UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT Paper II · Q72 of 77 Comprehension medium

Passage

Passage - 2 "Science by itself is not enough, there must be a force and discipline outside the sciences to coordinate them and point to a goal. It is not possible to run a course aright when the goal itself has not been rightly placed. What science needs is philosophy — the analysis of scientific method and the coordination of scientific purposes and results; without this, any science must be superficial. Government suffers, precisely like science, for lack of philosophy. Philosophy bears to science the same relationship which statesmanship bears to politics : movement guided by total knowledge and perspective, as against aimless and individual seeking. Just as the pursuit of knowledge becomes scholasticism when divorced from the actual needs of men and life, so the pursuit of politics becomes a destructive bedlam when divorced from science and philosophy."

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most rational, logical and practical message conveyed by the passage ?

  1. (a) Modern statesmen need to be well trained in scientific methods and philosophical thinking to enable them to have a better perspective of their roles, responsibilities and goals.
  2. (b) It is not desirable to have Governments managed by empirical statesmen unless well mixed with others who are grounded in learning and reflect wisdom. ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) As the statesmen/bureaucrats are the products of a society, it is desirable to have a system of education in a society that focuses on training its citizens in scientific method and philosophical thinking from a very early age.
  4. (d) It is desirable that all scientists need to be philosophers as well to make their work goal-oriented and thus purposeful and useful to the society.

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage argues that both science and government require an external guiding force (philosophy/statesmanship) to coordinate their efforts and set correct goals, preventing them from becoming superficial or destructive.

• It explicitly states that 'Government suffers, precisely like science, for lack of philosophy' and compares the relationship between philosophy and science to that of statesmanship and politics.

• The core message is that political action (politics/government) must be guided by total knowledge and perspective (philosophy/wisdom) to avoid becoming 'aimless and individual seeking' or 'destructive bedlam'.

• Option (b) correctly captures this by stating that governments managed solely by 'empirical statesmen' (those focused only on practical/political maneuvering without deeper wisdom) are undesirable unless mixed with those 'grounded in learning and reflect wisdom' (philosophy).

• This aligns with the passage's warning that politics divorced from science and philosophy leads to destruction, implying a need for a blend of practical governance and philosophical wisdom.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Modern statesmen need to be well trained in scientific methods and philosophical thinking…
The passage does not advocate for statesmen to be 'well trained in scientific methods' specifically, but rather emphasizes the need for philosophical perspective and wisdom to guide political action.
(c) As the statesmen/bureaucrats are the products of a society, it is desirable to have a…
The passage focuses on the immediate need for philosophical guidance in government and science, not on the long-term societal goal of training citizens in scientific methods from an early age.
(d) It is desirable that all scientists need to be philosophers as well to make their work…
The passage states that science needs philosophy for coordination and purpose, but it does not claim that 'all scientists need to be philosophers' themselves; rather, it suggests an external coordinating force is required.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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