Answer any ten questions, selecting two from each Unit. (Total: 20 Marks)
Q1. Mention the orthodox systems of Indian philosophy.
The six orthodox (Astika) systems of Indian philosophy, which accept the authority of the Vedas, are:
Q2. What do you mean by Upanisadic concept of Atmana?
The Upanisadic concept of Atman refers to the inner self or soul of an individual.
It is considered the eternal, unchanging essence that is identical with the ultimate reality, Brahman.Q3. Mention two orthodox systems which do not believe in God.
Two orthodox systems that traditionally do not posit a creator God are:
Q4. Why, according to Carvaka, Vyapti is not possible?
According to Carvaka, Vyapti (universal concomitance) is not possible because it cannot be established through perception.
Since we cannot perceive all cases of a relationship in the past, present, and future, any universal rule is an unjustified leap.Q5. What are the elements of which material objects of the world composed?
In Indian materialism (Carvaka), material objects are composed of four elements:
Note: Akasha (Ether) is rejected because it is not perceivable.
Q6. How many kinds of judgement are there in Jaina system?
In the Jaina system of Syadvada, there are seven kinds of conditional judgements (Saptabhangi Naya).
These represent different perspectives (Nayas) through which truth is expressed.Q7. What are the four major schools of Buddhism?
The four major schools of Buddhism are:
Q8. What is Nirvana in Buddhistic philosophy?
Nirvana is the ultimate goal of Buddhism, representing the cessation of suffering (Dukkha) and the cycle of rebirth.
It is the "blowing out" of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion.Q9. What are the twelve links in the chain of causation?
The twelve links (Bhavacakra) in the Pratityasamutpada are:
Q10. Who is the founder of Vaisesika system? Write the name of the book written by him.
The founder of the Vaisesika system is Maharsi Kanada.
The foundational text written by him is the Vaisesika Sutra.Q11. What is Svarthanumana?
Svarthanumana is inference for oneself.
It is the psychological process where an individual reaches a conclusion for their own conviction without the need for formal steps to convince others.Q12. What is Vyapti?
Vyapti is the relation of invariable and unconditional concomitance between the middle term (Hetu) and the major term (Sadhya).
It is the logical ground of inference.Q13. Name two major schools of Vedanta.
Two major schools of Vedanta are:
Q14. What are the two eternal realities of Samkhya?
The two eternal, independent, and ultimate realities in Samkhya philosophy are:
Q15. What are the two functions of Maya in Sankara's philosophy?
In Sankara's Advaita Vedanta, Maya has two functions:
Answer five questions, selecting one from each Unit. (Total: 50 Marks)
Q16. Give a brief note on the Schools of Indian philosophy.
Indian philosophy (Darshana) is broadly divided into two categories based on their acceptance of Vedic authority:
These schools reject the authority of the Vedas:
These six schools (Saddarsana) accept Vedic authority:
Q17. State and explain the distinctive features of Indian philosophy.
Indian philosophy possesses several unique characteristics:
Q18. Why does Carvaka reject the existence of God? Discuss Carvaka critique of inference.
Carvaka rejects God because God cannot be perceived.
According to their epistemology, Pratyaksa (perception) is the only valid source of knowledge. Since God is neither visible nor detectable through any sense organ, God's existence is a myth created by priests for their own benefit.Carvaka argues that inference is not a valid Pramana for the following reasons:
Conclusion: For Carvaka, inference provides only a probability, not certain knowledge.
Q19. Explain and examine Jaina theory of Syadvada.
Syadvada is the Jaina theory of the relativity of knowledge.
It suggests that all judgements are true only under certain conditions or from a particular standpoint (Naya).Critical Examination: While Syadvada promotes intellectual tolerance (Anekantavada), critics like Sankara argue it leads to skepticism and contradiction.
Q20. Is there any permanent Self according to Buddha? Explain Niratmavada as a theory of Self according to Buddha.
No, Buddha explicitly rejected the existence of a permanent, eternal, and unchanging soul (Atman).
Niratmavada is the doctrine of "No-Self."
Buddha argued that what we call the "Self" is actually a collection of five changing aggregates (Skandhas):Just as a chariot is a name for a collection of parts (wheels, axle, etc.), the "Self" is a conventional name for these ever-changing processes.
Q21. Does Buddha believe in Universal Law of Causation (Pratityasamutpada)? Explain.
Yes, Pratityasamutpada is the foundation of Buddha’s teachings.
It means "Dependent Origination"—that everything arises in dependence on causes and conditions.Formula: "This being, that arises; on the cessation of this, that ceases."
This law explains:
Q22. What is perception according to Nyaya philosophy? Mention different kinds of perception. Distinguish between determinate and indeterminate perception.
According to Nyaya, perception (Pratyaksa) is the "definite knowledge that arises from the contact of a sense organ with an object."
| Feature | Nirvikalpaka (Indeterminate) | Savikalpaka (Determinate) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Raw sensing without names or categories. | Knowledge involving name, class, and quality. |
| Description | Cannot be expressed in words. | Can be articulated (e.g., "That is a red apple"). |
Q23. Discuss in detail the Vaisesikas four kinds of Abhava.
Abhava refers to non-existence. Vaisesika classifies it into four types:
Q24. What is Purusa? How does Samkhya prove the existence of Purusa? Is Purusa one or many?
Purusa is the pure consciousness, eternal, and inactive witness in Samkhya philosophy.
Samkhya believes that Purusa is Many (Plurality of Selves) because different individuals have different births, deaths, and experiences.
Q25. Explain critically Advaita doctrine of Maya.
In Advaita Vedanta, Maya is the power of Brahman that makes the one appear as many.
Critical View: Critics (like Ramanuja) ask: Where does Maya reside? If it resides in Brahman, Brahman's purity is compromised. If in Jiva, Jiva itself is a product of Maya.