MA PHILOSOPHY (MAPY)

Assignments

July 2016 and January 2017

(Second Year)

MPY - 002 : WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

MPYE - 008 : METAPHYSICS
MPYE - 009 : PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND COSMOLOGY
MPYE - 010 : PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
MPYE 011 : PHILOSOPHY OF ART (AESTHETICS)
MPYE 012 : TRIBAL PHILOSOPHY
MPYE - 013 : PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY
MPYE - 014 : PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
MPYE 015 : GANDHIAN PHILOSOPHY
MPYE 016 : PHILOSOPHY OF SRI AUROBINDO

Last Date of Submission of Assignments to the Study Centre

July, 2016 Session - March 31, 2017
January, 2017 Session - September 30, 2017

School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies

Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110 068
Dear Student,
Welcome to IGNOU and the courses and programme of study in philosophy, which are developed
by the CBCI Chair. Those enrolled for July 2016 session must submit these assignments on or
before March 31, 2017 and those of you getting enrolled for January 2017 must submit the assignments
on or before September 30, 2017. 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 the
assignment while calculating the overall grade for each course. Assignments are to be hand-written
or neatly typed and duly signed on it before its submission in the study centre. In order to prepare
a good set of assignment-responses, you must first of all read the chapter(s) from which a particular
question has been framed. Discuss with your peer-group and academic counselors or professors who
teach you. Prepare a draft, do the necessary correction on it and then, prepare the final version for
submission to the Study Centre.
Make sure that each question answer starts on a new page. For long and medium answers, ensure
that there is an introduction, sub-titles for main body and a conclusion. One line should be left
between each paragraph. Make sure your answers are specific and in your own words and do not
copy from books. Your answers will be exclusively based on the IGNOU materials only. Preparation
of assignments is preparation for your term-end examination. Therefore take the assignments seriously.
The university is planning to revise the BDP Electives (Philosophy) programme. I will appreciate
your suggestions as well as that of your academic counsellors for the proposed revision. You may
mail your comments, suggestions and observations which may be considered for revision by the
expert committee. These may be forwarded to me through e-mail : gthomas@ignou.ac.in

Prof. Gracious Thomas

(Programme Coordinator)

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 MPY-002: WESTERN PHILOSOPHY
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Write an essay on the various metaphysical and epistemological issues

discussed in western philosophy. 20
Or
Explain the Cartesian notion of innate ideas and its criticism by the empiricists. 20

2. Explain in detail the Humean understanding of sense perception. 20

Or
Pragmatists have consistently sought to purify empiricism of the vestiges
of Cartesianism. Discuss the anti-Cartesian stand in pragmatism. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Explain Platos dualism in detail. 10
b) Discuss the general characteristics of existentialism. 10
c) Write a detailed note on the Augustinian concept of man. How does
he understand the origin and destiny of human soul? 10
d) Discuss elaborately methodological scepticism in Descartes. 10

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

a) What does Plato say about the importance of philosophy? 5
b) Describe the concept of absolute in Hegel. 5
c) Differentiate between kalam and falsafa. 5
d) Briefly state the characteristics of Scholasticism. 5
e) What do you understand by political alienation? 5
f) God is dead Comment. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Necessary conditions 4
b) The Primordial Nature of God 4
c) On Sense and Reference 4
d) Tool-Use Model of Language 4
e) Intentionality of Consciousness 4
f) Bracketing (Epoch) 4
g) The Eleatic School 4
h) The Phenomenology of Spirit 4

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 MPYE-008: METAPHYSICS
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Write a detailed essay on the scope of metaphysics. 20

Or
Elaborate the characteristics of being. 20

2. Discuss the problem of one and many. Establish that being is one in many. 20
Or
Explain the vaisheshika notion of categories. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Discuss the characteristics of accident. 10
b) What are the factors and kinds of relation? Explain. 10
c) Explain being as beautiful. 10
d) What is prime matter? Explain the major characteristics of prime matter. 10

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

a) What do you understand by the principle of identity? 5
b) How is potency related to change? 5
c) Being is neither univocal nor equivocal but analogous. Explain. 5
d) Describe the principle of causality (karana) . 5
e) What is the metaphysical problem of ugliness? 5
f) Explain essence as the ground of particular instances. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Ontological truth 4
b) Paramanuvada 4
c) Tad Ekam 4
d) Phantasm 4
e) Agapeic love 4
f) Gnosticism 4
g) Substantial form 4
h) Free will 4

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 MPYE-009: PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND COSMOLOGY
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. How does Shapere enrich the notion of observation? What are its implications
in understanding modern sophisticated science? 20
Or
Explain the uncertainty principle. Discuss in detail the philosophical
implications of uncertainty principle. 20

