Topic: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
7. What do you understand by scientific temper and spirit of enquiry? As a responsible citizen of the country how would you fulfill your fundamental duty to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform? Explain. (250 words)
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and aptitude by Lexicon Publications
Why the question:
The question is premised on the importance of scientific temper and spirit of enquiry.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain what scientific temper and spirit of enquiry are and their importance for a citizen to be responsible and be able to contribute to the nation.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define scientific temper and briefly explain its meaning.
Body:
A scientific temper refers to an open, questioning, seeking mind. A mind that seeks truth and accepts it when proven. A mind that is ready to consider that an alternative viewpoint could have merit.
Explain the importance of it; A person of scientific temper experiences indirectly an internal strength that orders life. Order results from internal strength than from external induction. Spiritualists call it Self-realization. It is the Scientific Temper that helps in developing Secularism, Humanism & Spirit of enquiry and reform.
Spirit of inquiry is a persistent sense of curiosity that informs both learning and practice. As per the values of Indian family system, children are told right from our childhood to accept whatever has been told to them.
Give examples to justify points.
Conclusion:
Conclude that a nation can thrive without producing any literature worth a mention (think Singapore), but will rarely do so in the long run if it puts superstition above reason. Therefore, for individual development and national prosperity, there is need of developing scientific temper and spirit of inquiry among children.
