UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus: Important Topics & Syllabus PDF
Unit 1 of the UGC NET Philosophy syllabus covers the introductory aspects of philosophy, dealing with key concepts, themes, and the branches of philosophical inquiry. It has to do with the nature of philosophical thought, looking into metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic, among other areas. This encourages students to critically engage in fundamental philosophical questions and in the works of significant philosophers throughout history. This, in turn, also enables it to provide a framework to understand the evolution of ideas and their appropriateness for the contemporary situation. At the end, Unit 1 provides a basis to explore further into the philosophies of both Western and Indian origins.
For participating in any competitive exam it is very important for readers to know the syllabus first, and the syllabus for Unit 1 of UGC NET Philosophy is mentioned in this article.
In this article, the readers will be able to know about the following:
- UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus - Introduction
- UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus for Classical Indian: Epistemology and Metaphysics
- UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus – Detailed Topic Wise Breakdown
- Preparation Tips for UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus
UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus - Introduction
Unit 1 of the UGC NET Philosophy syllabus provides basic concepts and branches of philosophy, thereby giving an all-round overview of the subject. The key areas to be explored include metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic in order to lay the ground for deeper philosophical inquiry. This unit emphasizes the nature of philosophical thinking and its historical evolution as well as the contribution of prominent philosophers. Also, it encourages critical engagement with the text and the thought and exercises one's skills of analysis. In brief, Unit 1 is based on the most crucial building which leads towards the understanding of the complexity of the landscape of ideas.
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UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus for Classical Indian: Epistemology and Metaphysics
Classical Indian: Epistemology and Metaphysics" is a part of the UGC NET syllabus under Unit 1 and studies central philosophical thoughts based on significant Indian traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Its prime aim is to delve into the nature of knowledge-prama-and means whereby that is ascertained-in particular through perception, inference, and testimony-highlighting a large spectrum of epistemological standpoints. The unit also touches on some metaphysical concepts, that is, what reality is (atman), what truth is at the end, or what is Brahman or sunyata, for instance. It keeps on emphasizing how, in Indian philosophy, these ideas go hand in hand and give shape to the idea of what is ethically or spiritually right. Overall, the text covers all this as well as a better understanding of classical Indian thought with its peculiar contribution to discourse in the world of philosophical thinking.
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Topic |
Sub-Topic |
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Vedic and Upaniṣadic |
Ṛta – the cosmic order, the divine and the human realms; the centrality of the institution of yajῆa (sacrifice), theories of creation Ātman – Self ( and not – self ), Jāgrat, Svapna, Susupti and turiya, Brahmaṇ. |
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Cārvāka |
Pratyakṣa as the only pramāṇa, critique of anumāna and śabda, Consciousness as epi-phenomenon. |
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Jainism |
Concept of reality – sat, dravya, guṇa, paryāya, Jiva, ajiva, anekāntavāda, syādvāda and nayavāda; theory of knowledge. |
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Buddhism |
Four Noble Truths, Āstangika Mārga, Distinction between Brahmiṇic and Śraminic traditions. Pratityasamutpāda, kṣaṇabhahgavāda, anātmavāda. Schools of Buddhism : Vaibhāṣika, Sautrāntika, Yogacāra, Mādhyamika and Tibetan Buddhism. |
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Nyāya |
Pramā and apramā, Theories of pramāṇa: pratyakṣa, anumāna, upamana, śabda. Hetvabhāsa. Concept of God. Debate between Buddhism and Nyāya about Pramāṇa-Vyavasthā and Pramāṇa Samplava. Anyathākhyati. |
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Vaiśeṣika |
Concept of padārtha and its kinds, Asatkāryavāda, Kinds of Kāraṇa: samavāyi, asamavāyi, and nimitta kāraṇa, paramaṇukaraṇavāda. |
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Sāṃkhya |
Satkāryavāda, prakṛti and its evolutes, arguments for the existence of prakṛti, nature of puruṣa, arguments for the existence and plurality of puruṣa, relationship between puruṣa and prakṛti, atheism. |
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Yoga |
Pataῆjali’s Theory of Pramāṇa, concept of ćitta and ćitta – vṛtti, stages of ćittbhumi, the role of God in Yoga. |
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Purva – Mimāṃsā |
