Why to Opt Philosophy for CSS (or PMS)

[Ravian Intelligence]

When aspirants tell their friends that they are going to opt philosophy for CSS, their friends exclaimed horribly with distorted faces, “Philosophy????” “Are you mad???” In fact, those friends who react strangely against the name of philosophy, themselves, have no accurate idea about what actually philosophy is. In our society, most of people, with the exception of some academic and literary intellectuals, have very distorted vision about philosophy which they didn't try to study.

Philosophy is not promoted in developing countries like Pakistan because it makes people to think and act in analytical, critical and logical manners against social, political and economic evils caused by corrupt and irrational elements. You’ll always find work of philosophical thinkers behind various intellectual revolutions and dynamic system of social progress.

Some people avoid philosophy by imagining it as a tricky subject and decide to go for those subjects that are less scoring. But here, the problem is not what subject is easy or tricky, but the problem is that which subject is scoring and which is not. And Philosophy's scoring trend has been ever-green not only in CSS but also in PMS.

In this context, you can check CSS results of previous four years where first position holder of 2010 (had background of philosophy), first two position holders of 2012 (had no background of philosophy), and second position holder of 2014 (No background of philosophy) and many others in top ten toppers had opted philosophy (some of them had got 160+ in Philosophy). Similarly many students have 160+ in Philosophy as an optional in PMS examination. In short, Philosophy, after revision of syllabus, still has great potential to give 80+. Try to prepare it under proper guidance.

Apart from being high scoring subject, Philosophy broadens your imagination, Logic and critical thinking to get excellent marks in essay (you can cast philosophical look on your topic, which will definitely work for securing good marks). If you have shortage of time, search for a teacher, you can cover syllabus of philosophy before one month (I've observed many examples of aspirants who did so in very short time).

For Islamiat and current affairs, Muslim Philosophy is highly worthwhile to comprehend current scenario of Muslim world logically.
In Political Science, Political theories of philosophers are based on epistemology and metaphysics of Philosophers which are the essential part of philosophy. Those who study philosophy can understand nature of political theories (50 marks of political science) in a far better way.

Those who had opted philosophy had mostly showed better performance in interview by convincing and interesting discussion on contemporary issues.
Finally, along with increased analytical skills and philosophical vision, you'll find highly sound and strong arguments from intellectual giants of philosophy to support your stance with the help logical debate or argumentation relating to solving essay type subjective questions of different subjects.

It is only for those who have courage to shatter the dogmatic glasses of intellectual laziness, not for those who are deceiving themselves to find "halwa" for good marks and misguide others.

!!!اس قدر.... گوندھنا پڑتی ہے.....لہو سے مٹی
!!!ہاتھ...گھُل جاتے ہیں پھر...کوزہ گری آتی ہے

[sheikh87]

I have much to differ with you in regard to your post. After studying Philosophy for CSS and meeting other candidates who opted the same, i strongly assert and conclude that Philosophy - in no way - helps you in any subject; may it be Essay, current affairs or Islamic Studies. Neither it broadens your thinking pattern nor it makes someone an intellectual. Philosophy, in-fact, is a very simple and straight forward subject. When someone talks about Philosophy being an asset of intellectual, he is referring to the Philosophers who have contributed towards this discipline with their theories; merely reading Philosophical theories -which are 200 times easier than scientific theories- does not make someone, a logician of high caliber. Sufism is also a Philosophical theory so it is a part of Philosophy, and Imam Ghazali very well described the students of Sufism as ' there are many students of Sufism who after learning about Sufism and its core terms start assuming themselves as Sufis'.

[Ravian Intelligence]

Originally Posted by sheikh87

I have much to differ with you in regard to your post. After studying Philosophy for CSS and meeting other candidates who opted the same, i strongly assert and conclude that Philosophy - in no way - helps you in any subject; may it be Essay, current affairs or Islamic Studies. .

In Essay Paper 2014, following essays can be attempted with the help of great arguments given by philosophical movements such as Pragmatism, Logical Positivism and Postmodernism.
Can meaning be fixed?
Postmodern ethos--a challenge to the west
Language is a fit data for research in humanities and social sciences.
I myself attempted "Language is a fit data...." and get essay paper passed easily. And I know some other people who attempted "can meaning be fixed?" by giving arguments from above mentions philosophical movements.
Similarly "Post modernism ethos...." could be attempted philosophically from arguments from existentialism and Postmodernism (esp. Lyotard, Derrida, Michael Foucault etc).