2. Is the universe infinite or finite? Discuss. Explain the big bang theory and
the history of the universe. 20
Or
Explain the relation between epistemology and philosophy of science.
Comment on the need and relevance of philosophy of science for
other intellectual inquiries. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Discuss the place of values in science? 10
b) Explain the structure and validation of scientific theory. 10
c) Briefly discuss some of the philosophical Issues in science. 10
d) Which are the three broad areas of inquiry that philosophy of
science generally deals with? Explain. 10

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

a) Briefly describe the contribution of Kepler to cosmology. 5
b) What do you understand by cause - effect relationship? 5
c) What was known as island universe? 5
d) Make a critical description of logical positivism. 5
e) Explain theory-ladenness of observation. 5
f) What is the correlation among perception, thought and language? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Space-time Curve 4
b) Incommensurability 4
c) Verification theory 4
d) Falsification 4
e) steady state theory. 4
f) Dark energy 4
g) Generalizations 4
h) Unobservables in science 4

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 MPYE-10: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. 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 philosophical and socio-cultural roots of modern atheism. 20

Or
Discuss various types of theism based on the philosophical concepts about God. 20

2. Define religion. What are the three Cs of organised religion? Are

organised religions necessary? Discuss. 20
Or
What are the different types of religious experiences? Explain various
factors involved in religious experience. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Define deism. Explain its various facets. 10
b) How myth, religion and philosophy are related. Explain. 10
c) Discuss the elements of rituals. 10
d) Differentiate between univocal, equivocal and analogical languages. 10

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

a) How does Freud look at religion? 5
b) Explain the moral argument for Gods existence. 5
c) What do you understand by neurotheology? 5
d) Is Secularism a form of atheism? Discuss. 5
e) Briefly explain the problem of evil. 5
f) How do you understand the Buddha experience? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Sacred Space 4
b) Panentheism 4
c) Verification principle 4
d) Teleological argument for the existence of god 4
e) Agnosticism 4
f) Metamorpheses 4
g) Existential Theism 4
h) Immanence 4

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 MPYE-011: PHILOSOPHY OF ART
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Explain various primary or basic rasas. 20

Or
Write an essay on the nature of aesthetics. Elaborate the three basic
approaches to aesthetics. 20

2. Define Aesthetics. Explain aesthetic experience and discuss the

scope of Aesthetics. 20
Or
Write an essay on Aristotles doctrine of catharsis. How is it significant
in the study of aesthetics? 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Discuss the significant assertions and achievements of Bhatta Lollata. 10
b) What do you understand by art experience? How is it approached
in the Vedantic context? 10
c) Briefly explain application of aesthetics in various fields. 10
d) How do you reach at pure aesthetic judgement? Explain Kants notion of art. 10

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

a) Describe the many types and genres of art. 5
b) Who is the aesthetic recipient? 5
c) What are the factors which decide Aesthetic judgment? 5
d) According to Hegel, what is the Philosophy of Art? 5
e) Is art a process? 5
f) What do you understand by relative beauty? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Satvika Bhavas 4
b) Rasa-brahma vada 4
c) Sahrdaya 4
d) What is aesthetic relish? 4
e) Alankara 4
f) Imitation 4
g) Emanation 4
h) Dhvani 4

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 MPY-012: TRIBAL PHILOSOPHY
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Write a detailed essay on the tribal belief systems and ritualistic practices. 20
Or
What is the importance of tribal culture? Write an essay on the adivasi
contributions to Indian civilization? 20

2. Discuss various tribal values and their moral outlook. What do you understand
by going back to the tribal values? 20
Or
Give a philosophical outlook of beauty and art. Elaborate on the various
tribal art forms? 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Explain various factors that contribute to tribal identity. What do
you understand by the tribal crisis of identity? 10
b) Write an essay on the tribal eschatological views? 10
c) How tribals are connected to the nature, each other and the
common destiny (God)? Explain. 10
d) Discuss the causes and consequences of tribal migration. 10

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

a) How is Indian tribal art connected to normal events of life? 5
b) What do you know about the peoples assembly (Disomhor)? 5
c) What is Ethnobotany? 5
d) Discuss the role of jewellery in tribal culture. 5
e) What is the etymology and significance of the term adivasi? 5
f) Explain the significance of oral tradition in tribal religions? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Totemism 4
b) Ekalavya 4
c) Totemism 4
d) Scapegoat 4
e) Folklore 4
f) Bride purchase 4
g) Bitlaha (Ostracism) 4
h) Ektara 4

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 MPYE-013: PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. 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 unique properties of stem cells. What are the sources of stem cells? 20
Or
Explain in detail Newtonian determinism and quantum indeterminism.
What are the philosophical consequences of deterministic Newtonian mechanics? 20

