FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR RECRUITMENT TO POSTS
IN BPS – 17 UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 2008.


PHILOSOPHY, PAPER - I


TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS

MAXIMUM MARKS:100

NOTE: Attempt all questions. Give details in relevance to the marks assigned to the Question. Question No. 8 is objective. All questions carry equal marks.

1. Distinguish between ‘truth’ and ‘validity’ of the logical argument. Illustrate your answer with the help of examples.

2. Critically examine the role of definition in Aristotelian Logic.

3. How emotive language is an impediment in clear thinking? Discuss.

4. What is a logical fallacy? Discuss in detail formal fallacy.

5. Discuss in detail the significance of use of symbols in logic.

6. Discuss various theory models viz-a-viz scientific theory. What is scientific explanations?

7. How far is it tenable to hold that Muslim contribution to logic is an improvement on Aristotelian logic?


8. Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate box on the Answer sheet.

PART I

(1) Logic is the study of Rational Argument.
(a) True
(b) False

(2) Reasoning from the general to the particular is induction.
(a) True
(b) False

(3) The parable of ACHILLES and the tortoise ranks as the paradigm of a philosophical argument.
(a) True
(b) False

(4) Two statements are contradictory if they cannot both be true but may both be false.
(a) True
(b) False

(5) A proposition by itself is an argument.
(a) True
(b) False

PART-II: Which of the following are Prepositions and which are not?
(6) What a fine picture.
(a) Yes
(b) No

(7) Some students of the class are bachelors.
(a) Yes
(b) No

(8) All cows are black.
(a) Yes
(b) No

(9) May I come in, Sir.
(a) Yes
(b) No

(10) Do as directed.
(a) Yes
(b) No

PART-III: Choose the best options.

(11) The key feature of modern logic is the development of:
(a) Aristotelian Logic
(b) Forms of definitions
(c) logic of Relations
(d) None of these

(12) What fallacy is committed in the following argument:
“The criminal must not be punished because he belongs to a noble family.”
(a) Petitio Principii
(b) Figure of speech
(c) False cause
(d) None of these

(13) Draw a valid conclusion from the given argument:
(a) Either p or q
(b) If p, then r
(c) If q, then s

(14) What is “Bachelor” in Bachelor means unmarried adult male.
(a) Definition
(b) Definiendum
(c) Definiens
(d) None of these

(15) A is either “B or C” is a.
(a) Hypothetical Judgment
(b) Disjunctive judgment
(c) Indefinite Judgment
(d) None of these

(16) Who wrote the book “MANTIQ al-MASHR-ISIYYIN”?
(a) Ibn Sina
(b) Al-Ghazali
(c) Ibn-Taimiyyah
(d) None of these

(17) What does the following statement represent, “All the chair in the room are wooden”?
(a) Simple enumeration
(b) Perfect enumeration
(c) Negative induction
(d) None of these

(18) What does the symbol ‘ ’ stand for
(a) Implication
(b) Negation
(c) Conjunctive
(d) None of these

(19) The relation between A and E forms of prepositions in the square of oppositions is known as:
(a) Contradictory
(b) Sub-Contrary
(c) Contrary
(d) None of these

(20) Identify the fallacy committed in the following argument “Philosophy” is a useless subject because it does not help you to get a job:
(a) Fallacy of Equivocation
(b) Fallacy of Secundum Quid
(c) Fallacy of Ignoratio Elenchi
(d) None of these