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Essay on Philosophical Topic by Manoj K. Jha

  • Category
    Essay
  • Test Date
    20-08-2021 09:00 AM
  • Evaluated
    Yes

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6 Days Answer Improvement Cycle

  • Day 1: Questions will be uploaded on the portal on the scheduled date at 11:00 AM.
  • Day 2 and 3: You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on UPSC pattern. After writing the answer, Click a picture of the answer sheet (Use CamScanner and ensure good quality images) and upload (in JPEG format) in the comment section of the same question.
  • Day 4 and 5: After evaluation, copies will be re-uploaded on the same thread on 5th day. Based on these answers and feedback, aspirants can ask their doubts in the comment box and our experts will guide. The model hint will be uploaded on the site on Day 4.
  • Day 6: Discussion of the question and one to one answer improvement session of evaluated copies will be conducted through Google Meet with concerned faculty.

Instruction:

  • Attempt one essay
  • The test carries 125 marks.
  •  Write each essay in about 1000-1200 words.
  • Any page left blank in the answer-book must be crossed out clearly.
  • After Writing the Essay upload your copy in JPEG format in the comment box.
  • Evaluated Copy will be re-uploaded on the same thread after 2 days of uploading the copy.
  • Discussion of the question and one to one answer improvement session of evaluated copies will be conducted through Google Meet with concerned faculty. You will be informed via mail or SMS for the discussion.

Essay #1. Life is long journey between human being and being humane.

Essay #2. Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society.

(Examiner will pay special attention to the candidate's grasp of his/her material, its relevance to the subject chosen, and to his/ her ability to think constructively and to present his/her ideas concisely, logically and effectively).

Model Answer

Essay # 1 Life is a long journey between human being and being humane.

Three words of the title of the essay attract our attention- ‘long journey’, ‘human beings’ and ‘being humane’. True, life is a journey for all the creatures, small or big and human beings and other creatures passing through a life cycle marked by birth, growing, maturing, ageing and death. in this sense life is long. Human being refers to nature’s creation called Homo sapiens or man. Man is a unique creature in features, traits, individual and group behavior etc. All other animals are also recognized by their uniqueness. Their nature, essence and behavior are encoded in their DNA. We are born as human beings and remain so throughout the journey of life. Other animals also live as they are made to live. Human beings connote a species of animals, a social animal and a thinking being. Human beings have both good and evil inside them.  A human being becomes humane when he is able to bring out goodness under him for her/his individual uplift and betterment as well as well being of others. “Being humane” means one who is kind and compassionate; one who has sympathy and empathy for others; and one who loves, cares and shares.  

For human beings, life cannot be seen only in terms of years lived, but it should also be seen in terms of experiences in the life processes. A variety of experiences, feelings, and memories become part of human existence. Life for human beings is a beautiful journey giving different experiences through possibilities and constraints, rocky roads and lush green vales, sun and shadows, triumphs and failures and hopes and disappointments. This journey is full of alternate phases of adversity and prosperity, tears and smiles and “giving” and “getting.”  Being human is more than being a biological creation or animal. Like all other animals, human beings also face the existentialist questions of food, shelter, security and play and accordingly their responses to life are shaped. They compete and fight with other animals and fellow human beings for space and shelter, food and sex etc. with their natural intelligence and cunning. It is all about “animal spirit”.

Human beings are thinking animals. They have more and higher level of cognitive abilities than other animals. Therefore Being human also means having the ability to communicate systematically using words, symbols, body gestures/posture, and facial expressions. It also means the ability to make   decisions and bear the consequences, to be individuals and to be free in our choices and action and also to be part of different groups articulated  through racial, cultural, religious, and political categories. Human beings are also social animals and so they maintain relationship and exchanges with other fellow human beings and even other domesticated animals like cow, horse, birds etc.

