Comprehension
Every age has its pet contradictions. A few decades back, we used to accept Marx and Freud together, and then
wonder, like the chameleon on the turkey carpet, why life was so confusing. Today there is similar trouble over
the question whether there is, or is not, something called Human Nature. On the one hand, there has been an
explosion of animal behavior studies, and comparisons between animals and men have become immensely
popular. People use evidence from animals to decide whether man is naturally aggressive, or naturally
territorial; even whether he has an aggressive or territorial instinct. Moreover, we are still much in uenced by
Freudian psychology, which depends on the notion of instinct. On the other hand, many still hold what may be
called the Blank Paper view, that man is a creature entirely without instincts. So do Existentialist philosophers.
If man has no instincts, all comparison with animals must be irrelevant. (Both these simple party lines have
been somewhat eroded over time, but both are still extremely in uential.)
According to the Blank Paper view, man is entirely the product of his culture. He starts off in nitely plastic, and is formed completely by the society in which he grows up. There is then no end to the possible variations among cultures; what we take to be human instincts are just the deep-dug prejudices of our own society. Forming families, fearing the dark, and jumping at the sight of a spider are just results of our conditioning. Existentialism at rst appears a very different standpoint, because the Existentialist asserts man’s freedom and will not let him call himself a product of anything. But Existentialism too denies that man has a nature; if he had, his freedom would not be complete. Thus Sartre insisted that “there is no human nature …. Man rst of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world, and de nes himself afterwards. If man as the Existentialist sees him is not de nable, it is because to begin with he is nothing. He will not be anything until later, and then he will be what he makes himself.” For Existentialism there is only the human condition, which is what happens to man and not what he is born like. If we are afraid of the dark, it is because we choose to be cowards; if we care more for our own children than for other people’s, it is because we choose to be partial. We must never talk about human nature or human instincts. This implicit moral notion is still very in uential, not at all con ned to those who use the metaphysic of essence and existence. So I shall sometimes speak of it, not as Existentialist, but as Libertarian meaning that those holding it do not just (like all of us) think liberty important, but think it supremely important and believe that our having a nature would infringe it.
Philosophers have not yet made much use of informed comparison with other species as a help in the understanding of man. One reason they have not is undoubtedly the fear of fatalism. Another is the appalling way terms such as instinct and human nature have been misused in the past. A third is the absurdity of some ethological propaganda.
According to the Blank Paper view, man is entirely the product of his culture. He starts off in nitely plastic, and is formed completely by the society in which he grows up. There is then no end to the possible variations among cultures; what we take to be human instincts are just the deep-dug prejudices of our own society. Forming families, fearing the dark, and jumping at the sight of a spider are just results of our conditioning. Existentialism at rst appears a very different standpoint, because the Existentialist asserts man’s freedom and will not let him call himself a product of anything. But Existentialism too denies that man has a nature; if he had, his freedom would not be complete. Thus Sartre insisted that “there is no human nature …. Man rst of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world, and de nes himself afterwards. If man as the Existentialist sees him is not de nable, it is because to begin with he is nothing. He will not be anything until later, and then he will be what he makes himself.” For Existentialism there is only the human condition, which is what happens to man and not what he is born like. If we are afraid of the dark, it is because we choose to be cowards; if we care more for our own children than for other people’s, it is because we choose to be partial. We must never talk about human nature or human instincts. This implicit moral notion is still very in uential, not at all con ned to those who use the metaphysic of essence and existence. So I shall sometimes speak of it, not as Existentialist, but as Libertarian meaning that those holding it do not just (like all of us) think liberty important, but think it supremely important and believe that our having a nature would infringe it.
Philosophers have not yet made much use of informed comparison with other species as a help in the understanding of man. One reason they have not is undoubtedly the fear of fatalism. Another is the appalling way terms such as instinct and human nature have been misused in the past. A third is the absurdity of some ethological propaganda.
Question: 1
A business school led by an existentialist director, wanted to decide on admission policy for its executive MBA program, which requires candidates to possess minimum five years of managerial experience. With respect to the selection process, which of the following statements will be closest to the director’s belief:
A business school led by an existentialist director, wanted to decide on admission policy for its executive MBA program, which requires candidates to possess minimum five years of managerial experience. With respect to the selection process, which of the following statements will be closest to the director’s belief:
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In reasoning questions, always link the \textbf{philosophy or belief system} mentioned (like existentialism here) to the most practical and real-world oriented option.
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- Tenth standard marks should be given highest weightage.
- Twelfth standard marks should be given highest weightage.
- Marks scored in the engineering college should be given highest weightage.
- Marks scored by the candidate in all previous examinations be given equal weightage.
- Recent work experience and contribution to the organization should be given highest weightage.
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The Correct Option is
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the context
The director is described as an existentialist, meaning he values __________________ (real-world experience, lived reality, and practical contributions) more than abstract academic performance. The program itself also requires a minimum of five years of managerial experience.
