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Tuesday, 6 October 2026 · New Delhi

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UPSC CSE Mains · Optional Subject

Philosophy

Two thousand years of asking why — Western and Indian philosophy, plus socio-political thought.

Download syllabus PDF

Paper I

250marks

3 hours each

Paper II

250marks

3 hours each

Optional total

500marks

Counts toward the Mains merit

Paper I syllabus

250 marks · 3 hours

History and Problems of Philosophy

  1. 1. Plato and Aristotle : Ideas; Substance; Form and Matter; Causation; Actuality and Potentiality.
  2. 2. Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz); Cartesian Method and Certain Knowledge; Substance; God; Mind-Body Dualism; Determinism and Freedom.
  3. 3. Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume) : Theory of Knowledge; Substance and Qualities; Self and God; Scepticism.
  4. 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. 5. Hegel : Dialectical Method; Absolute Idealism.
  6. 6. Moore, Russell and Early Wittgenstein : Defence of Commonsense; Refutation of Idealism; Logical Atomism; Logical Constructions; Incomplete Symbols; Picture Theory of Meaning; Sying and Showing.
  7. 7. Logical Positivism : Verification Theory of Meaning; Rejection of Metaphysics; Linguistic Theory of Necessary Propositions.
  8. 8. Later Wittgenstein : Meaning and Use; Language-games; Critique of Private Language.
  9. 9. Phenomenology (Husserl): Method; Theory of Essences; Avoidance of Psychologism.
  10. 10. Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sarte, Heidegger): Existence and Essence; Choice, Responsibility and Authentic Existence; Being-in-the-world and Temporality.
  11. 11. Quine and Strawson : Critique of Empiricism; Theory of Basic Particulars and Persons.
  12. 12. Carvaka : Theory of Knowlegde; Rejection of Transcendent Entities.
  13. 13. Jainism : Theory of Reality; Saptabhanginaya; Bondage and Liberation.
  14. 14. Schools of Buddhism : Prat Ityasamutpada; Ksanikavada, Nairatmyavada.
  15. 15. Nyaya—Vaiesesika : Theory of Categories; Theory of Appearance; Theory of Pramana; Self, Liberation; God; Proofs for the Existence of God; Theory of Causation; Atomistic Theory of Creation.
  16. 16. Samkhya; Prakrit; Purusa; Causation; Liberation.
  17. 17. Yoga; Citta; Cittavrtti; Klesas; Samadhi; Kaivalya.
  18. 18. Mimamsa: Theory of Knowlegde.
  19. 19. Schools of Vedanta : Brahman; Isvara; Atman; Jiva; Jagat; Maya; Avida; Adhyasa; Moksa; Aprthaksiddhi; Pancavidhabheda.
  20. 20. Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.

Paper II syllabus

250 marks · 3 hours

Socio-Political Philosophy

  1. 1. Social and Political ldeals : Equality, Justice, Liberty.
  2. 2. Sovereignty : Austin, Bodin, Laski, Kautilya.
  3. 3. Individual and State : Rights; Duties and Accountability.
  4. 4. Forms of Government : Monarchy; Theocracy and Democracy.
  5. 5. Political Ideologies: Anarchism; Marxism and Socialism.
  6. 6. Humanism; Secularism; Multi-culturalism.
  7. 7. Crime and Punishment : Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide, Capital Punishment.
  8. 8. Development and Social Progress.
  9. 9. Gender Discrimination : Female Foeticide, Land and Property Rights; Empowerment.
  10. 10. Caste Discrimination : Gandhi and Ambedkar.

Philosophy of Religion

  1. 1. Notions of God : Attributes; Relation to Man and the World. (Indian and Western).
  2. 2. Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique (Indian and Western).
  3. 3. Problem of Evil.
  4. 4. Soul : Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
  5. 5. Reason, Revelation and Faith.
  6. 6. Religious Experience : Nature and Object (Indian and Western).
  7. 7. Religion without God.
  8. 8. Religion and Morality.
  9. 9. Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth.
  10. 10. Nature of Religious Language : Analogical and Symbolic; Cognitivist and Non-cognitive.

Syllabus as per the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination notification. Topic-wise study notes for Philosophy are being added — check back soon.

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