Answer ten questions, selecting two from each Unit.
(Total: 20 Marks)Q1. What is epistemology?
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that investigates the nature, origin, scope, and limits of human knowledge
. It seeks to answer fundamental questions such as "How do we know?" and "What is truth?"Q2. What is ontology? Is ontology synonymous with metaphysics?
Ontology is the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being and existence
. While often used interchangeably, they are not strictly synonymous; Metaphysics is the broader field, while Ontology is the specific sub-field focused exclusively on what "entities" exist.Q3. What are the main branches of philosophy? Which branch of philosophy is dealt with value?
The main branches are Epistemology, Metaphysics, Ethics, and Logic
. The branch that deals with values is Axiology (which includes Ethics and Aesthetics).Q4. How many types of knowledge are there according to Plato? Name them.
According to Plato's "Analogy of the Divided Line," there are four levels/types of knowledge: Eikasia (Imagination), Pistis (Belief), Dianoia (Mathematical reasoning), and Noesis (Pure Dialectic/Intelligence)
.Q5. Name two dialogues of Plato in which he talked about theory of knowledge.
Plato discusses his theory of knowledge extensively in The Republic and Theaetetus
.Q6. How many realities are there according to Aristotle? Name them.
Aristotle emphasizes a single, unified reality where Form and Matter coexist in individual substances
. He rejects Plato's dualism, focusing instead on the reality of the physical world and its categorized substances.Q7. What, according to empiricism, is the source of knowledge? Name one modern empiricist philosopher.
According to empiricism, the sole source of knowledge is Sense Experience
. A prominent modern empiricist philosopher is John Locke.Q8. Who is the author of the book, Critique of Pure Reason? What kind of revolution did he bring in philosophy?
The author is Immanuel Kant
. He introduced the Copernican Revolution in philosophy, which shifted the focus from the object to the subject, arguing that the mind actively shapes our experience.Q9. How does John Locke refute the Doctrine of Innate ideas? Mention two grounds.
Locke refutes innate ideas on two primary grounds: (1) Lack of universal consent (children and idiots do not possess them), and (2) The mind is initially a Tabula Rasa (blank slate) filled only by experience
.Q10. Why is Locke's theory of realism called representationalism?
It is called representationalism because he argues that we do not perceive objects directly; rather, the mind perceives ideas which "represent" the external objects
.Q11. Write two points of difference between realism and idealism.
Q12. "Whatever is rational is real and whatever is real is rational." Who said this? Name the theory associated with him.
This was said by G.W.F. Hegel. The associated theory is Absolute Idealism.
Q13. What do you mean by conceptual time?
Conceptual time refers to time as an abstract, mathematical construction or a mental framework used to order events, as opposed to time as a physical, external entity
.Q14. "Space and Time are empirically real but transcendentally ideal." Who said this? Why did he say so?
Immanuel Kant said this
. He believed space and time are the necessary forms of our intuition (transcendentally ideal) through which all objects are perceived (empirically real).Q15. What is the popular view of causality?
The popular view of causality is the "Necessary Connection" theory—the belief that there is a power or force in the cause that produces the effect by necessity
.Answer five questions, selecting one from each Unit.
(Total: 50 Marks)Q16. What is philosophy? Discuss the nature and scope of philosophy.
Philosophy literally means "love of wisdom" (Philo + Sophia). It is the critical and systematic study of the most fundamental questions of existence.
The scope of philosophy extends to every aspect of human life, including the study of the universe (Metaphysics), knowledge (Epistemology), values (Axiology), and reasoning (Logic)
.Q17. Elucidate upon the concept of applied philosophy. Explain the areas in which practical application of philosophical knowledge is seen.
Applied philosophy is the practical use of philosophical methods and theories to solve real-world problems
.Q18. What, according to Plato is the ultimate reality? Can the 'Ideas' of Plato be known by experience? Explain Plato's theory of Ideas.
For Plato, the ultimate reality is the World of Ideas (or Forms). These are eternal, unchanging, and perfect archetypes of all things.
No, Ideas cannot be known by sense experience. Experience only provides "opinion" of the shadows of reality. Ideas are known only through Reason.
Plato argues that every object in the physical world is a mere imperfect copy of its perfect Form. For example, all beautiful things are beautiful only because they participate in the "Idea of Beauty".
Q19. What does Aristotle mean by cause? Explain Aristotle's theory of causation.
Aristotle identifies a "cause" as a factor necessary to explain why something is the way it is
. He proposes the Four Causes:Q20. Discuss rationalism as a theory of knowledge. What are the criticisms levelled against it?
Rationalism is the epistemological view that Reason is the primary source and test of knowledge
. Famous proponents include Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz.Critics (Empiricists) argue that without sensory input, the mind remains empty. They also point out that many "innate" truths are actually learned through experience.
Q21. Explain Kant's critical theory of knowledge. Does the critical theory of Kant reconcile rationalism and empiricism?
Kant’s "Critique" argues that knowledge is a synthesis of both experience and reason
."Thoughts without content are empty, intuitions without concepts are blind."
Reconciliation: Yes, he reconciles them by stating that Empiricism provides the raw data (sensations), while Rationalism provides the categories of the mind (space, time, causality) to organize that data
.Q22. Who coined the term 'Naive realism'? Discuss Naive realism as a theory of reality. What are the criticisms levelled against it?
Naive Realism is the "common sense" view that external objects exist exactly as we perceive them
.The Argument from Illusion (e.g., a stick looks bent in water) and the Argument from Hallucination prove that perception is not always a direct or accurate reflection of reality
.Q23. What is solipsism? Was Berkeley a solipsist? Explain and examine Berkeley's theory of subjective idealism.
Solipsism is the view that only one's own mind is sure to exist
. Berkeley was NOT a solipsist because he believed in the existence of other minds and the Mind of God.Berkeley's central maxim is "To be is to be perceived"
. He argues that "material" objects are nothing but collections of ideas in the mind. Since ideas cannot exist outside a mind, the external world must be mental.Q24. Explain the different philosophical views on the nature of substance.
Q25. Does Hume believe that there is a necessary connection between cause and its effect? Critically examine Hume's theory of causation.
No, Hume argues that we never perceive a "necessary connection" between a cause and an effect
.Hume reduces causation to Constant Conjunction
. Because we always see event A followed by event B, our mind develops a "habit" or "custom" of expecting B when A occurs. Causality is a psychological expectation, not a logical or physical necessity.