Being human is, however, not about s lower level of existence. True that human beings are primarily guided by animal instincts, but they have the ability and readiness for thinking, reflecting, pondering and introspecting. They aspire for being more civilized and refined. This is where human beings are different from other animals. Human beings stand on a higher level of food chain as they are more leveraged to meet these existentialist needs due to a more developed mind. They can think, they can feel, they can express and they can communicate better and in more visible way than other animals do. Human beings take the opportunity to be more than a biological creation and uplift and refine themselves to a higher level of existence and make life more livable, beautiful, peaceful and happy.

In terms of existential needs human beings are like other animals, largely responsible for their own survival and security, selfish interests regarding food and nutrition and other material requirements. They have all attributes of animal, particularly animal instincts like aggression, possessiveness, fear, insecurity etc.However, human beings are social and emotional animal as well. They are intelligent and emotional and communicating creatures. Although all animals have their own way of communication, but human beings are more explicit in this regard, probably because we understand their language and gestures more. Even if we grant this,   despite likeness of human beings with other animals with regard to basic existentialist needs including procreation, food, security and shelter, they have much more developed mind and sensibilities than other animals.

Even aspiration for growth with unbound and unrealistic aspirations and without a genuine and good purpose it becomes a disease. Satisfaction and contentment are sure recipes for peace and happiness.  Edward Abbey puts it like this, “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” We need to be grounded in our dreams and desires and remain humane as well. There is no end to desire. You can be the moon and still be jealous of the stars. John Dryden rightly says, “Jealousy is the jaundice of the soul.” Instead getting inspired by somebody’s achievements and good luck is a more positive approach. This fills our hearts with love for ourselves as well for others. There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy.

Inside human beings there is a psychological and social animal, an emotional being. In their biological features they are responsible only for their basic needs of survival. However, as psychological and social animal human beings also aspire to refine their sensibilities, emotions and actions so as to rise above the “animal instincts”.  Human beings, become humane in this process. Human beings do not just live their lives, but aim to make it better for all. They make efforts to bring out their goodness within and become humane from human beings. They make effort to be virtuous, ethical and moral and so to be just, fair and true. They care for all living and non-living beings as they consider them expression of the same source of existence, call it god or nature.

Human beings are noblest of all animals in their best and meanest of all animals in their worst. They have both good and evil inside them.  If they harness their goodness they become humane in the process.  At a higher plane being human is to be at the centre of our own universe, to experience life in all its colours and all its potential. This is what we want to celebrate with Being Human - the awe of being alive and the thrill of discovering what it means to be us, the greatest wonder in the world. Human beings have both good and evil inside them. When “human beings” are able to bring the “best virtues” inside them they “become humane”. That is how “being humane” is understood in general parlance.

Human beings have their aspirations and desire for material growth or success in career. Many of them are ready to give any price for growth including ignoring health and deviation from ethical behavior and virtues. Pursuit of growth is good if its purpose is excellence, but if it is winning for the sake of winning or satisfaction of ego, it will lead to loss of friends and well wishers; loss of self satisfaction and respect if it comes through unfair means; and finally disillusionment, frustration, anger and self hurt. Blind pursuit of self interest brings more stress than happiness and satisfaction, eventually leading to endless emptiness and pain. When our attitude towards life is acquisition and possessiveness and remaining ahead of others, we start living and dying in a comparative framework which leads to jealousy and envy. Trying to improve and successful is not bad, but madness for this is of no avail. Ultimately what counts is satisfaction and happiness. Socrates cautions thus: “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”

Human beings become humane by harnessing their good innate qualities like kindness, compassion, sympathy, empathy and love towards fellow human beings and other creatures. In the process some human beings rise to a level that they see meaning, aesthetics and beauty even in inanimate objects around them and express this. The exchange and communication of human beings at a very high level may go beyond selfish limits and immediate surroundings. They may have a vision to see far and beyond the surrounding and living creatures in it. 

