UPSC Mains 2025 GS4 Q6 — Quotation analysis
Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context? "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." – William James (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- What do each of these quotations convey to you
- Scope keywords
- greatest discoveryalter his lifealtering his attitudespresent context
- Implicit sub-parts
- Conceptual definition of 'Attitude' and its link to human behavior/outcomes.
- The mechanism of how internal cognitive change leads to external life transformation.
- Application of this quote to modern-day challenges like mental health, digital distractions, or climate change.
- The role of 'Attitude' in public service and administrative ethics.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing solely on 'Positive Thinking' without addressing the structural or external constraints of life.
- Failing to address the 'present context' by giving generic, timeless examples instead of current societal or administrative issues.
- Defining attitude in a layman's sense rather than using the psychological/ethical framework expected in GS Paper 4.
- Ignoring the 'discovery' aspect—failing to explain why this realization is a paradigm shift compared to biological or environmental determinism.
- Dimensions required
- Psychological (Cognitive Dissonance and Behavioral change)Sociological (Social influence and attitude formation)Administrative (Ethics in governance and empathy)Contemporary (Resilience in the face of 21st-century stressors)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 30 words defining the quote's core meaning. Use 80 words to provide two distinct 'present context' examples (one individual/professional and one societal/global). Conclude with 40 words on how this attitude-centric approach is vital for an ethical and effective civil servant.
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