UPSC Mains 2020 GS1 Q19 — Social Philosophy
Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree ? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Do you agree ?
- Scope keywords
- Customs and traditionssuppress reasonobscurantism
- Implicit sub-parts
- How do customs and traditions facilitate obscurantism by discouraging critical inquiry?
- Can customs and traditions coexist with reason (the counter-argument)?
- What is the role of social reformers and the Constitution in transitioning from obscurantism to scientific temper?
- Does modernization necessarily eliminate obscurantism, or does it take new forms?
- Common pitfalls
- Writing a one-sided polemic against religion instead of a balanced sociological analysis.
- Failing to define 'obscurantism' clearly (the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or full details of something from becoming known).
- Missing the nuance that some traditions are based on ancient logic that may have lost its context, rather than being inherently anti-reason.
- Neglecting to mention Article 51A(h) regarding the 'scientific temper' as a constitutional counter-balance.
- Dimensions required
- Sociological lensHistorical lens (Bhakti/Sufi movements, Renaissance)Constitutional lensEthical lensContemporary lens (Khap Panchayats, Superstition vs. Science)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 50 words defining the link between tradition and obscurantism. Devote 100 words to how customs suppress reason using specific examples like Sati, untouchability, or modern superstitions. Reserve 75 words for the counter-view where tradition provides social cohesion or ethics, and conclude with 25 words on the 'middle path' of scientific temper.
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