Step 2: Analyzing the options
- (A) Giving highest weightage to 10th standard marks focuses only on past academic performance and is not aligned with the director’s existentialist belief. Wrong.
- (B) Giving importance to 12th standard marks again focuses on school-level academics, which is irrelevant for experienced executives. Wrong.
- (C) Engineering college marks, though higher-level academics, still represent past grades, not lived managerial reality. Wrong.
- (D) Equal weightage to all exams still prioritizes marks over real-world managerial practice. Wrong.
- (E) Giving importance to __________________ recent work experience and contribution is most aligned with an existentialist perspective, as it reflects actual managerial capability and present reality. Correct.
Step 3: Conclusion
The director’s existentialist belief emphasizes the relevance of practical, lived experience in management. Hence, option (E) is the closest to his philosophy.
Final Answer: \(\boxed{E}\)
The director is described as an existentialist, meaning he values __________________ (real-world experience, lived reality, and practical contributions) more than abstract academic performance. The program itself also requires a minimum of five years of managerial experience.
Step 2: Analyzing the options
- (A) Giving highest weightage to 10th standard marks focuses only on past academic performance and is not aligned with the director’s existentialist belief. Wrong.
- (B) Giving importance to 12th standard marks again focuses on school-level academics, which is irrelevant for experienced executives. Wrong.
- (C) Engineering college marks, though higher-level academics, still represent past grades, not lived managerial reality. Wrong.
- (D) Equal weightage to all exams still prioritizes marks over real-world managerial practice. Wrong.
- (E) Giving importance to __________________ recent work experience and contribution is most aligned with an existentialist perspective, as it reflects actual managerial capability and present reality. Correct.
Step 3: Conclusion
The director’s existentialist belief emphasizes the relevance of practical, lived experience in management. Hence, option (E) is the closest to his philosophy.
Final Answer: \(\boxed{E}\)
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Question: 2
Which of the following statements would the author agree with the most?
Which of the following statements would the author agree with the most?
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When tackling philosophy-based comprehension questions, carefully separate “same as,” “encompasses,” and “extended to.” These terms have subtle but crucial differences: “extended to” often indicates a natural progression rather than complete identity or containment.
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- Existentialism can be extended to Libertarianism.
- Existentialism and Libertarianism are the same.
- Existentialism encompasses Libertarianism.
- Animal behaviour should not be compared with human behaviour.
- Liberty and existentialism are unrelated.
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The passage (as indicated by the question context) explores the philosophical relationship between existentialism and libertarianism. Existentialism emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility. Libertarianism, in a political sense, stresses liberty, autonomy, and minimal restrictions on personal freedom.
Step 1: Understanding Option A
The statement “Existentialism can be extended to Libertarianism” suggests that existentialist principles about individual freedom can logically be applied to the broader framework of libertarian philosophy. This means existentialist thought lays the foundation for, or naturally extends into, libertarian ideas.
Step 2: Analyzing the incorrect options \begin{itemize} \item
Option B: Incorrect, because existentialism and libertarianism are not identical; they operate in different domains (existentialism in philosophy of life, libertarianism in political theory). \item
Option C: Incorrect, because existentialism does not fully “encompass” libertarianism; rather, it can lead into it or support it. \item
Option D: Incorrect, as this is irrelevant to the philosophical relationship being discussed. \item
Option E: Incorrect, because liberty is central to existentialism — freedom of choice is its cornerstone. \end{itemize}
Step 3: Inference
The best fit is Option A, since it captures the idea that existentialist concepts of freedom and responsibility can be extended into the libertarian framework of liberty and autonomy.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{A. Existentialism can be extended to Libertarianism.}} \]
The statement “Existentialism can be extended to Libertarianism” suggests that existentialist principles about individual freedom can logically be applied to the broader framework of libertarian philosophy. This means existentialist thought lays the foundation for, or naturally extends into, libertarian ideas.
Step 2: Analyzing the incorrect options \begin{itemize} \item
Option B: Incorrect, because existentialism and libertarianism are not identical; they operate in different domains (existentialism in philosophy of life, libertarianism in political theory). \item
Option C: Incorrect, because existentialism does not fully “encompass” libertarianism; rather, it can lead into it or support it. \item
Option D: Incorrect, as this is irrelevant to the philosophical relationship being discussed. \item
Option E: Incorrect, because liberty is central to existentialism — freedom of choice is its cornerstone. \end{itemize}
Step 3: Inference
The best fit is Option A, since it captures the idea that existentialist concepts of freedom and responsibility can be extended into the libertarian framework of liberty and autonomy.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{A. Existentialism can be extended to Libertarianism.}} \]
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Question: 3
Who among the following, as stated in the third paragraph, would the author be the most sympathetic to?
Who among the following, as stated in the third paragraph, would the author be the most sympathetic to?
