I would like to add a bit on that. One can always choose to skip Logical Positivism, Pragmatism as well as Subcontinent Muslim Philosophers. In their entirety. You will be safe even if the pattern of the paper is changed (like it did this year). If someone wants to do these topics, s/he can skip some other parts. Going through past papers gives a pretty clear idea of what to leave and what not.

After skipping optional parts, the syllabus of philosophy is less than many, if not most, other optional subjects. At least this is true when we compare it with the history subjects.

Actually you deliberately wrote names of the entire Vienna Circle and made it a very lengthy list. You wrote:

Schlick, Carnap, Hahn, Neurath and even also Godel, Feigl are all part of Vienna Circle. They are not separate from it as your post suggested. You missed Ayer which is the most important of Logical Positivism. This was hilarious. Well it may not be funny when the joke's on you so develop some sense of humour for that.

Godel's Incompleteness Theorem is part of Mathematical Logic and totally out of the scope of this course.

Logical Positivism is the rejection of Metaphysics so your statement an attempt make meaningful interpretations from metaphysical abstractions hardly makes any sense and that is even associated to Godel' number theory! Clearly, little knowledge is a dangerous thing! Your con-list was misleading and that needed clarification from OP. Now your part is done. This is a thread to guide students about Philosophy as an elective subject to get good marks in CSS, and in it one does selective study. I expect you won't come here and raise another debate. Make another thread if you want to debate on whether Vienna Circle did or did not include these members or Godel's number theory actually makes meaningful interpretations out of metaphysics.

Thanks man and this coming a from an intelligent member who has taken the exam recently makes it worthwhile to consider! I also skipped Subcontinent Philosophers and Pragmatism

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He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18)

Brother don't you think it is discouraging! I just want to say "Afsoos"..

You have mentioned many things, afsoos is lie ke, it would be difficult for me and my friends to opt it if it is that much lengthier as you mentioned.... By the way, had you attempted it in CSS14. If yes, then please share your experience with us. Thanks.

Yes brother, I am sorry to say that it is really that lengthy as I have told you. This breakup just encompasses the main Philosophies and each Philosophy is a whole world in itself. It may be discouraging but we must be realistic, we must opt our optional subjects judiciously because these can make or destroy our destiny. It would be sad if you qualify the written but because of wrong subject selection you miss the allocation.

You can prepare any other good subject in short time and less effort. We must opt a subject that at least we can comprehend properly. In these days, CSS has become very unpredictable, it always has been but after 2012 it has really become so fickle. Nowadays every subject is scoring, see Punjabi disappointed many and so did Arabic, Sociology and Journalism are no exception. I have learnt one thing from my experience of competitive exams, If you have opted a subject that you have absorbed and comprehended, you can score really good in any subject. Its all about grip you have on that subject.

As far as my experience is concerned, it has been really good. Philosophy I has been good but Philosophy II has been just fine, I was able to handle it but it was not conventional. I have studied Philosophy as pleasure reading for more than three years prior to opting it in CSS. Besides that, I had studied Philosophy in PMS and there is no Logic, only Philosophies we study and I scored 130. So I had background. I would suggest you to take your time and opt it after thorough consideration. You must opt objective subjects like Psychology or subjects that you can comprehend like Islamic History, Indo pak History etc.

Regards,

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Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.
But when love is one sided, holding off is no more an option.

If you are really interested in studying Philosophy, just go for it. And if you want to opt it only because of scoring trend without having any interest, don't do that. It's just as simple as that. You have 10 months which is more than sufficient for any subject.

Out of the exaggerated outline that Bilal has laid, you can skip 40-45% and still attempt the complete paper. This is from my personal experience. I left logical positivism, pragmatism, subcontinent Muslim philosophers (as well as some other parts) and was still able to attempt the entire paper without any problem at all.

Sir Buddha or any honourable senior! may we have solved objectives since 2000-14 from any source? Please mention.

Sir is there any MCQ book for philosophy, available in the market?

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Our life, our decisions; no complaints, no regrets.(self)

Once you go through your subjective preparation you will be able to answer most of the objective portion. For the rest, you can search on the internet. This way there are better chances of you retaining the correct answers of MCQs of past papers.

For the objective of 2014 Philosophy paper check the thread of 2014 Philosophy paper. I put down what I could remember from memory.

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He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18)

Hurley's link that you've provided, isn't working...but I've found the pdf. Is it the 11th edition?

And the other one is "Introduction to logic" by Irving M. Copin, Carl Cohen, K.M, ( 14th ed.) ?

Searching on torrentz.eu can give you torrent links

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He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18)

Given that I receive a large number of emails for philosophy I decided to share some pitfalls if you choose Philosophy.

• There are no guide books or helping material. You have to read original texts and sift the material yourself to answer a question.
  
• As there are no solved past papers in the market for Objective part you have to google to find answers of MCQs.
  
• You're on your own as there are only few people who have studied philosophy and they won't be spoon-feeding you. I haven't heard of any classes of Philosophy in renowned academies, however, individual teachers might offer private lessons. And you won't know how good or bad those teachers might turn out to be as we don't have much information. Therefore, basically you're on your own.
  
• To sum up choose this subject if you're willing to read original texts and work on your own. Maybe in the future someone might write an Exam-Cram type book but for NOW there isn't any spoon-feeding mechanism yet.

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He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18)