Human beings have infinite potential. Human beings can be noble at their best and the meanest at their worst. They can love and care. They can hate and kill. They are very strong and positive. They can explore their potential with enthusiasm, courage and endurance and surmount all obstacles. On the other hand they can be pessimists and have negative instincts like excessive possessiveness, anger, arrogance, contempt, jealousy, envy, and a weak, insecure and negative mindset. Their hearts are broken even when they face smallest of obstacles. Thus human beings have infinite potential. Some fall and falter amid crisis and some rise up. Some continue to hope and love no matter what and some always remain in an aggressive mode with anger, jealously and contempt.

There is nothing objectionable if human beings try to maximize their self interest. In a way protecting self interest is a moral obligation of every creature to nature, e.g., sustaining and securing the precious life. However, blind pursuit of self interest leads to cut throat competition leading to use of unfair means to realize our material goals. It may lead to greed and contempt. If we fail in realization of our unbridled self interest, this leads to stress, frustration, anger and contempt. And anger erodes us. It robs our wisdom and peace.  Raze blinds us. When revenge becomes the purpose of life, we become inhuman. We also lose peace. That is why Ralph Waldo Emerson says that for every minute we remain angry, we give up sixty seconds of peace of mind. Eventually blind pursuit of self interest not only hurts other’s interests, but also becomes an obstacle in being humane.

Once people are clear about the purpose and meaning of life, their journey to become humane begins. The first purpose is to be human and not a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu. The importance of this idea becomes clear in a quote of Santosh Kalwar: “My first world is humanity. My second world is humanism. And, I live in the third world being merely a human.” Humanity begins with empathy. Empathy is the ability to step outside of your own bubble and into the bubbles of other people. Empathy is the ability that allows us to be useful creatures on this planet; without empathy, we are a waste of oxygen in this world. Without empathy, we are lower than animals. Empathy is the ability that allows us the perception of things around us, outside of ourselves; so a person without empathy is a limited human being, someone who will only live half of a life.”

Being humane is journey towards self actualization and perfection. If human beings think, reflect and introspect they would be more aware about human weaknesses and then their journey to be humane begins. Al-Ghazzal  rightly points out, “Declare your jihad on thirteen enemies you cannot see -egoism, arrogance, conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, intolerance, anger, lying, cheating, gossiping and slandering. If you can master and destroy them, then you will be read to fight the enemy you can see.”

Being humane is like moving from power to love and it involves immense suffering. Being humane is possible only if we are filled with emotions and sensitivity. Emotional and sensitive people are often described as weak and outdated, but the fact is that emotions give life to life.Usually people who do not have courage and conviction do not hear the voice of their conscience and emotions; they are afraid of truth and suffering for it.  Emotions are an integral part of Being Humane. The strong characters are not afraid of their conscience, feelings and emotions. They choose to be humane even if it requires penance, suffering and sacrifice.Being humane is being the reason someone smiles. It means being the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.   It's enough to indulge and to be selfish but true happiness is really when you start giving back. For being humane it requires that we rise, above the clouds of ignorance, narrowness, and selfishness.

Life is indeed a long journey between human being and being humane. We cannot just afford to be primitive, selfish and just happy by meeting our existentialist needs. We need to love and getting loved. We need to feel the warmth of relationship and reciprocate it. We need to have a sense of contribution and giving back. We also want to excel and self actualize by being ethical and virtuous. We want to harness all goodness that god bestowed on us. True, life is a dilemma in so far as the exercising the option of remaining just a human being or allowing ourselves to become humane. There is choice and there are compulsions. The journey of life goes on with this dilemma. That is the complexity of life and that is its beauty. There is no better companion than wisdom and love in the journey of life.

Essay#2 Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society

The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.

