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Question

What do the following quotation mean to you?
"A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true." – Socrates 

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2020 (Prelims) CSAT Previous Year Paper (04-Oct-2020)

This quote by Socrates is a powerful rejection of moral relativism and a robust defense of a morality grounded in reason. To me, it argues that ethical principles cannot be based on fleeting emotions or subjective preferences.

Socrates labels a morality based on "relative emotional values"—what simply feels right to an individual—as an "illusion" because it is unstable and lacks an objective foundation. What one person loves, another may hate. He calls it "vulgar" because it reduces profound questions of right and wrong to mere personal taste or whim.

The quote implicitly champions an alternative: a morality based on Reason. Socrates believed that through rigorous logic and inquiry, we can discover objective, universal truths about concepts like justice, virtue, and goodness. These rational principles would be true for all people, at all times, independent of their feelings, providing a sound and true foundation for an ethical life.

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Sarvesh Jha

Sarvesh Jha is a seasoned government exam mentor with firsthand success in top exams like IBPS PO, SBI PO, CDS, RRB JE, SSC CGL, BPSC, and CTET. Known for his deep conceptual clarity and strategic approach, he has guided over 5000 students through personalized mentorship. He has been creating well researched content for last 5 years.

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