ASSIGNMENTS MAPY (PHILOSOPHY) First Year MPY 001: INDIAN PHILOSOPHY MPYE 001: LOGIC MPYE 002: ETHICS MPYE 003: EPISTEMOLOGY MPYE 004: PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN PERSON MPYE 005: WLD RELIGIONS MPYE 006: DALIT PHILOSOPHY MPYE -007 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Last date for submission of Assignments: For July 2012 session: January 30, 2013 For January 2013 session: July 30, 2013. School of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies Indira Gandhi National Open University Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110 068 1
Dear Student, Welcome to IGNOU and the courses of M. A. programme of study in philosophy. Those enrolled for July 2012 session must submit these assignments latest by January 30, 2013 and those of you getting enrolled for January 2013 must submit the assignments latest by July 30, 2013. 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 counsellors 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. PREPRATION OF ASSIGNMENTS IS PREPARATION F YOUR TERM-END EXAMINATION. THEREFE TAKE THE ASSIGNMENTS SERIOUSLY. Submission of assignment response is a pre-condition for appearing in Term-End examination. You must keep a duplicate/carbon/xerox copy of your assignment for future reference. Always take an acknowledgement receipt from the study-centre while submitting your assignments. Ensure that you read the programme guide carefully which will answer most of your doubts. Wish you all the best for your studies. Prof. Gracious Thomas (Programme Coordinator) Date: July 2012 2
MPY 001 INDIAN PHILOSOPHY iii. Answers to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each. 1. Explain the nature of philosophy. Discuss the specific characteristics of Indian Philosophy. 20 Make a detailed exposition of the four noble truths of Buddhism. 20 2. Explain the Mimamsa theory of knowledge. 20 Write an essay on the social and political philosophy of B. R. Ambedkar. 20 a) Briefly describe the ethical position of the Carvakas. 10 b) Discuss the Social Philosophy of Tiruvalluvar. 10 c) Explain the eightfold path of the Yoga system. Discuss its goals. 10 d) What is Avidya according to Advaita Vedanta? Explain. 10 a) Briefly explain the three means to liberation according to the Gita. 5 b) Give a short description of the theory of dependent origination (pratitya samutpada). 5 c) Briefly explain the Jaina Theory of Judgement or Syadvada. 5 d) Describe the theory of karma. 5 e) What is the Nature of Universal Religion according to Vivekananda. 5 f) Briefly explain Aurobindo s concept of the Sacidananda. 5 a) Lila 4 b) Prapatti 4 c) Anekantavada 4 d) Rasa 4 e) Nishkama Karma 4 f) Purusarthas 4 g) Darsana 4 h) Atma 4 3
MPYE-001 LOGIC (i) Answer all the five questions. (ii) All questions carry equal marks. (iii) Answer to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each. 1. Explain the rules of categorical syllogism. Delineate the special applications of these general rules in all four figures. 20 Give a detailed account of Negation, Conjunction, and Disjunction form of compound proposition with sufficient examples. 20 2. Define and explain the proof of invalidity with examples. Elucidate the advantages of proving invalidity. 20 Discuss the rule of quantification in detail. How would you apply these quantification rules? Illustrate with examples. 20 a) Explain the fallacy of presumption with examples. 10 b) Define indirect proof. How would you apply indirect proof? Describe with examples. 10 c) What are the different methods of avoiding dilemma? Discuss. 10 d) Give a brief account of Logic Gate. 10 a) Give a formal proof of validity for the following: 5 (P =>Q) Λ(R=>S) A=> Q A => B B / PV S b) Explain material implication. 5 c) Describe Venn diagram with an example. 5 d) Distinguish between truth and validity. 5 e) Differentiate between reason and inference. 5 f) Define Truth-table with an example. 5 5. Write short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each: a) Contrariety and subcontrariety 4 b) Antilogism 4 c) Categorical syllogism 4 d) Argumentum Ad populum 4 e) Multi-value logic 4 f) Conditional proof 4 g) Square of opposition 4 h) Figure 4 4
MPYE 002 ETHICS iii. Answers to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each. 1. Define International Ethics. Write an essay on the philosophy of International Ethics. 20 Is morality relative? Explain the cultural and ethical subjectivism involved in morality. 20 2. Write an essay on Existentialist Humanismm, explaining Sartre s idea - Human person must invent his own values. 20 Explain social institutions. How does distributive justice play a role in social institutions? 20 a) Is the concept of morality dynamic? Explain the constant and the variable factors in morality. 10 b) Explain the Aristotelian concept of Eudaimonia. 10 c) Explain the concept of Right to Life. 10 d) What is the importance of Bioethics? Explain some contributions made by Bioethics to medicine. 10 a) What do you understand by the Doctrine of Karma? 5 b) Write a short note on purusharthas. 5 c) What do you understand by Situation Ethics? 5 d) Differentiate between Values and Norms. 5 e) Briefly explain John Rawls theory of justice. 5 f) Briefly explain Levinas philosophy of responsibility for the other. 5 a) Care 4 b) Good will 4 c) Deontology 4 d) International law 4 e) Virtues 4 f) Social responsibility of media 4 g) Categorical imperative 4 h) Discourse ethics 4 5
