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Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude 2013: Paper Analysis and Solution Section A (Part 3 of 3) | IAS UPSC EXAM PORTAL - India's Largest Commu

Ethics,IntegrityandAptitude2013:PaperAnalysisandSolution
SectionA(Part3of3)
Ethics,Integr ityandAptitude2013:Paper AnalysisandSolutionSectionA(Par t3of3)

SectionA

In the last article (Part 2 of 3) we discussed the question number 3, 4 and 5 of the
Section A of Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude paper 2013. We observed that these
questions were subjective to a large extent, and expected the candidate to express
their ideas. the questions also asked the candidate to explain the ideas of the great
philosphers like Gandhi, Lincoln and Aristotle. T his article deals with the next three
questionsofthepaper.

DownloadEthicsPaper2013
Q uestion6G ivenbelow ar ethr eequotationsofgr eatmor althinker s/philosopher s.For each
ofthesequotations,br ingoutw hatitmeanstoyouinthepr esentcontext:
(a)Ther eisenoughonthisear thfor ever yone'sneedbutfor noone'sgr eed.
MahatmaG andhi(150w or ds)10mar ks
(b)Near lyallmencanw ithstandadver sity,butifyouw anttotestaman'schar acter,give
himpow er.Abr ahamLincoln.(150w or ds)10mar ks
(c)Icounthimbr aver w hoover comeshisdesir esthanhimw hoover comeshisenemies.
Ar istotle(150w or ds)10mar ks

Analysis
T he question is divided into three subparts, each of which gives a quote from great
men. T he candidate is expected to write down the meaning and significance of the
statement,INT HEPRESENTCONT EXT.
Note that the word limit is 150 words, so the interpretation has to be precise and to
thepoint.

Solution

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Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude 2013: Paper Analysis and Solution Section A (Part 3 of 3) | IAS UPSC EXAM PORTAL - India's Largest Commu

Solution
3(a)

Bythegivenstatement,MahatmaGandhitriedtoarguethatwecanleadahappyand
satisfactory life only by being content with what we have. Greed is the source of all
evil. It is the individual's greed that makes two parties confront each other in a cut
throatcompetition.
In the present context, this idea is very important as there is an urgent need in the
society for being content with what one earns through legitimate means. Greed know
no limits. T hat is why, we see greedy people running after their material urges
endlessly, and compromising their core values. T his is a sign of moral degradation of
theindividualaswellasthesociety.
F ollowingGandhi'sidea,wecanconstructaharmonioussociety,markedbypeace
andcooperation.Whereas,asociety,characterizedbygreedypeoplecanonlyface
conflictsandwars.
Being content with one's earning is the foundation of cultivating a moralethical
character.Intoday'ssocietyitisanecessitytocultivatethisvalueamongthepeople,
and more particularly among the public servants, as they are responsible for bringing
goodtothesociety.
3(b)

Lincoln, in this statement, argues that the real test of a man's character is taken by
giving him power and authority. True, that every person faces the adverse situations
passively, given the constraints of the options available. However, only a man of
noble character is able to withstand the urges of greed and tyranny, even when he
hasenormousamountofpower.
In the present society, this argument holds great lessons for those who are
responsible to the people. T he character of a person cannot be judged by evaluating
hismerit.But,itistestedtrulyonlywhenheisplacedinapositionofpower.
Power and authority provides a person with various options to further his self
interests. In such circumstances, only a man of noble character can withhold the
urges of material pleasure. T he present society has been suffering at the hands of
such people, who come to power somehow, but are unable to resist the compelling
forcesofwealthandauthority.
3(c)

Aristotle, through this statement, argues that it is easy to confront and overcome
one's enemy. But it is much difficult to confront the desires. Confronting an enemy is
a compulsion for an individual. However, to confront one's desires is a much difficult
task, as it involves resisting the urges of the materialistic pleasures. Aristotle rightly
argues that the one who overcomes his desires is much braver than the one who
overcomeshisenemies.
Only a person of high morality and character can resist the temptations of crude
desires. T he present society faces an acute form of this problem. Even highly
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Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude 2013: Paper Analysis and Solution Section A (Part 3 of 3) | IAS UPSC EXAM PORTAL - India's Largest Commu

qualified people fail to resist the temptations of material gains and pleasures. T his
becomesasignoftheirmoralweakness.
T hus,whatisrequiredistotrainthepeopletoresisttheirmaterialurges.T hebiggest
challengeforanindividualistoconfronthisowndesiresandinterests,thantoface
hisadversary.

Q uestion7Thegoodofanindividualiscontainedinthegoodofall.w hatdoyouunder stand

bythisstatement?How canthispr inciplebeimplementedinpubliclife?(150w or ds)10mar ks

Analysis
T his question has a subjective element. It requires the candidate to interpret the
given statement in an appropriate way. T he second part of the question asks the
candidate to write about the way this mentioned principle can be implemented in
publiclife.

Solution
AnIndividualisanintegralpartofthehumansociety.Hisinterestisdeeplylinkedwith
that of society. T hus, when the society blooms the individual benefits, while when the
society decays, the individual suffers. Since the human society is a cohesive
institution,thatissustainedbytheeffortsofitsconstituentparts,thefateofeachand
everyindividualisindispensablylinkedwiththatofthesociety.
Many philosophers have argued that the origin of the human society itself lies in the
need to cooperate between different individuals. T hus, society is seen as a social
mechanism to fulfill the needs of the various constituent parts. T hus, the good of
individual cannot be seen as separate from that of the society. Every society has a
foundationalprincipleofallforoneandoneforall.
Such a principle can be implemented in the public life, only through education and
discipline. It is only when the individuals learn to cooperate and respect the rights of
the others, that social progress can be made.T hus, education, as a means to bring a
transformationinhowthepeoplethink,canbeaneffectivemeans.
F urther,publiccultureshallbeimbibedwiththevaluesofcooperationandfraternity.
Onlywhenthepeoplehaveabenevolentattitudetowardstheirbrethren,cantheysee
themselvesasanintegralpartofthesociety.

Q uestion8Itisoftensaidthat'politics'and'ethicsdonotgotogether.W hatisyour opinionin

thisr egar d?Justifyyour answ er w ithillustr ation.(150w or ds)10mar ks

Analysis
T his is a contemporary and often debated question. Whether politics should be based
on 'real polik' or 'idealism'. Since the word limit is, again, 150 words, you have to
write tothepoint answer. T hus do not spend your time in preparing the background
andtrivialdetails.Rather,cometothepointdirectly.

Solution

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Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude 2013: Paper Analysis and Solution Section A (Part 3 of 3) | IAS UPSC EXAM PORTAL - India's Largest Commu

Solution
T hepurposeofpoliticsaswellasethics,overlap,thatis,tobringgoodtothesociety.
T he main debates about this issue pertains to the choice of means that should be
taken to pursue the ends. In this regard, it should be noted that politics, without
ethics, is purposeless. Politics, without an ethical base, can become a means to
perpetuateoppressionandexploitation.
It is only when politics is guided through an ethical framework that the good of the
society is produced. Otherwise, politics becomes, what people call, a 'dirty game of
power'.
Gandhi also acknowledged this deep connection between politics and ethics, and
imbibed a deep spiritual spirit in his conception of politics. Whereas, the politics of
Hitler, which was devoid of any ethical grounds, became an exemplary of oppression
andinhumanconduct.
T hus,itshallbeconcludedthatethicsandpoliticsareintertwinedatthefoundations.
Withoutthecompanionshipofone,theotherlosesshapeandforce.

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