Philosophy Optional Coaching

Philosophy literally means "the love of wisdom" [philo (love) and sophia (wisdom)]. The optimum audience for Philosophy optional subject is aspirants with a curiosity for knowledge and the world. Since all other disciplines have their roots in philosophy, this field has been given the moniker "the parent of all disciplines."

The UPSC Philosophy syllabus is nearly one-third the size of the syllabi for the other optional subjects. Furthermore, the syllabus is not only succinct and clearly laid out, but the concepts of Paper I and Paper II are put together in such a way as to form a continuum. In parallel with a comprehensive study of Paper I, Paper II receives an integrated coverage. Consequently, the full curriculum can be covered in a short amount of time.

Paper 1

In Paper-I, the syllabus is divided into two parts: Part-A Western Philosophy and Part-B Indian Philosophy.

In the Western Philosophy section, you encounter the foundational works of renowned philosophers such as Plato, his disciple Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Moore, Russell, Wittgenstein, Quine, Husserl, and Strawson. You explore topics such as ideas, substance, causation, rationalism, empiricism, phenomenology, existentialism, logical positivism, and more. Each philosopher presents unique perspectives on metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics, offering valuable insights into the nature of reality, knowledge, and human existence:

Some commonly asked Western Philosophy questions include:

• Theories of ideas of Plato, substance and form of Aristotle,
• Cogito ergo sum' of Descartes, substance or pantheism of Spinoza, monadology of Leibnitz
• Esse est percipi of Berkeley, Skepticism of Hume, Synthetic a priori judgement of Kant
• Truth is rational and rational is truth of Hegel, appearance and reality of Bradley
• Radical empiricism of James, Common sense philosophy and refutation of idealism of Moore
• Logical atomism and Theory of Description of Rusell, Elimination of metaphysics and verification theory of Ayer
• Picture theory and language game of Wittgenstein, Category mistake of Ryle Nothingness of Heidegger
• Existence precedes essence and man is condemned to be free of Sartre

In Part-B Indian Philosophy section, you delve into the rich philosophical traditions of ancient India, including Cārvāka, Jainism, Buddhism, and Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika, Yoga, Shankracharya, Mimamsa and Vedanta. You learn concepts such as theory of knowledge, reality, bondage, liberation, causation, self, and God from the perspectives of these philosophical schools. Each school offers distinct philosophical insights and perspectives on the nature of existence, consciousness, and the ultimate reality.

Some commonly asked Indian Philosophy questions

• Refutation of inference given by carvaka Syatvada and Anekantavada in Jainism
• Pratitya Samutpada and Kshan Bhangvada in Early Buddhism
• Shunyavada and Vigyanvada in Later Buddhism
• Purusha prakriti and Theory of Evolution from Samkhya
• categories and atomism from Vaisheshika
• Brahma and Maya from Sankara
• Qualified non-dualism and refutation of Mayaism from Ramanuja

Paper-2

Paper-II of the Philosophy optional covers Part-A Socio-Political Philosophy and Part- B Philosophy of Religion.

In the Socio-Political Philosophy section (Part-A), you learn about a wide range of social and political ideals, including equality, justice, and liberty. You will study the concept of sovereignty as discussed by prominent thinkers such as Austin, Bodin, Laski, and Kautilya. Additionally, you will examine the relationship between the individual and the state, exploring topics such as rights, duties, and forms of government. Political ideologies such as anarchism, Marxism, socialism, humanism, secularism, and multiculturalism will also be analyzed. Furthermore, you will delve into issues related to crime and punishment, development, social progress, gender discrimination, and caste discrimination, considering perspectives from figures like Gandhi and Ambedkar. This section encourages critical reflection on socio-political issues and the role of philosophy in addressing them.