MPYE003 EPISTEMOLOGY iii. Answers to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each. 1. Define epistemology. Discuss its nature and scope in detail. 20 Write an essay on the main theories of truth. 20 2. Write short essays on the various sources of knowledge accepted in the main schools of Indian Philosophy. 20 What is Naturalized epistemology? What are its implications? 20 a) What is certitude? Discuss briefly various kinds of certitudes.. 10 b) Describe some of the important theories of justification. 10 c) Elaborate the debate between Internalism and Externalism. 10 d) What do you understand by theory ladenness of observations? Explain. 10 a) What is evidence? 5 b) Distinguish between Nirvikalpaka and Savikalpaka perception. 5 c) What is antahkarna? 5 d) Describe the three components of hermeneutical enterprise. 5 e) Explain the picture theory of language. 5 f) Write a short note on Sphota theory. 5 a) Cognitive dispute 4 b) Pre-understanding 4 c) Noumenon 4 d) Epistemic justification 4 e) Anyathakhyati 4 f) Nescience 4 g) Syadvada 4 h) Fallibilism 4 6
MPYE 004 PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN PERSON iii. Question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each. 1. Explain in detail Purusarthas, the goal of life. 20 How does Heidegger explain living as authentic existence? Discuss his concept of being in the world. 20 2. Discuss human as dependent, inter-dependent and independent. 20 Is man free? Discuss. 20 a) Explain the hierarchy of needs. What are some of the characteristics of the selfactualised person? 10 b) What is the role of human being in the Existentialist Philosophy? Explain. 10 c) Briefly explain certain issues related to personal identity. 10 d) Write a short essay on the I Thou Relationship according to Marcel. 10 a) Differentiate between philosophical anthropology and cultural anthropology. 5 b) What is the difference between self and centre of gravity? 5 c) Explain persons as ends in themselves". 5 d) What is Sartre s notion of death? 5 e) What is the basis of identity according to John Locke? 5 f) What do you understand by a dyadic relationship? 5 a) Thrownness 4 b) Appetite 4 c) Care 4 d) Self 4 e) Total reflection 4 f) Necrosis 4 g) Rebirth 4 h) Resuscitation 4 7
MPYE 005 WLD RELIGIONS iii. Answers to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each. 1. Define substance. Write a detailed essay on the Jaina understanding of substance. 20 Give a detailed account of the supreme goals of life (Purusarthas) according to Hinduism. 20 2. Explain the fundamental articles of belief in Christianity. 20 Elaborate the six articles of faith in Islam. 20 a) Explain the four noble truths of Buddhism. 10 b) Briefly discuss the Sikh understanding of God. 10 c) Do Jews believe in life after death? Explain. 10 d) Explain the Zoroastrian concept of God. 10 a) Explain the five great vows (Pancha Vrathas) of Jainism. 5 b) Briefly explain the doctrine of no soul (Anatta). 5 c) Differentiate between Nirguna and Saguna Brahman. 5 d) What is the Christian understanding of the relationship between the world and God? 5 e) Explain the importance of the religious tax (Zakat) in Islam. 5 f) What are the five relationships mentioned in Confucianism? 5 a) Kabbalah 4 b) Adi Granth 4 c) Kami 4 d) Navjote 4 e) Nirvana 4 f) Yajna 4 g) Tao 4 h) Tower of silence 4 8
MPYE 006 DALIT PHILOSOPHY iii. Answers to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each. 1. Write a detailed essay on the dalit belief systems and rituals. 20 Is Dalit eschatology this worldly? Explain the eschatological views of the Dalits. 20 2. Describe in detail the Dalit philosophy of life. Why philosophizing from Dalit perspective is unique? 20 What do you know about Dalit aesthetics? What are the Dalit contribution to Indian music and dance? 20 a) Explain the defacement of the dalits through elimination. 10 b) What is the cultural impact of globalization on Indian culture? 10 c) Write a short essay on the pragmatic and constructive religious symbols among the dalits. 10 d) Briefly explain Ambedkar s analysis of religion. 10 a) Discuss the impact of Buddhism on the dalits. 5 b) What are the main features of dalit religion? 5 c) What do you know about the Shramana Tradition? 5 d) What is the meaning of the term Dalit? 5 e) Briefly discuss the dalit understanding of evil. 5 f) Explain Nature as the embodiment of God s revelation. 5 a) Narayan Guru 4 b) Dalit world-view 4 c) Subaltern philosophy 4 d) Shamanism 4 e) Varnas 4 f) Dalitization 4 g) Purity and pollution 4 h) Dappa 4 9
MPYE007 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY iii. Answers to question no. 1 and 2 should be in about 500 words each: 1. Discuss the relationship between myth, philosophy and science? 20 Explain the nature of philosophical methods. How is it related to scientific methods? 20 2. What is a research paper? Discuss in detail various sections of a scientific work. 20 Write a detailed essay on the empirical method. 20 a) Explain deconstruction. How does it become Strategic Reading? 10 b) What are the points to be taken care of while presenting the problem of a thesis? 10 c) Briefly explain Descartes rational method. 10 d) Explain notes taking. Discuss various methods of notes taking. 10 a) Explain the importance of philosophical methods. 5 b) What do you understand by theory-dependence of observation? 5 c) Mark the relation between Thesis, Anti-Thesis and Synthesis. 5 d) What is Language Game? 5 e) What is meant by the semantic autonomy of the text? 5 f) Briefly explain the importance of bibliography. 5 a) Triangulation 4 b) Tabula Rasa 4 c) Bracketing (epoche) 4 d) Plagiarism 4 e) Ellipsis 4 f) Hypothesis 4 g) Negation 4 h) Differance 4 10