FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
SPECIAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION-2023
FOR RECRUITMENT TO POSTS IN BS-17
UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PHILOSOPHY
TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS
PART-I (MCQs) : MAXIMUM 30 MINUTES
(PART-I MCQs) MAXIMUM MARKS: 20
(PART-II) MAXIMUM MARKS: 80
NOTE: (i) First attempt PART-I (MCQs) on separate OMR Answer Sheet which shall be taken back after 30 minutes.
(ii) Overwriting/cutting of the options/answers will not be given credit.
(iii) There is no negative marking. All MCQs must be attempted.
PART-I (MCQs)(COMPULSORY)
Q.1. (i) Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate Box on the OMR Answer Sheet.(20×1=20)
(ii) Answers given anywhere else, other than OMR Answer Sheet, will not be considered.
1. Who is attributed with the idea that truth is influenced by perspective and is thus considered relative?
(A) Protagoras (B) Pythagoras (C) Democritus (D) None of these
2. The idea of the ‘philosopher king’ was originally introduced by:
(A) Plato (B) Aristotle (C) Thomas Aquinas (D) None of these
3. What does Analytic Philosophy primarily focus its attention on?
(A) Analyzing scared texts (B) Examining scientific evidence (C) Breaking concepts into their components (D) None of these
4. The distinction between primary and secondary qualities was proposed by:
(A) Kant (B) Habermas (C) Foucault (D) None of these
5. said “Intuition provides access to absolute knowledge”.
(A) Plato (B) Kant (C) Bergson (D) None of these
6. A deductive argument is considered sound when:
(A) Its premises are true, and a conclusion is true (B) its premises are false, and conclusion is false (C) When its premises are true, and a conclusion necessarily follows from the premises (D) None of these.
7. “Science progresses by falsifying hypotheses or theories”. This statement is referred to:
(A) Karl Popper (B) Newton (C) Khun (D) None of these
8. Kant argued that pure reason can know metaphysical truths, such as the existence of God or the immortality of the soul.
(A) False (B) True (C) Neither true nor false (D) None of these
9. The work “Human, All Too Human” was authored by:
(A) Darwin (B) Marx (C) Nietzsche (D) None of these
10. Argues that Reason progresses through thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.
(A) Marx (B) Hegel (C) John Stuart Mill (D) None of these
11. The founder of (Classical) Pragmatism is:
(A) Richard Rorty (B) William James (C) Charles Sanders Peirce (D) None of these
12. “Being and Time” was authored by:
(A) Hitler (B) Marx and Engels (C) Heidegger (D) None of these
13. Argues that “Time” and “Space” are sensibilities imposed by the human mind on the world.
(A) Newton (B) Kant (C) Leibniz (D) None of these
14. “Consciousness contains a void or nothingness”. This statement is supported by:
(A) Sarter (B) Hegel (C) Husserl (D) None of these
15. “The Archaeology of Knowledge” was written by:
(A) Karl Popper (B) Francis Bacon (C) Foucault (D) None of these
16. An indicative argument can be valid under certain circumstances.
(A) Never (B) Yes (C) Maybe (D) None of these
17. Pragmatic ethics is a consequentialist form of ethics.
(A) Yes (B) No (C) It is deontological (D) None of these
18. Phenomenology is the study of appearance.
(A) False (B) Maybe (C) True (D) None of these
19. Iqbal cautiously provided support for British imperialism.
(A) Never, ever (B) In his initial works (C) In his later works (D) None of these
20. What would be Derrida’s possible response to the following statement: “The word ‘love’ refers to the feelings or emotions someone experiences, often characterized by deep affection, care, and attachment toward a person, object, idea, or concept.”
(A) A true definition of love (B) A false definition of love (C) Love cannot be defined (D) None of these
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PART-II
TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS
PART-I(MCQS): MAXIMUM 30 MINUTES
PART-I (MCQS) MAXIMUM MARKS = 20
PART-II MAXIMUM MARKS = 80
NOTE: (i) Part-II is to be attempted on the separate Answer Book.
(ii) Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from PART-II. ALL questions carry EQUAL marks.
(iii) All the parts (if any) of each Question must be attempted at one place instead of at different places.
(iv) Write Q. No. in the Answer Book in accordance with Q. No. in the Q.Paper.
(v) No Page/Space be left blank between the answers. All the blank pages of Answer Book must be crossed.
(vi) Extra attempt of any question or any part of the question will not be considered.
Q. No. 2. Provide a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the concept of ‘Philosophy’ from ancient Greek times to the contemporary era. (20)
Q. No. 3. Explore the ontological and metaphysical assumptions underpinning Aristotle’s deductive method. (20)
Q. No. 4. Present four reasons explaining why Kant regarded Time and Space as a priori forms of sensibility. (20)
Q. No. 5. Detail how Rawls overcomes the limitations and deficiencies present in the early contractarian tradition. (20)
Q. No. 6. Elucidate as to how Ibn-Khaldun’s interpretation of history shapes his conception of ‘human nature.’? (20)
Q. No. 7. ‘Existence preceds essence’ is one of the cornerstones of Sartre’s Philosphy. Elaborate. (20)
Q. No. 8. Examine the reasons behind commentators referring to Richard Rorty’s pragmatism as neo-pragmatism, highlighting the novel aspects it brings out. (20)
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