Jan 8, 2012

Stage II - Critical Thoughts

Essay (10 Mk)

Given below are three quotes of certain philosophers on different subjects. Choose any one of them to write an essay of about a few pages of your notebook. The essay should not only explain the given view, but should either support it or oppose it with examples and logic. You do not need to have knowledge of the Philosopher’s work, but rather should be able to grasp the central idea and analyze the different aspects of the statement. Usually one goes about establishing the meaning and relevance of each phrase/clause separately and then sums up the whole argument. Your coherence, reasoning and depth of thought are most important. For more detailed instructions, refer http://philo.abhinav.ac.in/InPOInstructions.htm

i. Art is parasitic on life, just as criticism is parasitic on art. - Harry S Truman


ii. We should not say that one man’s hour is not worth another man’s hour, but rather that one man during an hour is worth just as much as another man during an hour. Time is everything, man is nothing: he is at the most time’s carcass. - Karl Marx, Das Capital

iii. Is Man one of God’s blunders? Or is God one of Man’s blunders? - Friedrich Nietzsche

iv. An object as separate from its cause is not perceptible, and the cause of the object as separate from the object itself cannot be perceived. – Nagarjun, Madhyamik Sutra, Ch. IV


Dec 15, 2011

Indian Team - Selection around the corner

  • Stage I of the Indian Philosophy Olympiad begins 22 Dec 2011. Students (std 8 to 12) should download the paper linked to the site - http://abhinav.ac.in/DoV/Stimulus/Philosopher.htm - on the morning of 22 Dec. Then attempt the MCQ and subjective questions meant to test the student's language and reasoning skills. The solutions must be emailed to events@abhinav.ac.in by the 3rd Jan 2012. Instructions on how to send the solutions will be given in the paper. Those who cant email, may send by post / hand delivery by the same deadline.
  • 20% from the top will be invited to the next stage.
  • Stage II will be an essay competition conducted on Sunday 8th Jan 2012 between 9 am and 12:30 pm. 4 essay topics will be announced at 9 am to the participants by email and on this blog. Students have to write an essay on one of them and submit by 12:30 pm (about 3 hrs writing time) by email.
  • Topper recieves the medal among other prizes. Top 10 percentile students get a prize.
  • Students are invited from the top to participate in the team going to Oslo in May 2012. If one refuses, the next in list is asked. Please remember - no part of this competition is charged a fee. However, the travel costs to Oslo and back and travel costs to the training center (Abhinav Vidyalay, Dombivli) for about a month, have to be borne by the student.