Social Science

Indian Philosophy

4,615 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 refer to the faculty of consciousness?

  1. Manas

  2. Buddhi

  3. Ahamkara

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

Chitta is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the faculty of consciousness. It is the storehouse of all mental impressions and is responsible for the continuity of consciousness.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a type of mental state according to the Yoga school of Indian philosophy?

  1. Kshipta

  2. Mudha

  3. Vikshipta

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

Mudha is not a type of mental state according to the Yoga school of Indian philosophy. The other three options, Kshipta, Vikshipta, and Ekagra, are all types of mental states that are described in the Yoga Sutras.

Multiple choice

What is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the process of controlling the mind?

  1. Yoga

  2. Meditation

  3. Samadhi

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

Yoga is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the process of controlling the mind. It involves a variety of practices, such as meditation, pranayama (breath control), and asana (physical postures), that are designed to bring the mind under control.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a type of mental faculty according to the Nyaya school of Indian philosophy?

  1. Perception

  2. Inference

  3. Memory

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

Doubt is not a type of mental faculty according to the Nyaya school of Indian philosophy. The other three options, perception, inference, and memory, are all types of mental faculties that are described in the Nyaya Sutras.

Multiple choice

What is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the faculty of discrimination?

  1. Buddhi

  2. Ahamkara

  3. Manas

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

Buddhi is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the faculty of discrimination. It is the faculty that allows us to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad, and true and false.

Multiple choice

According to the Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy, what are the six categories of reality?

  1. Substance, quality, action, generality, particularity, and inherence

  2. Substance, quality, action, time, space, and self

  3. Substance, quality, action, pleasure, pain, and desire

  4. Substance, quality, action, knowledge, ignorance, and doubt
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

According to the Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy, the six categories of reality are substance, quality, action, generality, particularity, and inherence.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a type of mental state according to the Samkhya school of Indian philosophy?

  1. Sattva

  2. Rajas

  3. Tamas

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

Prakriti is not a type of mental state according to the Samkhya school of Indian philosophy. Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas are the three gunas, or qualities, of nature that make up the material world. Prakriti is the undifferentiated state of nature before it is differentiated into the three gunas.

Multiple choice

What is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the faculty of self-awareness?

  1. Ahamkara

  2. Buddhi

  3. Manas

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

Ahamkara is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the faculty of self-awareness. It is the faculty that allows us to be aware of ourselves as distinct from the rest of the world.

Multiple choice

According to the Yoga school of Indian philosophy, what are the eight limbs of yoga?

  1. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi

  2. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, samadhi, and moksha

  3. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana, samadhi, and nirvana

  4. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and turiya
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

According to the Yoga school of Indian philosophy, the eight limbs of yoga are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a type of mental state according to the Advaita Vedanta school of Indian philosophy?

  1. Jagrat

  2. Swapna

  3. Sushupti

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

Turiya is not a type of mental state according to the Advaita Vedanta school of Indian philosophy. Jagrat, Swapna, and Sushupti are the three states of consciousness that are described in the Upanishads. Turiya is the fourth state of consciousness, which is beyond the three states of consciousness.

Multiple choice

What is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the faculty of memory?

  1. Smriti

  2. Buddhi

  3. Ahamkara

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

Smriti is the term used in Indian philosophy to refer to the faculty of memory. It is the faculty that allows us to remember things that we have experienced in the past.

Multiple choice

According to Vaisheshika philosophy, what is the fundamental building block of the universe?

  1. Atoms

  2. Void

  3. Time

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

In Vaisheshika philosophy, atoms are considered to be the fundamental building blocks of the universe, the indivisible and indestructible units from which all objects are composed.

Multiple choice

What are the six categories of existence in Vaisheshika philosophy?

  1. Substance, Quality, Action, Generality, Particularity, and Inherence

  2. Substance, Quality, Action, Time, Space, and Causation

  3. Substance, Quality, Action, Soul, Mind, and Matter

  4. Substance, Quality, Action, Knowledge, Pleasure, and Pain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The six categories of existence in Vaisheshika philosophy are substance, quality, action, generality, particularity, and inherence. These categories are used to analyze and classify all objects and phenomena in the universe.

Multiple choice

What is the concept of 'dravya' in Vaisheshika philosophy?

  1. Substance

  2. Quality

  3. Action

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

In Vaisheshika philosophy, 'dravya' refers to substance, which is the fundamental entity that exists independently and serves as the basis for all other categories. Substances are further classified into nine types, including earth, water, fire, air, space, time, direction, soul, and mind.

Multiple choice

What is the concept of 'guna' in Vaisheshika philosophy?

  1. Substance

  2. Quality

  3. Action

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

In Vaisheshika philosophy, 'guna' refers to quality, which is an attribute or property that inheres in a substance. Qualities are further classified into 24 types, including color, taste, smell, touch, sound, number, size, and weight.