Syllabus for the Entrance Examination

Sections

Topics

Primary Text

Additional Resources

Plato

Allegory of the Cave, Education, Knowledge, Theory of Forms, Nature of Justice

Plato, Republic, Books 2 and 7.

•    Julia Annas, An Introduction to Plato’s Republic, Oxford University Press, 1981.

•    W.T. Stace, A Critical History of Greek Philosophy, Ozymandius Press,  2016.

Aristotle

Soul and Virtue

Aristotle,

Nicomachean Ethics , Book 1.

•  Jonathan Lear, Aristotle: The Desire to Understand, Cambridge University Press, 1988.

•  W.T. Stace, A Critical History of Greek Philosophy, Ozymandius Press, 2016.

Deductive Logic

Nature of Categorical Propositions, Distribution, Square of Opposition, Aristotelian Syllogism, Moods and Fallacies

Irving M. Copi a and Carl Cohen, Introduction to Logic.

Inductive Logic

Cause and Effect, The meaning of Cause; Induction by Simple Enumeration; Mill’s Method of Experimental Inquiry; Mill’s Method of Agreement, Method of Difference, Joint Method of Agreement and Difference, Method of Residues, Method of Concomitant Variations; Criticism of Mills Methods, Vindication of Mill’s Methods.

Irving M. Copi a and Carl Cohen, Introduction to Logic.

Descartes

Method of Doubt; I think, therefore, I am; Nature of the Ego Cogito; Innate ideas; Proof for the Existence of God

Descartes, Meditations,  1, 2, and 3.

•  Margaret Dauler Wilson, Descartes, Routledge, 1978.

•  F. Thilly, History of Western Philosophy, Henry Holt & Co., 1941.

Locke

Refutation of Innate Ideas, Ideas and their Classification, Substance, Primary and Secondary qualities

Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding,

Book 1, C hapter 2; Book 2 Chapters 1, 2, 12, 23, 24.

•  Michael Ayers, Locke: Epistemology and Ontology, Routledge, 1991.

•  F. Thilly, History of Western Philosophy, Henry Holt & Co., 1941.

Hume

Ideas and Impressions, Causation

Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5.

•  Barry Stroud, Hume, Routledge, 1977.

•  F. Thilly, History of Western Philosophy, Henry Holt & Co., 1941.

Kant

Distinction between Analytic and Synthetic Judgments, Possibility of Synthetic a priori judgments, Will and Inclination, Distinction between Hypothetical and Categorical Imperative, Formulations of the Categorical Imperative, Concept of Duty

•  Kant, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics, Preface ; Chapters 1, 2, 3.

•  Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, Introduction ; Books 1 and 2.

•  Allen W. Wood, Kant, Blackwell Publishing, 2005.

•  S Korner, Kant, Penguin Books, 1955.

•  Roger J. Sullivan, An Introduction to Kant’s Ethics , Cambridge University Press, 1994.

•  John Deigh, An Introduction to Ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Mill

Principle of Utility, Types of Pleasure, Response to Objections

Mill, Utilitarianism , Chapters 1 and 2.

•  John Deigh, An Introduction to Ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2010.

The Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads

•  Bhagavad Gita , Chapter II

•  Katha Upanishad, Chapter I

Sutta Nipata (in Khuddaka-nikaya)

Majjhima-nikaya

•  Vasala Sutta

•  Cula Malunkya Sutta

Indian Materialism

Ethics, Epistemology, Metaphysics

•   Chandhradhar Sharma, A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy , Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass, 1987.

•   S. C. Chatterjee and D. M. Datta, An Introduction of Indian Philosophy, Calcutta: Calcutta University Press, 1954.

•   M. Hiriyana, The Essentials of Indian Philosophy, Delhi: Motilal and Banarasidass, 1948.

Jainism

Pramana and Naya, Anekantavada and Syadvada, Categories (Jiva and Ajiva)

•   Ibid.

Early Buddhism

Vaibhashika and Sautrantika

•   Ibid.

Later Buddhism

Mahayana (Madhyamika and Yogacara)

•   Ibid.

Sankhya

Theory of Causation, Purusa and Prakrti

•   Ibid.

Patanjali Yogasutra

Astanga Yoga

•   Ibid.

 Vaishesika

Padarthas and Theory of Atomism

•   Ibid.

Nyaya

Pramanas; Inference and Hetvabhasa

•   Ibid.

Mimansha

Theory of Error

•   Ibid.

Vedanta

Metaphysical View of Sankara (Brahma, Atman, Jiva, Maya, Moksa)

Ramanuja: Cit, Acit and Isvara

•   Ibid.