Passage

The last end of the state is not to dominate men, nor to restrain them by fear; rather it is so to free each man from fear that he may live and act with full security and without injury to himself or his neighbour. The end of the state, I repeat, is not to make rational beings into brute beasts and machines. It is to enable their bodies and their minds to function safely. It is to lead men to live by, and to exercise, a free reason; that they may not waste their strength in hatred, anger and guile, nor act unfairly toward one another.

QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2023

Based on the above passage, which one of the following terms expresses the ultimate goal of the state?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is incorrect: The passage mentions that the end of the state is to “free each man from fear that he may live and act with full security and without injury to himself or his neighbour,” which does suggest personal safety. However, this might be considered as one aspect rather than the ultimate goal.

Option B is incorrect: While the passage does talk about enabling bodies and minds to function safely, it doesn't suggest this as the ultimate goal of the state.

Option C is incorrect: The text does imply communal harmony as one of the goals – “that they may not waste their strength in hatred, anger and guile, nor act unfairly toward one another” – but again, this seems more like one of the aspect of the ultimate goal rather than the ultimate goal itself.

Option D is correct: The passage strongly emphasises that the end of the state is to lead men to live by, and exercise, a free reason. This suggests liberty as a core goal, encompassing elements of personal safety, the health of body and mind, and communal harmony. Based on the passage, “Liberty” - seems to best express the ultimate goal of the state.

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