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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Categorical Imperative | Kant's supreme moral principle: act only on universalisable maxims | PYQ 2021 (5m), 2023 (2m) |
| Deontology | Ethics based on duty/rules intrinsic to acts, not consequences | PYQ 2023 (10m) |
| Consequentialism | Ethics based on outcomes; rightness determined by consequences | PYQ 2023 (10m) |
| Utilitarianism | Consequentialist doctrine: maximise greatest happiness of greatest number (Bentham, Mill) | Key framework |
| Categorical vs Hypothetical Imperative | Categorical: unconditional duty; Hypothetical: if-then conditional ("if you want X, do Y") | Kant distinction |
| Goodwill (Guter Wille) | Kant: only thing good without qualification; acting from duty, not inclination | PYQ 2023 (2m) |
| Harm Principle | Mill: state power justified only to prevent harm to others (not for own good) | On Liberty 1859 |
| Golden Mean | Aristotle: virtue as mean between excess and deficiency | PYQ 2016 |
| Eudaimonia | Aristotle: flourishing; activity of soul in accordance with virtue over complete life | Virtue ethics goal |
| Phronesis | Aristotle: practical wisdom; capacity to discern right action in particular situations | Master virtue |
| Veil of Ignorance | Rawls: choose justice principles without knowing your social position | A Theory of Justice |
| Difference Principle | Rawls: inequalities justified only if they benefit the least advantaged | Welfare state ethics |
| Four Cardinal Virtues | Plato: Wisdom, Courage, Temperance, Justice | PYQ 2023 (2m) |
| Eightfold Path | Buddha: eight-fold discipline for liberation — right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration | PYQ 2021 (2m) |
| Upaya Kaushalya | Buddha: skillful means — adapting teaching to audience | PYQ 2023 (2m) |
| Ahimsa Paramo Dharma | "Non-violence is the supreme dharma" — Mahabharata; Gandhi's motto | PYQ 2023 |
| Karuna | Compassion — one of Buddha's Four Brahmaviharas (divine abodes) | Buddhist ethics |
| Supermind | Aurobindo: next stage of evolution — consciousness that directly knows truth | Aurobindo concept |
| Life Divine | Aurobindo's 1939 masterwork — reconciliation of matter and spirit; divine transformation of earthly life | PYQ 2023 (5m) |
| Surplus in Man | Tagore: human creative excess beyond biological need; seeks expression in art, spirituality | PYQ 2023 (5m) |
| Daridra Narayana | Vivekananda: God manifest in the poor; serving poor = serving God | Practical Vedanta |
| Prima Facie Duties | W.D. Ross: multiple binding duties that may conflict; strongest wins in situation | Advanced deontology |
| Ren | Confucius: benevolence; heartfelt concern for others; supreme virtue | Confucian ethics |
| Junzi | Confucius: exemplary person; moral ideal for ruler/administrator | Confucian ideal |
Sources: Plato, Republic; Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics; Kant, Groundwork (1785); Bentham, Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789); J.S. Mill, On Liberty (1859) and Utilitarianism (1863); John Rawls, A Theory of Justice (1971); W.D. Ross, The Right and the Good (1930); Confucius, Analects; Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine (1939–40); Rabindranath Tagore, The Religion of Man (1930); Swami Vivekananda, Complete Works; RPSC Mains PYQ 2013–2023; RPSC 2026 Official Syllabus.