Philosophy 2022 Paper I 50 marks Compulsory Discuss

Q1

(a) How does Plato use the theory of forms to establish the relation between epistemology and metaphysics ? Discuss. (10 marks) (b) What is Bertrand Russell's method of logical analysis ? How does it ultimately end in establishing atomic theory of meaning ? Discuss. (10 marks) (c) Establish the tenability of later Wittgenstein's notion of language as form of life. (10 marks) (d) What is psychologism ? Critically discuss the way Edmund Husserl avoids the problem of psychologism in the discourse of transcendental phenomenology. (10 marks) (e) What is apperception, according to Immanuel Kant ? Discuss with reference to his transcendental exposition of space and time. (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) ज्ञानमीमांसा एवं तत्त्वमीमांसा के बीच सम्बन्ध की स्थापना हेतु प्लेटो किस प्रकार आकार सिद्धान्त का उपयोग करते हैं ? विवेचना कीजिये । (10 अंक) (b) बर्ट्रैण्ड रसेल की तार्किक विश्लेषण की विधि क्या है ? अन्ततः किस प्रकार इसकी परिणति अर्थ के अणुवादी सिद्धान्त में होती है ? विवेचना कीजिये । (10 अंक) (c) उत्तरवर्ती विट्टगेन्स्टाइन की जीवन-रूप भाषा की अवधारणा की समर्थनीयता की स्थापना कीजिए । (10 अंक) (d) मनोविज्ञानवाद क्या है ? प्रागनुभविक संप्रतिशास्त्र सम्बन्धी अपने विमर्श में हुसर्ल किस प्रकार मनोविज्ञानवाद की समस्या का परिवर्जन करते हैं ? समालोचनात्मक विवेचना कीजिये । (10 अंक) (e) इमैन्युएल काण्ट के अनुसार अन्तःप्रत्यक्ष क्या है ? उनके द्वारा प्रस्तुत देश तथा काल के प्रागनुभविक प्रतिपादन के सन्दर्भ में विवेचना कीजिये । (10 अंक)

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'discuss' demands a balanced exposition with critical engagement across all five parts. Allocate approximately 20% time/words to each sub-part (a-e) since marks are equal. Structure each part with brief introduction, systematic exposition of the philosopher's position, and critical evaluation. Begin with Plato's theory of Forms, proceed through Russell's logical atomism and Wittgenstein's language-games, then Husserl's anti-psychologism, and conclude with Kant's transcendental apperception—ensuring each part maintains internal coherence while the whole demonstrates thematic unity across epistemology-metaphysics interface.

Key points expected

  • (a) Plato: Theory of Forms as bridge between epistemology (knowledge as recollection/anamnesis) and metaphysics (hierarchy of being); Divided Line analogy; participation (methexis) and the Good as epistemological-metaphysical apex
  • (b) Russell: Logical analysis as decomposition into atomic propositions; theory of definite descriptions; isomorphism between language and world; atomic propositions as foundation of meaning; rejection of idealism
  • (c) Later Wittgenstein: Language-game (Sprachspiel); meaning as use; rule-following and community practice; form of life (Lebensform) as pre-linguistic background; critique of private language argument; tenability assessed via anti-essentialism and social pragmatism
  • (d) Husserl: Psychologism as reduction of logical laws to psychological processes; Logical Investigations critique; eidetic reduction and phenomenological epoché; transcendental subjectivity as condition for objective knowledge; noesis-noema correlation
  • (e) Kant: Transcendental apperception as 'I think' accompanying all representations; synthetic unity of consciousness; transcendental exposition of space/time as a priori intuitions; role of imagination and schematism in unifying sensibility and understanding

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Precise articulation of technical terms: for (a) distinguishes epistēmē from doxa and links to ontological hierarchy; for (b) correctly identifies logical atomism's isomorphism; for (c) captures Wittgenstein's anti-systematic turn; for (d) distinguishes empirical from transcendental subjectivity; for (e) clarifies difference between empirical and transcendental apperception with accurate reference to B-DeductionBroadly accurate but with imprecisions: conflates Platonic participation with Aristotelian imitation, mischaracterizes Russell's atomism as physical rather than logical, treats Wittgenstein's forms of life as cultural relativism, conflates Husserl's epoché with Cartesian doubt, or confuses Kant's transcendental with empirical selfMajor conceptual errors: treats Forms as mental constructs, confuses Russell with early Wittgenstein, presents language-games as language types, reduces phenomenology to introspection psychology, or identifies apperception with empirical self-consciousness
Argument structure20%10Each sub-part follows clear thesis-exposition-evaluation arc: for (a) shows how epistemological ascent mirrors metaphysical ascent; for (b) traces analysis from ordinary language to atomic constituents; for (c) presents language-game argument then assesses tenability via rule-following considerations; for (d) structures psychologism critique → Husserl's solution → residual problems; for (e) connects apperception's unity to space/time as pure formsAdequate structure but uneven development: some parts descriptive rather than argumentative, evaluation tacked on rather than integrated, or transitions between philosophers' moves unclear; may list points without showing systematic interconnectionDisorganized or fragmented: no discernible argument flow, parts answered as isolated facts, failure to address 'how' and 'discuss' demands, or complete omission of critical evaluation in favor of pure exposition
Schools / thinkers cited20%10Appropriate contextual references: for (a) cites Aristotle's critique of Third Man or Neoplatonic commentators; for (b) references Frege's influence on Russell or comparison with early Wittgenstein; for (c) cites Kripke's skeptical reading or Indian philosophers' resonance with language-games; for (d) references Brentano's descriptive psychology as target; for (e) engages Strawson's Bounds of Sense or Allison's readingMinimal secondary references: mentions primary texts (Republic, Tractatus, Philosophical Investigations, Logical Investigations, Critique) without interpretive depth, or cites only general textbooks like Datta or SinhaNo scholarly references or anachronistic citations: misattributes positions, cites unrelated thinkers, or relies entirely on generic encyclopedic knowledge without textual grounding
Counter-position handling20%10Sophisticated engagement with alternatives: for (a) addresses Aristotle's critique of separate Forms; for (b) considers Strawson's critique of Russell's theory of descriptions or Quine's skepticism about analyticity; for (c) evaluates Kripkenstein skepticism or charges of linguistic relativism; for (d) assesses whether Husserl fully escapes psychologism or falls into transcendental solipsism; for (e) considers Guyer or Allison debates on apperception's roleSuperficial acknowledgment of objections: mentions that Plato's theory has been criticized without specifics, notes Russell's atomism was abandoned without explaining why, or states Wittgenstein's view is 'debatable' without elaborationNo counter-position engagement or strawman dismissal: presents each philosopher's view as self-evidently true, misrepresents objections, or uses 'some critics say' without substantiation
Conclusion & coherence20%10Synthesizes five parts into thematic unity regarding epistemology-metaphysics interface: shows how each philosopher differently negotiates thought-world relation; brief concluding paragraph identifies common thread (conditions of possibility, analysis of meaning, transcendental grounding) while respecting each thinker's distinctivenessSeparate conclusions for each part without overarching synthesis; or forced unity that distorts positions; conclusion merely summarizes what was said rather than showing philosophical progressionAbrupt ending without conclusion, or conclusion unrelated to question; parts appear as disconnected mini-essays; failure to return to the epistemology-metaphysics relation announced in (a)

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