Now About Islamyat Paper from 2014,
Q. Discuss the possibilities of establishment of an Islamic state under the present Political system of democracy. (Arguments from Ijtihad and Democratic concepts of Iqbal, Shah waliullah, and Ali Shariati etc. are applicable here.)
Q. Good combination of the reason (intellect) and Revelation can resolve today's issues of humankind. discuss. (Arguments from Al-kindi, Asharites, Al-Ghazali, Ibn-e-rushd, Iqbal, Sir Syed, Hasan Hanafi, Ghamadi etc.)
(Religious fundamentalism and terrorism in relation to current affairs..)

These are some glimpse from only papers of one year (2014).

Originally Posted by sheikh87

Neither it broadens your thinking pattern nor it makes someone an intellectual. Philosophy, in-fact, is a very simple and straight forward subject.. .

You couldn't learn anything from philosophy doesn't mean that others learners are too dull mined. Everyone's experience speaks behind his discussion. I gave you many examples of students with their contact numbers who excellently perform in interviews on the basis of their philosophical concepts. Obviously, those who are addicted to rote learning are always blind to derive something value from such subject.


تمے مول تربوز نہ ہندے........ توڑ مکے لے جائیے ہو ۔
کاں دے بچے ہنس نہ تھیندے، پئے موتی چوگ چگائیے ہو ۔
کوڑے کھوہ نہ مٹھے ہندے باہو.... سے مناں کھنڈ پائیے ہو


(You've totally misunderstand philosophy and are now misleading others too. May be you've not studied philosophy under proper guidance).

[Monk]

I opted philosophy because paper 1 of philosophy used to give high marks owing to it's objective nature, after revision of the syllabus the paper 1 is eliminated so is the objectivity hence high score in philosophy like 80 is a distant dream. I won't suggest someone to opt for philosophy until and unless the aspirant has a real interest in the subject

2: Almost every optional subject broadens your mental horizon and add to your existence knowledge database hence can be used in compulsory subject, like international law or international relations can help one in Essay and Current Affairs, Islamic History can help one in Islamiat and Essay, does this mean one should opt for these subjects just for the sake of their support for compulsory subjects?

[sheikh87]

When knowledge is new to someone, its difficult to digest and doesn't humble a person; in-fact, makes him arrogant. Little and sudden knowledge is always dangerous.

Dear Members ! Ravian Intelligence is himself a teacher of Philosophy and just for earning his few bucks, he is promoting Philosophy studies since February 2014. All his 10 posts since last 2 years are in order to promote Philosophy studies. His real name is Mian Waqas and he teaches Philosophy at Lahore. This info helped me to understand your claim of me not being able to understand the concepts of Philosophy because i did not get a proper guidance of a teacher.

Those concerned, opt International Law from the group instead of Philosophy if you are opting International Relations. International Law not only complements the syllabus of International Relations but is also a key subject to score good in Current Affairs, Pakistan affairs and Essay. I have opted International Relations but I am considering Philosophy because of several reasons: its worth reading, scoring and i have already scored well in the subject in my previous attempt. Opt Philosophy, only, if you are opting Political Science. And, opting Political Science is discouraged by many due to its lengthy syllabus.

P.S - I may be wrong somewhere in my analysis, but my above reviews or statements are not in order to promote any hidden agenda.

[Ravian Intelligence]

Originally Posted by sheikh87

When knowledge is new to someone, its difficult to digest and doesn't humble a person; in-fact, makes him arrogant. Little and sudden knowledge is always dangerous.

Dear Members ! Ravian Intelligence is himself a teacher of Philosophy and just for earning his few bucks, he is promoting Philosophy studies since February 2014. All his 10 posts since last 2 years are in order to promote Philosophy studies. His real name is Mian Waqas and he teaches Philosophy at Lahore. This info helped me to understand your claim of me not being able to understand the concepts of Philosophy because i did not get a proper guidance of a teacher.

Those concerned, opt International Law from the group instead of Philosophy if you are opting International Relations. International Law not only complements the syllabus of International Relations but is also a key subject to score good in Current Affairs, Pakistan affairs and Essay. I have opted International Relations but I am considering Philosophy because of several reasons: its worth reading, scoring and i have already scored well in the subject in my previous attempt. Opt Philosophy, only, if you are opting Political Science. And, opting Political Science is discouraged by many due to its lengthy syllabus.

