Moral Thinkers & Philosophers Questions for UPSC Mains

The topic, ‘Moral Thinkers and Philosophers’ has got a lot of questions from it in the UPSC Mains GS 4 exam. In the IAS Exam, the topic covers the contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world. This article will provide you with a set of questions that have been asked on this topic between 2013 and 2020.

Candidates can get other subject-wise/topic-wise GS 4 questions from the links provided in the table below:

GS 4 Moral Thinkers & Philosophers Questions (Year-Wise)

We have segregated the moral thinkers and philosophers questions from the GS 4 papers of 2013-2020. There are two sets:

• Theoretical Questions
• Case Studies.

Candidates can find both the sets under each year one after another. ‘Thinkers and philosophers’ being a significant topic in GS 4 has both theoretical and case studies-bound questions revolving around this topic. You can get a complete trend analysis of general studies 4 in our GS Paper 4 Strategy, Structure and Syllabus page.

Questions on Moral Thinkers and Philosophers (Year-Wise)

1. What does the quotation 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
2. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
3. “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

1. What does the quotation mean to you? “An unexamined life is not worth living”. – Socrates
2. What does the quotation mean to you? A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.” – M.K. Gandhi
3. What does the quotation mean to you?“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 an order in the nation. When there is an order in the nation, there is peace in the world” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

1. “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they do not have the first, the other two will kill you.” – Warren Buffett. What do you understand by this statement in the present-day scenario? Explain. (150 words)
2. What does each of the following quotations mean to you in the present context?
   1. “The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject anything, 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 everything, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgement of the preponderance between them is continually demanded. ”Abraham Lincoln ( 150 words)
   2. “Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding. “ _ Mahatma Gandhi
   3. “Falsehood takes the place of truth when it results in the unblemished common good.” _ Tirukkural

1. “Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. It 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.
2. “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 father, mother, and teacher.” – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Analyse.

1. Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these bring out what it means to you in the present context.
   1. “The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of strong.”
   2. “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”

1. 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:
   1. “There is enough on this earth for everyone’s need but for no one’s greed.” Mahatma Gandhi.
   2. “Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”—Abraham Lincoln.
   3. “I count him as a braver who overcomes his desires than he who overcomes his enemies.”—Aristotle.

Candidates can get UPSC Previous Year Question Papers from the linked article.

Moral Thinkers & Philosophers Questions for UPSC Mains GS 4:- Download PDF Here

To get the topic-wise GS 4 questions for UPSC Mains in one place, check the linked article.

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