James Baldwin

Individuals are generally driven by animal spirit and self-interest. They are also driven by a longing for freedom. Individuals try to realize their freedom goals by any means without paying much heed to consequences of their actions on society. Society on the other hand tries to set norms and conventions for saving the communities from disorder and anarchy. Society tends to develop conventions that guide and bind individuals in their day-to-day life to behave in a particular way. Such conventions, however, curtail freedom and free will. There is a perpetual conflict between individual interest and social interest and apparently it seems that what is best for individual is not the best for society.

Freedom is cherished by individuals as the most desirable goal, but state feels that freedom without reasonable restrictions leads to disorder and anarchy. In economic wisdom, saving and thrift is good for individuals, but at societal level if there is too much thrust on saving, it has an adverse effect on aggregate demand, which may lead to recession. In the theory of public finance, a difference is made between private finance and public finance Private finance aims at maximizing private benefits whereas public finance aims at maximizing social advantage. These examples show that what is best for individuals, may not always be the best for society.

With the advent of modernity and democracy and welfare state, a process of reconciliation between individual freedom and dignity and social obligation started. This reconciliation was made possible by adopting constitutional means and rule of law on one hand and civil right movements and civil societies’ intervention on the other hand. Some rights of the individuals were defined as non-negotiable fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and equality of opportunity. On the other hand, theory of social contract advocated giving up some individual rights for the benefit of social order.

Society is an agglomeration of individuals. The individuals, their values, their beliefs, their preferences and priorities, their actions, their culture, their mores and manners, etc. express the collective aspirations and collective will of a society. A society cannot be conceived without individuals. But the “collective” notion of society has come increasingly under pressure and in conflict with individual aspirations of freedom and personal well- being. The deviation between collective well-being and individual freedom became more prominent with evolution of individualism, capitalism and philosophies like existentialism and new concepts of justice, equality and welfare. There have been occasions, and more often than not, that individuals do not share the societal values and goals. They pursue their own self-interest rather than making sacrifices for the common good. Apparently, it seems agreeable that best for an individual may not be best for society.There are contexts in which collective action and well- being is important than individual thoughts and preferences.

Coming together should be considered something positive for people and communities. When thoughts come together, that can be more positive than an individual thought. Societies can do miracles together and if individuals and groups are divided, it saps the strength of a society for progress and change. Team India, for example is an oft used word to express the power of collective action. Collective actions make movements like “swadesi” or “Quit India Movement” during the freedom struggle, and “ChhotaParivar, SukhiParivaar” and “BetiBachao, BetiPadhao” in Independent India.

But the relationship is not so straight and simple. The society has an imprint on individuals and individuals have their bearing on society. The relationship, therefore, is both exclusive and mutual.In modern times, the dreams and aspirations of people may be believed to be articulated and expressed through democracy, but people even in democracy are not equally free and equipped to express and enjoy their freedoms as individuals. It is in fact, not the question of system, be it capitalism or socialism- but how responsive and responsible a system is towards aspirations of individuals for freedom, equality and justice that make a system good or bad. Capitalism is based on the principle of “laissez faire” and therefore, it is assumed that there is freedom of enterprise and choice, but these choices are limited by various forms of inequality. Socialism, on the other hand, is a collective or totalitarian system that does not permit creation of “billionaires” but aims at giving basic minimum needs to all the members of society through a system of government interventions, contrary to laissez faire. Thus, there are many who believe that in capitalism man exploits man while the reverse happens in socialism. No system is very conducive for freedom and dignity unless it decides to be so and remains committed to these ideals.

The above discussion leads us to some very pertinent questions. Are individuals’ interest and social interest mutually exclusively, contradictory and conflicting? Are individuals a product of a society or they influence and produce the society we have. Are individual and her/his aspirations are drawn from society or it is they who design it? These questions are not easy, nor are their answers! But there is a wide consensus among thinkers that society and individuals are bound by deep relations; individuals have their umbilical cord connected with society and society is made and unmade by its people- the values, shame and glory brought by individuals become that of society as a whole.

