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Quick Revision Table
| Thinker | Period | Key Concept | One-liner for Admin | PYQ Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plato | 427–347 BCE | Cardinal Virtues; Justice; Philosopher-King | Each person performs proper role | 2023 (2m) |
| Aristotle | 384–322 BCE | Golden Mean; Eudaimonia; Phronesis | Virtue through habit; practical wisdom | 2016 (10m) |
| Kant | 1724–1804 | Categorical Imperative; Goodwill; Deontology | Universal rule; humanity as end | 2021 (5m), 2023 (2m) |
| Bentham | 1748–1832 | Felicific Calculus; Greatest Happiness | Policy by aggregate welfare | Background |
| J.S. Mill | 1806–1873 | Harm Principle; Higher pleasures | Liberty limited only by harm to others | 2016 indirect |
| Rawls | 1921–2002 | Veil of Ignorance; Difference Principle | Inequalities benefit worst-off | Context |
| W.D. Ross | 1877–1971 | Prima Facie Duties | Multiple duties; conflict possible | Advanced |
| Confucius | 551–479 BCE | Ren; Li; Junzi | Moral governance; role obligations | Not yet asked |
| Buddha | 563–483 BCE | Eightfold Path; Karuna; Upaya Kaushalya | Compassionate; skillful communication | 2021 (2m), 2023 (2m) |
| Aurobindo | 1872–1950 | Supermind; Life Divine; Integral yoga | Evolution of consciousness; integral action | 2023 (5m) |
| Tagore | 1861–1941 | Surplus in man; Humanism; Critique of nationalism | Full human development; not instrumentalised | 2023 (5m) |
| Vivekananda | 1863–1902 | Daridra Narayana; Practical Vedanta | Service as worship; strength in duty | Not recently asked |