What is an Ideal? What, according to you, shall be the highest Ideal of human life?

Civil Services Main Examination

General Studies (Paper - 4) : Model Question & Answers


HumanityQuestion: What is an Ideal? What, according to you, shall be the highest Ideal of human life? Explain your position with due justification.

Answer: An Ideal shall be understood as a norm, standard or value. It can be the highest objective or end of the life. To life, it imparts meaning, substance and direction. It can inspire individual, society and state to replace existing state of affairs with a better scheme that ought to be realized. Ideals can be conceptualized through a critical normative discourse. For instance, through deliberations, in the collective wisdom we have envisaged Constitutional ideals and have solemnly resolved to uphold them.

Thus, as Indians it is imperative for us to act in accordance with the Constitutional ideals. We  strive to constitute India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic where Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity would prevail. ‘Service to Humanity’ can be the highest ideal of human life, whereby the autonomy of individuals, their right to life and right to self-determination will be honoured. We ought to treat humanity as an end and not merely as a means and shall expand the same to natural resources as well. Such an ideal would assimilate and integrate Constitutional ideals, classical ideals - Truth (Satyam), Good (Shivam) and Beauty (Sundaram) as well as purusharthas - dharma, artha, kama and moksha in a profound way.

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