UPSC 2019 Essay-Individual/Society

“Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society”.

I have already analyzed 2019 Essay paper. Click here for same. This post mentions an ideal structure for Essay Topic mentioned above. This is a philosophical essay topic and can be tough to handle. However, you can handle it well in following way:

Write a multi-dimensional essay.
Include points from GS.
Include points from current.
Include keywords and quotes from Ethics.
Focus on breaking down the monotony by
- Drawing diagrams.
- Make headings.
- Write in mix of para-points-bullets wherever possible.

Structure

Introduction: Define society and individual. This can be easily done from Ethics/GS-4 content in terms of individualism, communitarianism, social ethics, good society as per Bible, Islamic Ethics etc. In all, introduction should not be more than 1 paragraph. If you are writing a story, then ensure that it is crisp and relevant to the topic.

Historical Aspect: 2nd paragraph should deal with historical view on topic. Make sure that this paragraph is strictly not more than 40-50 words. You can write from Bible as mentioned above, Mahabharat (best for Duryodhan was not necessarily best for all), Gita (concept of loksangrah), Ramayan or quote learnings from lives of Indian/Western thinkers/philosophers/leaders.

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The above slideshow includes 7 pics mentioning Individual vs. Society dilemma in concepts like Utilitarianism, Social Ethics, Islamic Ethics, Bible etc.

Join here for free guidance from Mudit Jain, IRS CSE-17 (IPS CSE-14 & 15), Author of Decode GS2, Decode Ethics 4.0 Part-A, Decode Ethics 4.0 Part-B, (Decode Ethics 4.0 Set) & Decode History Books

Ethics book referred by CSE 21 Toppers: AIR – 6, 43, 44, 50, 75, 84, 150, 188, 194, 235, 249, 252, 268, 281, 322, 344, 439, 467, 572, 577, 586, 612, 646, 679 & others

History book referred by CSE 21 Toppers: AIR – 44, 212, 572, 653 & others

Sample PDFs of Books: Decode Ethics 4th Edition Sample, Decode GS2 Sample & Decode History Sample

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This topic can be dealt with in following Approaches:

Theme of the essay should be that individual is not society. Sum total of individuals makes a society. So good of just an individual doesn’t guarantee good of society.

Socio-Eco-Pol-Env-World dimensions and sub-dimensions like:
- Sociological: Empowerment of single women is best for her but not necessarily for other women or entire society. A father sending his minor child to work in fireworks factory might be in good space because of added income but it is not good for society.
- Economic: The goods from growth of business might be restricted to business family and not society. Sops for individual class does not serve good of entire society.

Likewise, other dimensions and subdimensions can be linked with the topic. Keep mentioning keywords from ethics wherever possible. You should look to try diagrams in essay (see pics attached above). Its high time that you innovate in essays.

2. Second approach can be: Take different “individuals” and write how good of this particular individual doesn’t guarantee good of all. How it serves only individualism rather tjan utilitarianism.

For example, say doctors as individuals. Their strike might serve their good but not good of society.

For example, say cricketers as individuals. Their fame and bank balances hardly do any good to society as such. Ofcourse there are exceptions!

This approach will have problem of flow and structure.

3. Third approach is via SDGs: Pick one SDG at a time and link the topic with all 17 SDGs.

For example, to eliminate poverty from society we need good of all rather than just good of one or few.

Similarly for hunger, education, inequalities etc.

This approach will provide structure and flow to essay and uniqueness too as it hasn’t been tried much by aspirants.

Books That You Can Refer For Essay: