thinkers, Social and economical inequalities can be justified only if they work to the advantage of the least advantage members of Society. Is this view consistent with Liberalism’s cardinal advocacy of individual freedom? Discuss. (300 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 49

Topic: EQUALITY

Question

Does the idea of equal respect to all religions provide a consistent and viable state policy?  (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 50

Topic: EQUALITY

 Question

What do you understand by ‘gender equality’ and why is it important?  (200 words)

ANSWERS

Challenge 51

Topic: EQUALITY

 Question 

Is economic independence essential for equality between men and women?  (200 words)

ANSWERS

2013

1. Challenge – 23/10/2013

QUESTIONS: 23/10/2013 (Paper-I – Topic: Indian Philosophy :Charvaka)

  1. Charvaka’s Views on Nature of Soul. (2007/200 Words)
  2. Discuss the theory of knowledge, according to Charvaka philosophy.(2006/200 Words)

WRITE HERE

2. Challenge – 24/10/2013

 QUESTIONS: 24/10/2013 (Topic: Indian Philosophy, Chapter:The Carvaka Philosophy) 

  1.  Dehatmavada of Charvakas  ? (2004/300 Words)
  2. Charvaka’s refutation of anumana is itself a process of anumana.Discuss ? (2003/300 Words)

WRITE HERE