FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION-2025
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. There are ______ causes operative in the Universe according to Aristotle.
(A) One
(B) Four
(C) Thirteen
(D) None of these
2. The School of Epicureans promotes:
(A) Pessimism
(B) Pleasure
(C) Withdrawal
(D) None of these
3. ______ means purpose.
(A) Ontology
(B) De-ontology
(C) Teleology
(D) None of these
4. ______ believed in the singularity of Reality.
(A) Spinoza
(B) Berkeley
(C) Leibniz
(D) None of these
5. According to ______ the universe is composed of numbers.
(A) G.E. Moore
(B) Wittgenstein
(C) Spinoza
(D) None of these
6. “Self Consciousness” is the fundamental concept of:
(A) Dialectical Materialism
(B) Empiricism
(C) German Idealism
(D) None of these
7. ______ was the first Muslim philosopher who proposed a complete theory of Prophet-hood.
(A) Al-Kindi
(B) Ibn Sina
(C) Al-Farabi
(D) None of these
8. Monads, as per Leibniz possess:
(A) Atomic structure
(B) Amorphous shape
(C) Pre-established harmony
(D) None of these
9. *Critique of Pure Reason* is a work by:
(A) Kant
(B) Spengler
(C) Spencer
(D) None of these
10. ______ declared religion as opium for the masses.
(A) Carl Jung
(B) Adler
(C) Marx
(D) None of these
11. “Vienna Circle” was founded by:
(A) Sigmund Freud
(B) Moritz Schlick
(C) Bertrand Russell
(D) None of these
12. *Dialogue Concerning Natural Religion* is a well-known work of:
(A) A.J. Ayer
(B) Camus
(C) Hume
(D) None of these
13. Divine Attributes are identical with his essence according to:
(A) Mutazilites
(B) Asharites
(C) Zahirites
(D) None of these
14. ______ revived the philosophical and scientific spirit in the world of Islam.
(A) Al-Ghazali
(B) Ibn Sina
(C) Al-Farabi
(D) None of these
15. Marcus Aurelius belonged to School of:
(A) Stoicism
(B) Scepticism
(C) Hedonism
(D) None of these
16. *Kashf-ul-Mahjoob* is a book of:
(A) Philosophy
(B) Mysticism
(C) Theology
(D) None of these
17. ______ was the only English member of Vienna Circle.
(A) G.E. Moore
(B) A.J. Ayer
(C) Gilbert Ryle
(D) None of these
18. Pragmatic theory declares Truth as:
(A) Correspondence
(B) Usefulness
(C) Coherence
(D) None of these
19. ______ proposed that Philosophy should revert to Being again.
(A) A.N. Whitehead
(B) Martin Heidegger
(C) Immanuel Kant
(D) None of these
20. The term “Post-Modernism” was coined by:
(A) Lyotard
(B) Sartre
(C) Foucault
(D) None of these
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PART-II
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.
Q2. Explain David Hume’s theory of knowledge in detail. How did Hume carry his empiricism/skepticism to its logical limits?
Q3. Do you agree with John Stuart Mill’s Creed of “Greatest Happiness Principle”, better known as “Utilitarianism”? Support your opinion with cogent arguments. Highlight its contemporary relevance.
Q4. Explain Al-Ghazali’s stance on the relationship of cause and effect. Discuss its subsequent consequences in the academic arena of the Muslim world.
Q5. What is pragmatism? How is it the best method to resolve old metaphysical disputes according to William James?
Q6. Shed light on Hegel’s illustrious Dialectical method. What did Hegel prove through it? Why did he need a new philosophical method?
Q7. “Sensible World is a crude copy of the World of Ideas”. Elucidate Plato’s Metaphysics in depth.
Q8. What do you understand by the term “Neo-Pragmatism”? Analyze Richard Rorty’s Ethnocentrism, Naturalism, and Relativism briefly and crisply.
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