Social Science

Indian Philosophy

4,499 Questions

This segment explores core concepts and major schools of Indian philosophy. It features questions on Vedanta, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, and theories of knowledge and causality. These topics are essential for philosophy optional and general studies papers.

Philosophical schoolsVedanta conceptsTheory of knowledgeCausality and rebirth

Indian Philosophy Questions

Multiple choice

What is the term used in Indian philosophy to describe the concept of cosmic order, duty, and righteousness?

  1. Karma

  2. Dharma

  3. Moksha

  4. Bhakti
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Dharma refers to the concept of cosmic order, duty, and righteousness in Indian philosophy, encompassing moral and ethical principles that guide individual and societal conduct.

Multiple choice

Which Indian philosopher's teachings on non-dualism and the unity of consciousness gained widespread recognition in the West, influencing spiritual and philosophical thought?

  1. Swami Vivekananda

  2. Rabindranath Tagore

  3. Sri Aurobindo

  4. Jiddu Krishnamurti
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Jiddu Krishnamurti's teachings on non-dualism and the unity of consciousness resonated with Western audiences, influencing spiritual and philosophical thought and challenging conventional notions of self and reality.

Multiple choice

What is the term used in Indian philosophy to describe the concept of devotion and surrender to the divine?

  1. Karma

  2. Dharma

  3. Moksha

  4. Bhakti
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Bhakti refers to the concept of devotion and surrender to the divine in Indian philosophy, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual connection between the individual and the divine.

Multiple choice

Which school of Indian philosophy argues that the world is an illusion?

  1. Nyaya

  2. Vaisheshika

  3. Samkhya

  4. Advaita Vedanta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Advaita Vedanta, a school of Vedanta philosophy, argues that the world is an illusion (maya) and that the only reality is Brahman, the universal consciousness.

Multiple choice

According to the Nyaya school, what are the four categories of existence?

  1. Substance, quality, action, and relation

  2. Time, space, cause, and effect

  3. Being, non-being, becoming, and non-becoming

  4. Consciousness, unconsciousness, knowledge, and ignorance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Nyaya school of Indian philosophy posits four categories of existence: substance, quality, action, and relation.

Multiple choice

Which school of Indian philosophy argues that the world is composed of atoms?

  1. Nyaya

  2. Vaisheshika

  3. Samkhya

  4. Advaita Vedanta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy argues that the world is composed of atoms, which are the smallest indivisible particles of matter.

Multiple choice

According to the Samkhya school, what are the three gunas?

  1. Sattva, rajas, and tamas

  2. Prakriti, purusha, and buddhi

  3. Atman, brahman, and maya

  4. Dharma, artha, and kama
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Samkhya school of Indian philosophy posits three gunas, or qualities: sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (darkness).

Multiple choice

According to the Nyaya school, what is the pramāṇa, or valid means of knowledge?

  1. Perception

  2. Inference

  3. Comparison

  4. Testimony
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

The Nyaya school of Indian philosophy recognizes four pramāṇas, or valid means of knowledge: perception, inference, comparison, and testimony.

Multiple choice

Which school of Indian philosophy argues that the world is a manifestation of Brahman?

  1. Nyaya

  2. Vaisheshika

  3. Samkhya

  4. Advaita Vedanta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Advaita Vedanta argues that the world is a manifestation of Brahman, the universal consciousness, and that the individual self is ultimately identical with Brahman.

Multiple choice

Which school of Indian philosophy argues that the world is composed of five elements?

  1. Nyaya

  2. Vaisheshika

  3. Samkhya

  4. Advaita Vedanta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy argues that the world is composed of five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a key concept in the Mimamsa school's theory of language?

  1. Sphota

  2. Anvaya

  3. Abhidha

  4. Laksana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Mimamsa school posits the concept of 'sphota', which refers to the indivisible, holistic nature of a word or sentence. It is believed that the meaning of a word or sentence is not derived from its individual parts but rather from the whole.

Multiple choice

In the context of Indian philosophy, what is the term used to describe the relationship between a word and its meaning?

  1. Vachya

  2. Laksana

  3. Anvaya

  4. Abhidha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Abhidha refers to the direct and primary relationship between a word and its meaning. It is the literal and conventional association between a word and the object or concept it represents.

Multiple choice

Which school of Indian philosophy emphasizes the role of language in shaping our perception of reality?

  1. Nyaya

  2. Mimamsa

  3. Vedanta

  4. Yoga
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Vedanta, particularly the Advaita Vedanta school, explores the relationship between language, thought, and reality. It posits that the limitations of language can hinder our understanding of the true nature of reality, which is ultimately ineffable.

Multiple choice

In Indian philosophy, what is the term used to describe the secondary or implied meaning of a word or phrase?

  1. Vachya

  2. Laksana

  3. Anvaya

  4. Abhidha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Laksana refers to the secondary or implied meaning of a word or phrase, which is derived from its primary meaning through figurative or metaphorical usage.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a central concept in the Navya-Nyaya school's theory of language?

  1. Sphota

  2. Anvaya

  3. Abhidha

  4. Vyapti
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Vyapti, also known as 'pervasion', is a key concept in Navya-Nyaya. It refers to the invariable and necessary connection between two properties or concepts, such that the presence of one implies the presence of the other.