Master Degree Programme in Philosophy(MAPY)First Year

MPY-001 : INDIAN PHILOSOPHY

MPYE-001 : LOGIC

MPYE-002 : ETHICS

MPYE-003 : EPISTEMOLOGY

MPYE-004 : PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN PERSON

MPYE-005 : WORLD RELIGIONS

MPYE-006 : DALIT PHILOSOPHY

MPYE-007 : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN PHILOSOPHY

School of Social WorkIndira Gandhi National Open University

Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068

Course Title

AssignmentsJuly, 2013 and January, 2014 Sessions

Last Date of Submission of Assignments to the Study CentreJuly Session - January 30, 2014January Session - July 30, 2014

2Dear Student,

Welcome to IGNOU and to the courses and programmes of Study in M.A. philosophy. Thoseenrolled for July 2013 session must submit these assignments on or before Jaunary 30, 2014 andthose of you getting enrolled for January 2014 must submit the assignments on or before July 30,2014. Copies of assignments are available on IGNOU website as well.

Assignments are open book examination and we at IGNOU assign 30 per cent weightage to theassignment while calculating the overall grade for each course. Assignments are to be hand-writtenor neatly typed and duly signed on it before its submission in the study centre. In order to prepare agood set of assignment-responses, you must first of all read the chapter(s) from which a particularquestion has been framed. Discuss with your peer-group and academic counselors or professorswho teach you. Prepare a draft, do the necessary correction on it and then, prepare the final versionfor submission to the Study Centre.

Make sure that each question answer starts on a new page. For long and medium answers, ensurethat there is an introduction, sub-titles for main body and a conclusion. One line should be leftbetween each paragraph. Make sure your answers are specific and in your own words and do notcopy from books. Your answers will be exclusively based on the IGNOU materials only. Prepara-tion of assignments is preparation for your term-end examination. Therefore take the assignmentsseriously.

You must keep a duplicate/carbon/Xerox copy of your assignment for future reference. Always takean acknowledgement receipt from the study-centre while submitting your assignments. Ensure thatyou read the programme guide carefully which will answer most of your doubts. Wish you all thebest for your studies.

Prof. Gracious Thomas(Programme Coordinator)

3INDIAN PHILOSOPHYASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPY-001Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carry equal marksiii) Answer to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 400 words eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand

them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Explain the theory of evolution according to Sankhya. 20Or

Write an essay on the social and political philosophy of B. R. Ambedkar. 20

2. Explain the four noble truths of Buddhism. In Buddhism, what are the methodsprescribed for the cessation of suffering? 20

OrExplain in detail the Atomic theory of Vaisesika. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. Elucidate Upanishadic concept of Atman-Brahman. 10b. Describe the purusharthas as the goal of life. 10c. What is the concept of Jiva according to the Visistha Advaita school of Vedanta? 10d. Critically evaluate Syadvada of Jainism. 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:

a. What is the nature of Universal Religion according to Vivekananda. 5b. Briefly explain Aurobindos concept of the Sacidananda. 5c. Write a short note on the Mimamsa concept of sabda. 5d. Explain the Triratna of Jainism. 5e. Discuss the moral teachings found in Mahabharata. 5f. Illustrate the syllogism of Nyaya logic with example. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Satkaryavada. 4b. Avatara. 4c. Aranyaka 4d. Anatma vada 4e. Concept of God in Saivism 4f. Concept of rasa 4g. Nishkama Karma 4h. Darsana 4

4LOGICASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPYE-001Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carryequal marksiii) Answer to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 400 words eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understandthem, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Discuss the rule of quantification in detail. How would you apply these quantificationrules? Illustrate with examples. 20

