In the light of the argument in the above passage, which one of the following statements is the most convincing explanation ?
- (a) The Right of personal property is a Natural Right duly supported by statutes and scriptures.
- (b) Personal property is a theft and an instrument of exploitation. The Right of personal property is therefore violative of economic justice.
- (c) The Right of personal property is violative of distributive justice and negates the principle of cooperation.
- (d) The comprehensive idea of economic justice demands that the Right of each person to acquisition of property has to be reconciled with that of others. ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The passage explicitly states that no right is absolute, exclusive, or inviolable, establishing that rights must be viewed within a broader social context.
• It argues that the Right of personal property must unite the principles of liberty, equality, and cooperation, implying a need for balance rather than absolute individual claim.
• Option (d) correctly interprets this by stating that the right to acquire property must be reconciled with the rights of others, which aligns with the demand for cooperation and equality.
• This reconciliation reflects the 'comprehensive idea of economic justice' mentioned in the option, as it balances individual liberty with collective welfare.
• Therefore, the key option follows because it is the only statement that affirms the legitimacy of property rights while subjecting them to the necessary constraints of social justice and cooperation.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) The Right of personal property is a Natural Right duly supported by statutes and…
- The passage argues that rights are not absolute or inviolable, contradicting the claim that property is an absolute Natural Right supported by scriptures.
- (b) Personal property is a theft and an instrument of exploitation. The Right of personal…
- The passage does not condemn personal property as theft or exploitation but rather seeks to balance it with equality and cooperation.
- (c) The Right of personal property is violative of distributive justice and negates the…
- The passage suggests that property rights should unite liberty with cooperation, not that they inherently negate the principle of cooperation.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.