Pramāṇyavāda: Svatah-pramāṇyavāda and Paratah-pramāṇyavada, Śruti and its importance, classification of śruti-vākyas, vidhi, niṣedha and arthavāda, dharma, bhāvanā, śabda-nityavāda, Jāti, śaktivada; Kumārila and Prabhākara Schools of Mimāṃsa and their major points of difference, triputi – samvit, jῆatatā, abhāva and anupalabdhi, anvitadbhidhanavāda, abhihitanvayavāda, Theories of error: Akhyāti, Viparitakhyāti, atheism |
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Vedānta |
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Advaita |
Brahmaṇ, relation between Brahmaṇ and Ātman, three grades of sattā, Adhyāsa, māya, Jiva, Vivartavāda, Anirvachniya-khyāti. |
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Viśiṣtādvaita |
Saguṇa Brahmaṇ, refutation of māya, amrtasiddhi pariṇāmavāda, Jiva, bhakti and prapatti, Brahma-Pariṇāmavāda, Sat-khyāti. |
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Dvaita |
Rejection of nirguṇa brahmaṇ and māya, bheda and sāksi, bhakti |
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Dvaitadvaita |
Concept of Jῆānaswaroop, kinds of inanimate |
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Shuddhadvaita |
Concept of Avikrita-pariṇāmavāda. |
UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus – Detailed Topic Wise Breakdown
The "Classical Indian: Epistemology and Metaphysics" section of Unit 1 in the UGC NET Philosophy syllabus offers a detailed exploration of key concepts and theories from various Indian philosophical traditions. This break up covers the themes like what knowledge is, kinds of knowledge, and metaphysics in the nature of reality and the self.
UGC NET Philosophy: Vedic and Upaniṣadic
The Vedic texts are written in ancient India and represent the foundational scripture of Hinduism in terms of hymns, rituals, and philosophical ideas leading to a deeper understanding and practice in spirituality. Upaniṣads- the later philosophical interpretation of the Vedas-dealt more thoroughly with metaphysics like Brahman, that is the ultimate reality and Atman, that is the individual self. More focus on knowledge and the attainment of self-realization. These texts together form an extremely important discussion of existence, ethics, and the nature of reality and have shaped the philosophical landscape of Indian thought.
UGC NET Philosophy: Cārvāka
Cārvāka, or Lokāyata, is one of the ancient Indian philosophical schools, which promotes materialistic and empirical understanding of the world. It opposes all kinds of metaphysical speculations and believes in the fact that direct sensory experience is the only source of knowledge. According to them, consciousness arises from the physical body and ceases after death. Cārvāka philosophers criticize religious rituals and the idea of an afterlife, advocating a hedonistic point of view that focuses on pleasure and well-being in this life.
Preparation Tips for UGC NET Philosophy Unit 1 Syllabus
To prepare effectively for Unit 1 of the UGC NET Philosophy syllabus, focus should be given to foundational concepts, key philosophers, and their contributions. Further improvement both in conceptual clarity and in performance in the exam will be achieved through regular revision of topics, making concise notes, and solving previous years' papers.
Philosophy: Definition, Scope, and Functions
Philosophy is the rational investigation into fundamental questions of existence, knowledge, values, reason, and reality. A background in the various departments or branches of philosophy, for example metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, etc. and how each of them relates to and interrelates with all the others, may prove helpful to you in mastering the broad scope and multifarious functions that philosophy carries out in human inquiry.
What makes philosophy is the investigation into its essential features, that is, critical thinking, rational inquiry, and questing for universal truths. Letting the philosophical methods and techniques—such as analysis, synthesis, and argumentation—be emphasized is meant to make your understanding about the functioning of philosophy both as a discipline and a manner of thinking.
Philosophy and Common Sense
This topic is about the difference between philosophy and common sense, as philosophy may systematically, critically, and reflectively engage with questions superficially addressed by common reasoning. This will elucidate the place of philosophy in furthering our understanding of the world.
Philosophy and Science
In many aspects, philosophy and science are connected but different. While the latter bases its reasoning on experimentation and empirical evidence, philosophy questions assumptions, methods, and the ethical implications of scientific practice and provides the conceptual foundations for scientific inquiry.
Philosophy and Religion
The relationship of philosophy and religion involves questions about the nature of the divine, the question of God's existence, and the interplay of faith and reason. Central to the subject are topics like the problem of evil, the nature of religious experience, and the question of whether religious and philosophical beliefs are compatible.
Philosophy and Social Science
This section provides the philosophic foundation that underpins the social sciences, which looks into notions such as human nature and society with added scope on social research methodology. It increases your knowledge about how philosophies inform sociological theory and practice and psychology as well as the theory in economics.