Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had cautioned that employing civil disobedience within a constitutional democracy equates to endorsing 'anarchy'. How should modern democracies navigate the ethical dilemmas posed by civil disobedience movements that aim to promote social justice against policies that may raise genuine concerns?
UPSC Mains GS 4 PYQ: Moral Thinkers & Philosophers (2013–2026)
Every question on Moral Thinkers & Philosophers asked in UPSC Mains General Studies IV from 2013–2026, 47 in all, newest first.
In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure fairness in governance?
Shakespeare in Henry IV says, "The arms are fair when the intent of bearing them is just". What ethical implications does this have in governance?
Some moral philosophers argue that spending some of your resources— without significantly affecting your financial stability—to help other people who badly suffer is our moral duty and not merely a matter of charity. Justify this claim by explaining the distinction between duty and charity.
Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context ? "Those who in trouble untroubled are, Will trouble trouble itself." — Thiruvalluvar
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." — William James
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." — Swami Vivekananda
What are the major teachings of Mahavir? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.
Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context ? "Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others." — Swami Vivekananda
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Faith is of no avail in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work." — Sardar Patel
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so." — Immanuel Kant
Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context ? "The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." — Mahatma Gandhi
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves." — Jawaharlal Nehru
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Do not hate anybody, because that hatred that comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle." — Swami Vivekananda
What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak ? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.
What does each of the following quotations mean to you? "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do." —Potter Stewart
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher." —A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it."—Dalai Lama
What does each of the following quotations mean to you? "Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light, sooner or later." —Swami Vivekananda
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves." —Dalai Lama
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, it is better for us all." —Erik Erikson
What teachings of Buddha are most relevant today and why ? Discuss.
'The will to power exists, but it can be tamed and be guided by rationality and principles of moral duty.' Examine this statement in the context of international relations.
What are the main factors responsible for gender inequality in India ? Discuss the contribution of Savitribai Phule in this regard.
What do each of the following quotations mean to you ? "Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If not, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way." — Swami Vivekanand
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." — Mahatma Gandhi
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true." — Socrates
What do each of the following quotations mean to you ? "An unexamined life is not worth living". — Socrates
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes." — M. K. Gandhi
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world." — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
What do each of the following quotations mean to you in the present context ? "The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it has any evil in it; but whether it has more evil than good. There are few things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded." — Abraham Lincoln
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding." — Mahatma Gandhi
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Falsehood takes the place of truth when it results in unblemished common good." — Tirukkural
"Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them." — Napoleon Bonaparte. Stating examples mention the rulers (i) who have harmed society and country, (ii) who worked for the development of society and country.
"If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher." — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Analyse.
Discuss Mahatma Gandhi's concept of seven sins.
Analyse John Rawls's concept of social justice in the Indian context.
"Corruption causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development." Discuss Kautilya's views.
"Max Weber said that it is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience. It is important to realise that the State bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality." Critically analyse this statement.
Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these, bring out what it means to you in the present context : "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
"Human beings should always be treated as 'ends' in themselves and never as merely 'means'." Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society.
Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings. Giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development.
Given below are three quotations of great moral thinkers/ philosophers. For each of these quotations, bring out what it means to you in the present context : "There is enough on this earth for every one's need but for no one's greed." —Mahatma Gandhi
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."—Abraham Lincoln
What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies."—Aristotle
"The good of an individual is contained in the good of all." What do you understand by this statement? How can this principle be implemented in public life?