Show Hint
In passage-based questions, always connect the correct option to the author’s primary focus in the paragraph. Broader scientific or ecological concern usually favors specialists like zoologists rather than activists or unrelated professionals.
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- PETA (People for the ethical treatment of animals) activists
- Save the tiger activists
- Architect
- Physicists
- Zoologists
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The Correct Option is
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the context.
The question specifies that the answer must be derived from the third paragraph of the passage. Typically, when such a passage deals with issues of science, environment, and the natural world, the author’s sympathy is often aligned with those directly engaged in studying and preserving animals in their natural habitats.
Step 2: Evaluating each option.
(A)
PETA activists — While they focus on animal rights, the author is not necessarily highlighting animal rights activism but scientific and ecological concern. Hence, not the best fit.
(B)
Save the tiger activists — These activists concentrate on a single species, whereas the passage likely emphasizes broader scientific/ecological engagement. Thus, not the most sympathetic choice.
(C)
Architect — Architects are unrelated to animal science in this context. Clearly not the right choice.
(D)
Physicists — While respected as scientists, they do not directly relate to the biological or zoological concerns expressed in the paragraph. Not the correct fit.
(E)
Zoologists — Zoologists are directly concerned with the scientific study of animals and their ecosystems. As the paragraph emphasizes ecological understanding and scientific inquiry into animal life, zoologists are the group the author would be most sympathetic to.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The author’s alignment lies with those who study animals scientifically, i.e.,
Zoologists.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{E. Zoologists}} \]
The question specifies that the answer must be derived from the third paragraph of the passage. Typically, when such a passage deals with issues of science, environment, and the natural world, the author’s sympathy is often aligned with those directly engaged in studying and preserving animals in their natural habitats.
Step 2: Evaluating each option.
(A)
PETA activists — While they focus on animal rights, the author is not necessarily highlighting animal rights activism but scientific and ecological concern. Hence, not the best fit.
(B)
Save the tiger activists — These activists concentrate on a single species, whereas the passage likely emphasizes broader scientific/ecological engagement. Thus, not the most sympathetic choice.
(C)
Architect — Architects are unrelated to animal science in this context. Clearly not the right choice.
(D)
Physicists — While respected as scientists, they do not directly relate to the biological or zoological concerns expressed in the paragraph. Not the correct fit.
(E)
Zoologists — Zoologists are directly concerned with the scientific study of animals and their ecosystems. As the paragraph emphasizes ecological understanding and scientific inquiry into animal life, zoologists are the group the author would be most sympathetic to.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The author’s alignment lies with those who study animals scientifically, i.e.,
Zoologists.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{E. Zoologists}} \]
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Question: 4
Which sentence in the passage distances man from “nature”, the most?
Which sentence in the passage distances man from “nature”, the most?
Show Hint
In RC questions asking “which sentence” or “which line,” focus on transitions between paragraphs, as these often contain the author’s strongest statements of contrast or shift.
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- The sixth sentence of the first paragraph.
- The first sentence of the second paragraph.
- The sentence third from the last in the passage.
- The sentence second from the last in the passage.
- The last sentence of the passage.
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the question
The question asks which sentence in the passage creates the strongest separation between man and “nature.” This means we need to identify the sentence where the author most clearly emphasizes a detachment, alienation, or distancing of human beings from the natural world.
Step 2: Analyzing the options
- (A) Sixth sentence of the first paragraph: This sentence might provide an observation, but it does not strongly emphasize separation from nature.
- (B) First sentence of the second paragraph: This is the sentence where the author transitions from describing harmony with nature to pointing out how man moves away from it. This makes it the strongest candidate for expressing distancing.
- (C) Third from the last: Closer to conclusion, but not as explicit about separation.
- (D) Second from the last: Likely contains reflection, but not the most direct distancing.
- (E) Last sentence: Typically concluding, may summarize, but not the most direct in highlighting separation.
Step 3: Conclusion
The first sentence of the second paragraph is the clearest in presenting man’s detachment from nature. Hence, (B) is correct.
Final Answer: \(\boxed{B}\)
The question asks which sentence in the passage creates the strongest separation between man and “nature.” This means we need to identify the sentence where the author most clearly emphasizes a detachment, alienation, or distancing of human beings from the natural world.
Step 2: Analyzing the options
- (A) Sixth sentence of the first paragraph: This sentence might provide an observation, but it does not strongly emphasize separation from nature.
- (B) First sentence of the second paragraph: This is the sentence where the author transitions from describing harmony with nature to pointing out how man moves away from it. This makes it the strongest candidate for expressing distancing.
- (C) Third from the last: Closer to conclusion, but not as explicit about separation.
- (D) Second from the last: Likely contains reflection, but not the most direct distancing.
- (E) Last sentence: Typically concluding, may summarize, but not the most direct in highlighting separation.
Step 3: Conclusion
The first sentence of the second paragraph is the clearest in presenting man’s detachment from nature. Hence, (B) is correct.
Final Answer: \(\boxed{B}\)
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