P.S - I may be wrong somewhere in my analysis, but my above reviews or statements are not in order to promote any hidden agenda.

As soon as you find yourself unable to defend your stance and you have started committing Ad hominem in highly irrational ways (this shows how ignorant you're to philosophy)."Ad hominem" is said to be a last refuge of the incompetent. Your so-called argument can be compared with the illogical element who gave a fallacious argument against the person who suggested the people to pay taxes for peace and prosperity of the state. But the element like you cries, O people don't pay tax because this person is a minister in the governing body and has an agenda of taking taxes from you for his own purpose.
Moreover, I've informed aspirants argumentatively about role of philosophy in cultivating their intellect and improving their career and nothing else. It's up to them whether they opt for it or not. If you can logically refute the importance of philosophy, go ahead with reason. you've still given no reasonable argument in the defense of your stance against philosophy.
Keep in mind CSS aspirants are not kids who can be deceived. They are better decision maker for choices and options available to them, rather than being dependent on anyone else for their decisions.

[sheikh87]

I'm happy that from now onwards, you would not pretend as a common forum user and do marketing of yourself. Loser !
Your very id and comments are fake and fallacious - my not-friend - and you are judging my arguments to be fallacious. *What a wonderful world ! i see dreams... ♫ *

[sheikh87]

Let me bold my reason this time.

Those concerned, opt International Law from the group instead of Philosophy if you are opting International Relations. International Law not only complements the syllabus of International Relations but is also a key subject to score good in Current Affairs, Pakistan affairs and Essay. I have opted International Relations but I am considering Philosophy because of several reasons: it's worth reading, scoring and i have already scored well in the subject in my previous attempt. Opt Philosophy, only, if you are opting Political Science. And, opting Political Science is discouraged by many due to its lengthy syllabus. Opting Philosophy was considered a wise choice: before the announcement of new syllabus of it, and when Philosophy was of 200 marks. Now, Philosophy marks have been reduced to 100 only; it is grouped with some other important subjects particularly, International Law; It complements no other subject substantially; teachers of Philosophy are few and weirdos; the all time scoring portion of Philosophy - Logic part - has been thrown away from the new syllabus. These are some of the many factors that deems Philosophy as not a good optional subject anymore.

On the other hand, International Law substantially helps in International Relations, Current Affairs, Pakistan Affair, Essay, Islamic Studies and sometimes in other optional subjects. According to the new syllabus, Political Science and International Relations have become mandatory to elect for most of the candidates due to non-availability of choices. And, Political Science is highly discouraged by many due to its lengthy syllabus. So, if you elect International Relations and do not opt International Law, it would be
extremely unwise and highly injudicious; as International Law and International Relations are first cousins . Opting International Law, in this case, will not only make its study easy but will also augment the study and paper of IR.

Now the case remains is that one neither opts IR nor Political Science. If Philosophy was of 200 and with previous syllabus, i would have recommended Philosophy. Criminal Law, International Law and Mercantile Law are now better choices. And if someone asks me, even in this case i would prefer International Law because it empowers with knowledge that augments in solving many papers as mentioned above.


P.S I have studied International Law, Philosophy, Mercantile Law and Muslim Law and Jurisprudence from the Group.

[Ravian Intelligence]

Originally Posted by sheikh87

In you first comment you said:
After studying Philosophy for CSS and meeting other candidates who opted the same, i strongly assert and conclude that Philosophy - in no way - helps you.... Neither it broadens your thinking pattern nor it makes someone an intellectual.

In your last comment you contradict your own confused thinking as following:

Originally Posted by sheikh87

I have opted International Relations but I am considering Philosophy because of several reasons: it's worth reading, scoring and i have already scored well in the subject in my previous attempt.

You're discouraging others to opt for philosophy but you yourself are considering this subject to opt. what is this???.

Lastly, Keep in mind.....To comment in the favor of philosophy doesn't prove that I've hidden motive behind the act of promoting philosophy in Pakistan....your all arguments are full of personal attacks on me. (If you remember anything from Logic such arguments are nothing but cheap thinking and childish intolerance from a loser who, when see himself being unable to defend his stance, starts personal attacks on winners).

[Man Jaanbazam]

@Ravian & @Sheikh
Please restrict your arguments to discussing pros and cons of opting philosophy and avoid personal attacks in doing so.