IPO-Bangladesh

Syllabus


Bangladesh Philosophy Olympiad 2025: Syllabus Introduction Welcome Note The Bangladesh Philosophy Olympiad is an annual competition aimed at inspiring young minds to explore philosophical questions, sharpen critical thinking skills, and engage with the fundamental ideas shaping human thought. The Olympiad provides a platform for students to delve into classical and contemporary philosophical issues, develop reasoned arguments, and critically analyze concepts that have influenced humanity across centuries Competition Structure The Olympiad consists of multiple rounds designed to assess participants' knowledge, analytical abilities, and philosophical reasoning. First Round: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) + Brief Response Question The first round will test participants' foundational understanding of philosophical concepts, thinkers, and schools of thought. Questions will cover key themes from the following branches of philosophy:

  1. Epistemology (Nature of Truth and Knowledge)
  2. Ethics and Moral Philosophy
  3. Political Philosophy (Justice and Social Constructs)
  4. Aesthetics (Philosophy of Art and Beauty)
  5. Philosophy of Technology and Human Existence
  6. Objectives of the Olympiad
Foster Philosophical Inquiry: Encourage students to question, reason, and articulate their thoughts on timeless and contemporary philosophical problems.

Promote Critical Thinking: Equip participants with tools to analyze and evaluate arguments critically. Expand Knowledge: Introduce students to foundational texts, thinkers, and philosophical traditions from around the world.

Encourage Dialogue: Create a platform for participants to share and debate ideas respectfully. Study Guide for the First Round To succeed in the first round, participants should familiarize themselves with the following:

Key Philosophical Texts: (Refer to the detailed syllabus for specific readings) Philosophical Concepts: Nature of truth, skepticism, and certainty. Foundations of ethical theories: utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics. Justice, freedom, and political structures. The role of technology in shaping human identity and existence. Major Philosophers: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Mill, Nietzsche, Simone de Beauvoir, among others.

Important Questions: What is knowledge, and how do we attain it? How should individuals balance freedom and responsibility in society? What is the purpose of art, and how does it influence human life? Bangladesh Philosophy Olympiad 2025 Syllabus

  1. The Nature of Truth and Knowledge

    2. Plato: The Republic (Book VII - Allegory of the Cave) Explores the nature of truth, perception, and enlightenment. René Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy (Meditation I & II) Foundational ideas on skepticism and certainty. Nietzsche: On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense Critique of the concept of objective truth. Thomas Kuhn: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chapters 1-2) Insights into paradigm shifts and scientific truth.

  2. Ethics and Moral Philosophy

    3. Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Books I & II) Introduces virtue ethics and the concept of the "good life." Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (Preface and Section 1) The foundations of duty-based ethics. John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism (Chapter 2) The principle of utility and moral calculations. Peter Singer: Practical Ethics (Chapter on Global Poverty) Ethical responsibilities in addressing inequality. Fyodor Dostoevsky: The Grand Inquisitor (from The Brothers Karamazov) Freedom, suffering, and human nature. Friedrich Nietzsche: Twilight of the Idols (Selections: “The Problem of Socrates,” “Reason in Philosophy”) Critique of traditional values and morality.

  3. Identity and Self-Understanding

    4. David Hume: A Treatise of Human Nature (Book I, Part IV, Section VI) Questions the concept of personal identity over time. Jean-Paul Sartre: Being and Nothingness (Introduction) Examines self-consciousness and existential freedom. Simone de Beauvoir: The Second Sex (Introduction and excerpts) Gender and identity as social constructs. Charles Taylor: Sources of the Self (Selections) Exploration of modern identity formation.

  4. The Role of Philosophy and Critical Thinking

    5. Plato: Apology The defense of philosophy as a way of life. Bertrand Russell: The Value of Philosophy (Chapter from The Problems of Philosophy) Philosophy’s relevance in enriching human experience. Hannah Arendt: The Human Condition (Prologue) The role of thought and action in human life.

  5. Social Constructs and Ideology

    6. Karl Marx: The Communist Manifesto Analysis of ideology and social structures. Michel Foucault: Discipline and Punish (Introduction) Power dynamics and the construction of societal norms. Judith Butler: Gender Trouble (Preface and Chapter 1) The performative nature of identity. Frantz Fanon: Black Skin, White Masks (Chapter 1) The impact of colonialism on identity and social roles.

  6. Technology and Human Existence

    7. Yuval Noah Harari: Homo Deus (Introduction) AI's impact on humanity's future. Max Tegmark: Life 3.0 (Chapter 1) Ethical challenges of artificial intelligence. Martin Heidegger: The Question Concerning Technology Technology’s role in shaping human existence. Donna Haraway: A Cyborg Manifesto Examines the intersection of technology and identity.

  7. Freedom and Determinism

    8. Epicurus: Letter to Menoeceus The nature of free will and pleasure. Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan (Chapters 13-15) Human freedom in relation to state power. Jean-Paul Sartre: Existentialism is a Humanism Freedom and responsibility in existentialism. Isaiah Berlin: Two Concepts of Liberty Negative and positive liberty.

  8. Justice and Political Philosophy

    9. Plato: Republic (Books I, V, and VIII) Justice in the individual and society; critique of democracy. John Rawls: A Theory of Justice (Chapter 1) Justice as fairness and the original position. Hannah Arendt: On Revolution (Selections) Justice and political systems. Angela Davis: Abolition Democracy Justice in the context of race and systemic oppression.

  9. Art and Aesthetics

    10. Kant: Critique of Judgment (First Introduction) The nature of beauty and artistic judgment. Friedrich Schiller: Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man The transformative power of art. Arthur Danto: The Transfiguration of the Commonplace Defining art in a modern context. Susan Sontag: Against Interpretation Critique of intellectualism in art analysis.

  10. Existential Questions

    11. Albert Camus: The Myth of Sisyphus (First Chapter) Absurdity and the search for meaning. Viktor Frankl: Man’s Search for Meaning (Part 1) Meaning in the face of suffering. Martin Heidegger: Being and Time (Introduction) The question of Being and mortality. Simone de Beauvoir: The Ethics of Ambiguity (Chapter 1) Freedom and the search for purpose.