AT

ANKUR TRIPATHI· 2024

Question AGS4GS2

Given below are three quotations of philosophers. What does each of the quotations convey to you in the present context?

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Main Body

In this quote, Adam Smith argue that real human nature inherently lies in unselfish behaviour and regard for others. It advocates for compassion and service.

⇒ Unselfish behaviour and compassion for others is essential to attain inner peace. [Ex] Mother Teresa, Sheryl Chakra- (who overcame untamed bodies).

Although Adam Smith was a hardcore capitalist who believes in selfish nature of humans, yet he advocates for unselfish approach because to attain larger public good, certain level of unselfish conduct is extremely crucial.

Yet he advocates for unselfish approach because to attain larger public good, certain level of unselfish conduct is extremely crucial.

Compassion, unselfishness, and benevolence is extremely crucial virtues for the modern day world as today we are to guided by self-motives and interests that we are alienated from our true nature. So, to attain inner peace and tranquility, unselfishness is necessary.
As it is said that one who has nothing to strive for are the real living. And those who help others are helping themselves.

This quote puts emphasis on the fact that human beings have agency and free-will to act. It is through their free-will they decide whether to act positively or negatively.

[Virtue lies in our power]

Since we are autonomous moral agent endowed with free-will and rationality, so we must act in virtuous way. It is in our power to attain virtue.
(Ex) Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. etc. exercised their power virtuously.

[Vice lies in our power too]

since we are free, we can take Vice decision too.
(Ex) Adolf Hitler, Ismail, Joseph Stalin, etc. exercised their power in vigil manner.

Joseph Stalin, etc. exercised their power in vigil manner.

[He need to exercise power responsibly]

with great power comes great responsibility. So, we must exercise of freedom to all or not to act acc to highest ethical principles.
Our omission (or) commission must uphold larger public-interest (theory of extended responsibility)
⇒ As, sartre said, man is condemned to be freeso we must chose with great diligence. So, in today's world it is essential to inculcate the act of acting acc to larger ethical principles.

This quote of Socrates is reflection of humility which dawns upon a person when he/she attains wisdom.

[Acknowledged of ignorance is path to knowledge]

Is akin to a zen koan, if one has to learn then first he has to unlearn. This unlearning is acceptance of our relative ignorance.

↓ Newton said that I only drank few drops from the vast ocean of knowledge in front of me.

↓ Socrates used to employ dialectical method of enquiry in which he used to start from pre-suppositionlessness. This leads to critical enquiry.

we must realize that in the vast cosmos we are nothing but a particle of sand.

↓ Carl Sagan said earth is like a 'pale blue dot' in the cosmos.

⇒ So, [Humility] to acknowledge all ignorance paves the way for our quest for knowledge.

↓ Any journey towards knowledge makes us progressively more and more humble.

↓ (Ex) Dumping-Kruger effect.

⇒) so, ultimately, we can say that Intelligence lies not in knowing everything but in our quest to strive for knowledge with complete humility.

Both conflict among interests and conflict among sources of authority is encountered in functioning of Public administration.

[Conflict among interests]

This arises when various interests are at cross-roads to each other, unlikely fulfilling one leads to compromise of others
(Ex.) In allocation of resources, we encounter issue of choosing b/w Infra-spending (A) spending on social sector scheme.
(B) Also sometimes interest of one stakeholder is in conflict with interest of other.

[Conflict among source of authority]

This situation arises wherein different sources of authority give conflicting directions.
(Ex) Political authority may ask to perform one action whereas Bureaucratic boss may give diff. direction.
(Ex) People are supreme source of authority but they are not sole source. So diff authorities can lead to conflict.

with interest of other.

[Conflict among source of authority]

This situation arises wherein different sources of authority give conflicting directions.
(Ex) Political authority may ask to perform one action whereas Bureaucratic boss may give diff. direction.
(Ex) People are supreme source of authority but they are not sole source. So diff authorities can lead to conflict.

⇒ Ideal way to navigate such challenges is to base our action on higher ethical standard and avoid any immoral pitfalls for short-term gain.

753 words24 paragraphs

Conclusion

Compassion, unselfishness, and benevolence are extremely crucial virtues for the modern day world. To attain inner peace and tranquility, unselfishness is necessary. As Sartre said, man is condemned to be free → so we must choose with great diligence. In today's world it is essential to inculcate the act of acting according to larger ethical principles. Intelligence lies not in knowing everything but in our quest to strive for knowledge with complete humility. Ideal way to navigate such challenges is to base our action on higher ethical standard and avoid any immoral pitfalls for short-term gain.

96 words

  • Contextual interpretation of philosophical quote
  • Use of relevant examples
  • Analysis of apparent contradiction in Smith's thought
  • Clear distinction between virtue and vice
  • Well-chosen historical examples on both positive and negative sides
  • Good explanation of moral agency and free will
  • Structured with clear subheadings
  • Insightful interpretation connecting humility to wisdom
  • Use of diverse examples (Newton, Socrates' method)
  • Explanation of dialectical method is relevant
  • Good connection to learning and unlearning
  • Clear distinction between two types of conflicts
  • Use of examples (resource allocation, multiple sources of authority)
  • Structured answer with clear demarcation

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Page 21

Topper

ANKUR TRIPATHI

2024

Subject & Paper

GS4GS2

Topic

Ethics

Philosophical approach to ethics

Writing Stats

849

Total words

24

Paragraphs

analytical and reflective

Tone