OrExplain in detail the concepts of Definition and Division. 20

2. Describe Proposition and its kinds. 20Or

Narrate the growth of Symbolic Logic and its utility. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. Enumerate categorical syllogism. 10b. Give a brief account of Logic Gate. 10c. Elucidate Square of opposition. 10d. What do you mean by Denotation and Connotation of Terms? 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:a. Define Truth-table with an example. 5b. Give a formal proof of validity for the following: 5

c. What is a Universal Quantifier? 5d. Explain the rule of replacement. 5e. Explain universal generalization 5f. Distinguish between propositions and sentences 5

55. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Argumentum Ad populum 4b. Multi-value logic 4c. Conditionalproof 4d. Conjunction 4e. Principles of indirect proofs 4f. Hasty generalization 4g. Bi-conditional 4h. Disjunctive Syllogism 4

6ETHICSASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPYE-002Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carry equal marksiii) Answer to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 400 words eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand

them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. What do you understand by Virtue Ethics? Elaborate and contrast it with Deontology.

OrDiscuss the debate between Consequentialism and Non-consequentialism. 20

2. Analyse the ethical responsibilities of the social institutions. 20Or

Narrate the development of the concept of human rights. Why is right to lifeconsidered the prime one? 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. What is the importance of Bioethics? Explain some contributions made byBioethics to medicine. 10

b. Distinguish carefully between moral relativity and ethical relativism 10c. Explain the four asramas and show their significance in an individuals life. 10d. Critically look at Hedonism from ethical point of view. 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:

a. Write a short note on purusharthas. 5b. What do you understand by Situation Ethics? 5c. Differentiate between Values and Norms. 5d. What are the ethical issues in mass-media today. 5e. Discuss the moral teachings of Bhagavat Gita on Karma. 5f. What do you mean by Environmental Ethics? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Simple subjectivism 4b. Teleology 4c. Perceptual relativism 4d. Pancasila 4e. Intuitionism 4f. Normative ethics 4g. Respect for human person 4h. Double-effect in ethics 4

7EPISTEMOLOGYASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPYE-003Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carry equal marksiii) Answer to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 400 words eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand

them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. What is naturalized epistemology? What are its implications? 20Or

Briefly discuss Quine-Duhem thesis and its implications for epistemic justification. 20

2. What do you understand by certitude? What are the different kinds of certitude? 20Clarify the term certitude. Explain various types of certitude.

OrWhich are the major sources of valid knowledge accepted by the different schoolsof Indian thought? 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. Explain in detail the nature and the scope of epistemology. 10b. Explain hermeneutics. What are three components of hermeneutical enterprise? 10c. Explain contextualism and foundationalism as theories of justification 10d. Discuss the linguistic turn in philosophy and the reconstruction of metaphysics 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:

a. What do you understand by the capacity of the reader? 5b. Describe the Aristotelian division of Episteme. 5c. What is the Dhvani theory? 5d What is epistemological realism? 5e. What do you understand by radical translation? 5f. Explain the Picture Theory of Language. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Picture theory 4b. Nescience 4c. Linga paramarsa 4d. Syadvada 4e. Fallibilism 4f. Perceptual error 4g. Qualia 4h Manas or Antahkarana 4

8PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN PERSONASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPYE-004Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carry equal marksiii) Answer to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 400 words eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand

them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Are we really free? Reflect philosophically. 20Or

Explain the hierarchy of needs according to Abraham Maslow. 20

2. Elaborate mans being as dependent, interdependent and independent existence. 20Or

Reflect on the concept of self in Indian Philosophy. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. Write a short essay on the I Thou Relationship according to Marcel. 10b. Critically look at Heideggerian concept of being-in-the-world. 10c. Describe the purusharthas as the goal of life. 10d. Show how everything in the world, no matter what it is, depends on

something else for its existence. 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:

a. What is the difference between self and centre of gravity? 5b. Explain persons as ends in themselves. 5c. What is the last and greatest freedom, according to Viktor Frankl? 5d. Every understanding is self understanding. Explain. 5e. How do you understand the human search for a meaning? 5f. What are some of the characteristics of a self-actualised person? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Care 4b. Total reflection 4c. Animal symbolicum 4d. Peak experience 4e. Appetite in the philosophical sense 4f. Bundle theory of self 4g. Cosmic extinction or extension? 4h. Courageous despair 4

