Philosophy, Psychology and Human Behaviour Notes for CAT: Concepts, Formulas, Worked Examples & Practice

Philosophy, Psychology and Human Behaviour notes for CAT: 45 study cards covering concepts, formulas, shortcuts and exam traps, plus solved practice questions.

Chapter Roadmap: Philosophy, Psychology and Human Behaviour

Chapter Roadmap

Philosophy, Psychology and Human Behaviour

Topic 1 (Current)

Philosophy of Knowledge and Social Sciences

Epistemology, the "scandal of philosophy," and academic disciplines as organizing institutions.

Topic 2

Mind, Unconscious and Rationality

The historical emergence of the unconscious and modern frameworks of rational thought.

Topic 3

Truth, Power and Technology Critique

Critical theory, the normative dimensions of technology, and the relationship between truth and power.

Topic 4

Stoicism and Emotion

Ancient philosophical frameworks for understanding emotional responses and physiological reactions.

What you will master by the end:

The ability to quickly identify an author's philosophical stance, separate descriptive claims from normative arguments, and navigate complex abstract vocabulary without losing the logical thread.

Philosophy of Knowledge and Social Sciences

Topic 1 of 4

Philosophy of Knowledge and Social Sciences

Decoding epistemology and the institutional nature of academic disciplines in reading comprehension.

What you will learn:

Recognize the "scandal of philosophy" and epistemological skepticism
Understand social sciences as organizing institutions, not just bodies of thought
Decode dense philosophical arguments systematically
Avoid the descriptive versus normative reasoning trap

The Scandal of Philosophy

The "scandal" refers to philosophy's apparent inability to definitively show how, when, and why we can be sure that we know something, or indeed, that we know anything at all.

Skepticism

Doubts the possibility of certain knowledge. Questions the reliability of perception and reasoning.

Foundationalism

Seeks secure, indubitable grounds upon which to build all other knowledge claims.

Social Sciences as Institutions

Academic disciplines are not merely arenas of thought; they are social institutions. The two characterizations overlap but are not identical.

Defining "Institution" in this Context

All those social entities that organize action: they link acting individuals into structured patterns of behavior, governed by shared norms and rules.

Thought Arena

Theories, hypotheses, and abstract intellectual frameworks.

Social Institution

Departments, peer review systems, funding bodies, and professional norms that organize how that thought is produced.

Philosophy, Psychology and Human Behaviour: Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Explanations (2 Problems)

Question 1 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension MCQ

In the context of the philosophy of knowledge, the phrase "the scandal of philosophy" specifically refers to which of the following?

A.
The historical failure of philosophers to agree on ethical standards.
B.
The apparent inability of philosophy to demonstrate how we can be certain of knowledge.
C.
The exclusion of non-Western epistemologies from academic discourse.
D.
The tendency of philosophers to use obscure language that confuses laypeople.

Correct Answer:

Step-by-Step Solution

Key idea: This is a direct definition recall question. The term "scandal of philosophy" is a specific technical phrase in epistemology, not a general critique of the field's ethics or style.

Step 1: Recall the definition from the smart notes card on the Scandal of Philosophy. The scandal is defined as philosophy's struggle to prove how, when, and why we can be sure that we know something.

Step 2: Evaluate Option A. Ethical disagreement is a different philosophical problem, not the epistemological scandal.

Step 3: Evaluate Option B. This matches the standard definition: the inability to ground claims to knowledge against skepticism.

Step 4: Evaluate Options C and D. These are sociological or stylistic critiques, not the core epistemological problem referred to by this specific phrase.

Answer: Option B

Question 2 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension MCQ

According to the notes, what are the two distinct levels on which power operates in human society?

A.
Physical strength and intellectual superiority.
B.
Controlling objective reality and controlling shared fictions.
C.
Political authority and economic wealth.
D.
Scientific discovery and artistic expression.

Correct Answer:

Step-by-Step Solution

Key idea: This is a direct recall question from the "Myth of Truth and Power" card.

Step 1: Locate the definition of power in the notes.

Step 2: The notes explicitly state: "Power in human society often operates on two levels: the ability to control objective reality... and the ability to control the shared fictions or narratives..."

Step 3: Match this exactly to Option B.

Answer: Option B

More notes in this unit

chapter

Philosophy, Psychology and Human Behaviour Notes for CAT: Concepts, Formulas, Worked Examples & Practice

Philosophy, Psychology and Human Behaviour notes for CAT: 45 study cards covering concepts, formulas, shortcuts and exam traps, plus solved practice questions

A question from this chapter

Question 1

In the context of the philosophy of knowledge, the phrase "the scandal of philosophy" specifically refers to which of the following?

Question 2

According to the notes, what are the two distinct levels on which power operates in human society?

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