2. Define Nano Technology. Give a detailed account of the social and ethical
implications of Nano technology. 20
Or
Give an overview of artificial intelligence. What is the relation between artificial
intelligence and the functionalist theory of mind? Explain various philosophical
implications of AI. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Discuss the relation between neurotheology and religious experience. 10
b) Explain the practical applications of fractals. 10
c) Discuss Heideggers authentic attitude towards death. 10
d) We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world. In the light of Neurotheology,
comment on Buddhas insight 10

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

a) What do you understand by identities extension from biological to
cybernetic identies? 5
b) What is the difference between extending life-span and physical immortality? 5
c) Explain brain death and the loss of personhood. 5
d) What do you understand by singularity? 5
e) Explain briefly the relationship between technology and science. 5
f) Explain various social aspects of technology. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Artificial intelligence 4
b) Cultural transmission 4
c) Genetic discrimination 4
d) Commodification of humans beings 4
e) Cosmic extinction 4
f) Cyborg 4
g) Bionics 4
h) Cloning 4
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 MPYE-014: PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Discuss the importance and scope of philosophy of mind. 20

Or
Give a detailed account of the various views on the survival of mind in the
history of Western Philosophy. 20

2. Discuss the philosophical account of perception. 20

Or
Explain the mind - body problem in detail. Discuss some of the positions
held on it in the contemporary philosophy of mind 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Discuss the views of Aquinas on mind and body relation. 10
b) What are the significant themes discussed in the philosophy of mind? 10
c) How do different philosophers think about dream and mind? 10
d) Explain the Problem of other Minds. 10

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

a) What is the relation between philosophy of mind and computer science. 5
b) What is mental state for a behaviourist? 5
c) Discuss the notion of the two horses in Plato. 5
d) What do you understand by innate structure of language? 5
e) What is a category error in relation to the mind-body problem? 5
f) Explain the relationship between neurobiology and philosophy of mind. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Volition 4
b) Intentionality 4
c) Simple and Complex Ideas 4
d) Qualia 4
e) Language of thought 4
f) Supervenience 4
g) Antahkarana 4
h) Connectionism 4

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 MPYE-015: GANDHIAN PHILOSOPHY
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Explain Sarvodaya as Gandhis social philosophy and Satyagraha as

his political philosophy. 20
Or
Discuss the salient points of Gandhian ashram life. 20

2. Elaborate the meaning of non-violence. Explain the relevance and limitations

of nonviolence. 20
Or
Explain the principles that underlined Gandhis vision of religious harmony. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Critically examine the Gandhian concept of God. 10
b) Explain the application of satyagraha technique. 10
c) Non-violence is not a cover for cowardice but it is the supreme virtue
of the brave- Expound. 10
d) Discuss the proofs that Gandhi offers for the existence of God. 10

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

a) Distinguish between religious tolerance and religious harmony. 5
b) The Hindu tradition has created in Gandhi settled notions about
Reality. Comment. 5
c) What do you understand by the Gandhian concept of trusteeship. 5
d) What is the relation between faith and reason according to Gandhi? 5
e) What was Gandhis criticism against the western civilisation? 5
f) What was the Gandhi-Ambedkar controversy? 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Absolute Truth and Relative Truth 4
b) Reason 4
c) Brahmanirvana 4
d) Civil disobedience 4
e) Sevagram 4
f) Gandhis ideas on basic education 4
g) Karma 4
h) Civil disobedience 4

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 MPYE-016: PHILOSOPHY OF SRI AUROBINDO
Assignment

Note: i. Answer all five questions

ii. All questions carry equal marks
iii. Answers to question no.1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each
iv. Before writing the assignment-responses, read the questions, understand
them, refer the texts and write down the answers in your own words.

1. Explain eh the Absolute as unity manifesting multiplicity. 20

Or
Make a detailed analysis of the understanding of human nature as
explained by Aurobindo. 20

2. Is maya the selfs experience of its being? Explain Aurobindos interpretation

of the concept of maya. 20
Or
Discuss the structure and organization of being according to Aurobindo.
Give a detailed account of the higher levels of consciousness beyond the
ordinary mind, as explained by him. 20

3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
a) Attempt an overview on the distinctiveness of Aurobindos
concept of evolution. 10
b) What is the inmost being (the psychic) according to Aurobindo? 10
c) Examine the main tenets of Purna advaita of Aurobindo.
How is it different from Ramanujas Vishista Advaita? 10
d) Can we take integral yoga as applied psychology? 10

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

a) What do you understand by the involution of the Absolute 5
b) Describe maya as the power of becoming in the philosophy of Aurobindo. 5
c) What is consciousness-force? 5
d) What are the different types of being? 5
e) How do you understand by integral knowledge 5
f) Elaborate the notion of upasana in Aurobindo. 5

5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each:
a) Darsana 4
b) Purusa and Prakrti 4
c) Superconscient 4
d) Tat-tvam asi 4
e) Lila 4
f) Higher levels of mind 4
g) Jivataman 4
h) Nescience 4

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