Individuals and societies are both- simultaneously mutually exclusive and inclusive. They are mutually exclusive with respect to freedom and creativity. Bruce Lee explains this idea succinctly thus: “Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system. They are mutually inclusive in terms of social obligation, collective responsibility and realization of shared dreams. Individuals, therefore, should be free to pursue their free will and self-interest but they should also not forget their social responsibilities and commitments. The society and state often pursue contradictory goals. What is conceived as individual’s natural or fundamental right, may be problematic for state. The former US President Thomas Jefferson recognized this conflict and said: “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”

It does not mean that individual acts are always guided by self-interest which is at loggerheads with social interest. People also stand up against social malaises and raise their voices of protests, lead movements for justice, change and progress which is in social interest in medium and long terms. But these people initially seem to be working against existing societal beliefs and interest. Notwithstanding their honest intentions, they are seen as villains in the beginning. These law breakers are eventually remembered as Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, BhimRaoAmbedkar, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, etc., because they rose against existing social norms for making the society better than they inherited.

All Individual voices for freedom, equality and justice, whether they are in consonance with society or not, are worth pursuing. People often break laws and social conventions to express their freedom or to ask for justice. About breaking the laws and conventions Martin Luther King Jr. said, “ I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.”

A society that nurtures individual freedom and creativity and creates good environment for individuals to realize their potential leads to wealth creation and empowerment of the poor, the weak and deprived. The most important institution which gives or robs freedom, equality, justice and dignity is society. The social values determine the state of human rights. State is making of society and a state is bound to act in accordance with social aspirations. A sensitive and responsible state is an expression of social values. Such a state empowers its people. The former Prime Minister of India AtalBihari Vajpayee rightly pointed out: “Empowering the individual means empowering the nation. And empowerment is best served through rapid economic growth with rapid social change.” All this is better possible through good governance and participatory democracy. The state may use various means like positive discrimination, subsidies, free education and health services, etc., to unleash the potential of vast majority and even minorities in the best interest of those individuals and natpositiveions.

Individuals can have initiative and drive for their personal growth and achievement, but they can also act as an agent of change, progress, equality and justice. An individual who is enhancing his capacity and bettering his performance is an asset for the country. A citizen who is paying taxes and complying with the rules and laws of the country is a good citizen. The capacity of an individual as positive agent of personal and social growth is immense. Producers are profit maximizers at individual levels, but they also need to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. Individual nations need to create wealth, but for the global society they need to fulfill their sustainable development commitments. Individual attitude and mindset are very important for change and progress. Malaises like corruption, slavery, civil wars, exploitation of the weaker sections can be eradicated if individuals change their attitude.

Individuals can act as agents of change and progress by being truthful, honest and courageous. This is very nicely brought out by Jack Canfie: “One individual can begin a movement that turns the tide of history. Martin Luther King in the civil rights movement, Mohandas Gandhi in India, Nelson Mandela in South Africa are examples of people standing up with courage and non-violence to bring about needed changes.” It is important what the men in a society think and do. A society becomes more livable and beautiful by the efforts of right intended and inspired men and women. Harry S Truman rightly pointed out: “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” Men thus work not only in their self interest, but also for social change and progress.

It is not possible to segregate individual from society and society from individual. They have a mutually reinforcing and complementary relationship- both regressive and positive. Crony capitalism is an example of regressive relationship between society, state and individual. Individual benevolence and an aware and law-abiding citizenry full of social commitment reflects a positive relationship. The relationship is two way - what individuals do matters to society and state and what society or state does matters to individuals. Good citizens make great nations and great nations care about freedom, equality and justice for people. Where states are responsive and sensitive and have constitutional remedies and complaint redressal system, individuals do not have discontent or grudge and they contribute in governance and efforts for growth and development. On the other hand, where citizens participate in politics, economy, and the society with democratic engagement and patriotism, the nation is bound to become strong and beautiful. To conclude we can remember Fredrick Douglas remarks: “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

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