In the Philosophy of Religion section (Part-B), you will investigate various philosophical perspectives on religion and spirituality. You will explore notions of God, including attributes and relations to humanity and the world, from both Indian and Western philosophical traditions. The proofs for the existence of God and critiques of these proofs will be examined in depth. Additionally, you will ponder the problem of evil and the concept of the soul, exploring ideas about immortality, rebirth, and liberation. Philosophical discussions on reason, revelation, faith, religious experience, and the nature of religious language will also be central to this section. Furthermore, you will explore the complex relationship between religion and morality, religious pluralism, and the nature of religious language. This section invites critical inquiry into the philosophical dimensions of religion and spirituality, fostering a deeper understanding of humanity's spiritual quest and philosophical reflections on the divine.

Overall, studying philosophy as an optional subject will offer you a unique opportunity to explore profound philosophical ideas, broaden your intellectual horizons, and cultivate a deeper understanding of the world and human experience. It will be a rewarding journey that will challenge you to think critically and reflect deeply on the fundamental questions that have puzzled humanity for centuries.

The syllabus of Philosophy Optional is the shortest of all. Moreover, the syllabus is very precise, and it does not require constant updation. Hence, Philosophy can be prepared comprehensively in a very short time span without much ado.

• To opt for Philosophy Optional, one does not require any prior background in the subject. Philosophy has the epithet of being the parent of every discipline since every other academic subject has originated from it.
• The prevalent misconception is that only students with good writing abilities can do well in Philosophy. But the truth is that Philosophy can bring about a remarkable improvement in the thinking and writing of the students. Philosophy can inculcate a critical outlook and can enable one to become more insightful, self-reliant and original. Thus, ‘Good-writing’ is not a prerequisite to studying Philosophy; in fact ‘Good-writing’ is an outcome of studying Philosophy.
• The dividends of studying Philosophy go beyond the confines of the designated 500 Marks of the Optional Subject, in fact, one can reap the benefits in the CSAT, General Studies Papers (Prelims and Mains), especially Ethics, Essay, as well as the Personality Test.
• Ethics is one of the principal branches of Philosophy. Accordingly, as a student of Philosophy, one would be better endowed to deal with the challenges of Ethics paper.
• Invariably, the questions of the Essay hover around Philosophical themes, such as issues of Being, Democracy, Justice, Environment, Corruption, Gender, Religion, Caste, etc., and all of these are also the principal themes of Philosophy.
• Philosophy, Darshan-shastra, can impart the right orientation towards life and, thereby, can enable an aspirant to answer questions of the Interview more intelligently and with profound insights.
• The Success Rate of Philosophy Optional is consistently very high as compared to other Optional Subjects.

Our Philosophy-Optional Programme is designed as a One Stop Solution. You does not have to read any book, either before the course or after the course. We provide the complete Study material in the form of class notes as well as printed material.

• The course spans a duration of 5 months, during which you should primarily focus on attending classroom lectures. This approach will allow you to dedicate ample time to General studies regularly, increasing your chances of success in both the Prelims and Mains exams.
• Designed to cater to students with or without a formal background in Philosophy, our course introduces the subject in a simple and clear manner. Active participation in classroom discussions and seeking clarification of doubts is encouraged.
• Through various teaching methods like pedagogical exercises and thought experiments, every concept is thoroughly explained, ensuring comprehensive understanding. You are advised to take diligent notes during classes.
• You will be trained to condense all aspects of a topic into synoptic notes, facilitating efficient revision. 
• Discussion of previous years' mains exam questions during class will help you practice answering questions independently using these notes.
• Our course fosters critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to reason dialectically. These skills not only contribute to high scores in Philosophy but also enhance the quality of writing in other papers and improve oratory skills. This will encourage you to apply philosophical insights to essay and ethics questions.
• Through regular homework, classwork, impromptu writing sessions, and planned tests, you will develop self-reliance in composing coherent answers and addressing contemporary issues effectively.
• Upon completion of the course, you can dedicate about an hour daily to practising answers from previous years' exams. This consistent effort will ensure a balanced preparation between the optional subject and general studies papers.