9WORLD RELIGIONSASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPYE-005Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carry equal marksiii) Answer to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 400 words eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand

them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Elaborate the six articles of faith in Islam. 20Or

Explain the Jaina concept of substance and its division. 20

2. Explain the Concept of God according to Christianity. 20Or

How far is the Indian ashram system helpful in attaining the purusharthas orthe goals of ones life? 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. Explain the Zoroastrian concept of God. 10b. Explain the Islamic concept of God 10c. Do Jews believe in a life after death? Explain the different concepts related to it. 10d. Write an essay on Yajna, the Vedic sacrifice 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:

a. Briefly explain the doctrine of no soul (Anatta). 5b. Explain the Concept of kami in Shintoism. 5c. Differentiate between Nirguna and Saguna Brahman. 5d. What are the pancavratas of Jainism? 5e. Discuss the understanding of dharma in Hinduism. 5f. Describe Human Person from Quaranic perspective. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Adi Granth 4b. Kami 4c. Tirthankara 4d. Navjote 4e. Concept of Yin and Yang 4f. Purusa Sukta 4g. Rta 4h. Tower of silence 4

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DALIT PHILOSOPHYASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPYE-006Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carry equal marksiii) Answer to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 400 words eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand

them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. What do you know about Dalit aesthetics? What are the Dalit contributions toIndian music and dance? 20

OrWhat do you understand by the term Dalit? Explain dehumanization throughexclusion and denial through exploitation. 20

2. Explain bhakti as peoples philosophy. What was the impact of Bhakti Movement onthe conditions of the Dalits? 20

OrWhat is the Dalit image of the divine? What are the affective and emotive aspects oftheir ritualistic expressions? 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. Write an essay on the denial of the Dalits through exploitation. 10b. Discuss the philosophical analysis of religion by Ambedkar. 10c. Write a short essay on the pragmatic and constructive religious symbols

among the Dalits. 10d. Spell out the phases of the process of philosophizing from a Dalit perspective. 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:

a. Do you know about the Shramana Tradition? 5b. Does change of religion change the social status of the Dalits? 5c. What is the philosophy of liberation? 5d. How do the Dalits view the problem of evil? 5e. Is the dalit eschatology mostly materialistic? 5f. What is the Dalit concept of the divine? 5

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5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Subaltern philosophy 4b. Shamanism 4c. Varnas 4d. Dalitization 4e. Narayana Guru 4f. Anthropomorphism in Dalit religious life 4g. Manudharma Sastra 4h. Dalit world-view 4

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN PHILOSOPHYASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPYE-007Total Marks: 100

Note: i) Answer all five questionsii) All questions carry equal marksiii) Answer to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 400

eachiv) Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understandthem, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Discuss the importance of Dialectical Method and show its relevance. 20Or

Describe the different components in documentation and explain their importance. 20

2. Define research. Explain in detail various tools used in scientific research. 20Or

Enumerate the method and contents of thesis proposal. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words each:

a. Explain the importance of material gathering and notes taking in research. 10b. How do rationalists differ from empiricists in their method? Explain. 10c. Explain semantic autonomy and pre-understanding of the text. 10d. Discuss various criteria involved in choosing a topic for research. 10

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:

a. What do you understand by theory-dependence of observation? 5b. Mark the relation between Thesis, Anti-Thesis and Synthesis. 5c. What is Language Game? 5d. What are the different steps involved in notes taking? 5e. Explain why citation is imperative in a research paper. 5f. What is the difference between arguments and conclusion? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:

a. Bracketing (epoche) 4b. Plagiarism 4c. Ellipsis 4d. Triangulation 4e. Hypothesis 4f. Appendix 4g. Citation 4h. Statement of thesis 4