IGNOU BPYC-108 Contemporary
Western Philosophy · BAFPY · TEE Dec 2026 / June 2027
BPYC-108: Contemporary Western
Philosophy is an important course of the BAFPY (Bachelor of Arts in
Philosophy) programme. The course introduces students to major developments
in Western philosophy from the late 19th century to contemporary times. It
focuses on important philosophical movements such as Phenomenology,
Existentialism, Analytic Philosophy, Logical Positivism, Ordinary Language
Philosophy, and Postmodernism.
The course helps students understand how modern philosophers questioned traditional metaphysics, explored human existence and consciousness, examined the role of language and logic, and critically analysed ideas of truth, knowledge, and reality.
|
Programme |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Applicable Sessions |
|
BAFPY |
BPYC-108 |
Contemporary Western Philosophy |
TEE Dec 2026 / TEE June 2027 |
The major areas covered
in BPYC-108 include:
1.
Crisis of Classical Metaphysics –
Nietzsche's criticism of traditional philosophy, values, and truth.
2.
Phenomenology –
Husserl's method of epoché (bracketing) and the study of conscious
experience.
3.
Existentialism –
Concepts such as freedom, authenticity, angst, and existence precedes
essence, with reference to thinkers like Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and
Sartre.
4.
Analytic Philosophy and Logical Positivism – The
importance of logic, language, and the verification principle,
especially in the works of Russell and early Wittgenstein.
5.
Later Wittgenstein and Ordinary Language
Philosophy – The concepts of language-games and meaning as use,
and the difference between Wittgenstein's early and later philosophy.
6.
Postmodern Critique – The
criticism of grand narratives, objective truth, and universal claims
through thinkers such as Foucault, Derrida, and Lyotard.
IGNOU BPYC-108 Contemporary
Western Philosophy | SOLVED ASSIGNMENT 2026-27
Note: 1. Give answers
to all five questions.
2. All five questions
carry equal marks.
3. Answer Questions 1
and 2 in about 400 words each.
1.
Discuss the major characteristics of Continental Philosophy. Explain how it
differs from Analytic Philosophy.
OR
Examine
the main features of Contemporary Western Philosophy. Discuss the emergence and
significance of Analytic and Continental traditions.
2.
Explain Husserl's Phenomenology with special reference to Intentionality and
Epoché.
OR
Critically
examine Heidegger's concept of Dasein and explain its significance in
existential philosophy.
3.
Answer any two of the following questions in about 200 words
each.
a)
Discuss Karl Marx's concept of Alienation and Historical Materialism.
b)
Explain Nietzsche's critique of traditional morality and the concept of the
"Death of God."
c)
Examine Freud's theory of the unconscious with reference to Id, Ego and
Superego.
d)
Discuss the main principles of Critical Theory and evaluate the contribution of
the Frankfurt School.
4.
Answer any four of the following questions in about 150 words
each.
a)
Explain Structuralism with reference to Ferdinand de Saussure.
b)
Distinguish between Structuralism and Post-Structuralism.
c) Write
a note on Gadamer's concept of Hermeneutics.
d)
Explain Wittgenstein's Picture Theory of Meaning.
e) Write
a note on Russell's Logical Atomism.
f)
Discuss William James' theory of Pragmatism.
5. Write
short notes on any five of the following in about 100 words each.
a)
Alienated Labour
b) Will
to Power
c)
Dasein
d)
Difference (Différance)
e)
Logical Positivism
f)
Verification Principle
g)
Ordinary Language Philosophy
h)
Communicative Rationality
Frequently Asked
Questions
Q1. What is BPYC-108?
Ans. BPYC-108 is a course titled Contemporary Western Philosophy
under the BAFPY (Philosophy) programme of IGNOU.
Q2. What topics are
covered in BPYC-108?
Ans. The course covers major philosophical movements and thinkers
including Nietzsche, Husserl, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre, Russell,
Wittgenstein, Foucault, Derrida, and Lyotard.
Q3. How many questions
are compulsory in the BPYC-108 assignment?
Ans. All five main questions are compulsory. However, Questions
3, 4, and 5 contain internal choices, so students have to answer the specified
number of sub-questions from each section.
Q4. What is the
difference between Analytic and Continental Philosophy?
Ans. Analytic Philosophy generally
emphasises logic, language, conceptual clarity, and rigorous argument, while
Continental Philosophy focuses more broadly on human existence, history,
consciousness, interpretation, culture, and social criticism.
Q5. What is the
difference between Early and Later Wittgenstein?
Ans. Early Wittgenstein focused on the logical structure of language and
the picture theory of meaning, while Later Wittgenstein emphasised language-games
and argued that the meaning of a word depends on its use in a particular
context.
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BPYC-108?
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