Question Details

Read the passage and answer the questions on the basis of your comprehension: (96 to 100)
The most important distinction between the animal man and others is, that the animal is very soon satisfied and retires within the limits of its necessities, the greater part of its earnings being necessary for its own preservation and the preservation of race. Like a retail shop keeper, it has no large profit from its commerce. But man, if the bulk of its earnings must be spent in paying the interest to its bank. Most of its earnings are employed in mere endeavor to live. But man, if its commerce, is a big merchant: he does a great deal more than he is absolutely compelled to spend. Therefore, there is a vast excess of earnings in man‘s life, which gives him the freedom to be useless and irresponsible to a great measure. There are large outlying tracts, surrounding his necessities, where he has objects that are ends to themselves. The animals must have knowledge, so that their knowledge can be employed for use, in the service of their life. But there they stop. They must know their surroundings in order to be able to procure shelter and seek their food, some properties of things in order to build their dwellings some signs of different seasons to be able to get ready to adapt themselves to the changes. Man, also must have these in order to live. But man has a surplus where he can proudly assert that knowledge is freed. With man, knowledge is freed. Here he has the pure employment of his knowledge because their knowledge is freed from the necessity of life. Thus, this fund of surplus his science and philosophy thrive.


What gives man the freedom to be useless and irresponsible?

Options

A

Knowledge

B

Artistic taste

C

Abundance of wealth in life

D

Selfishness

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option A

Knowledge

Solution :

The correct option is Knowledge.


Step-by-step Explanation:


1. Analyze the Passage:
The passage discusses the primary distinction between animals and humans. It states that animals quickly satisfy their basic necessities for survival and preservation of their race. Their knowledge is strictly used in the service of their life (e.g., to procure shelter, seek food, build dwellings, etc.).


2. Identify the Role of Knowledge in Humans:
According to the passage, "man has a surplus where he can proudly assert that knowledge is freed." The text explains that unlike animals, for whom knowledge is bound to utility, for humans, knowledge is "freed from the necessity of life."


3. Connect to Freedom and Irresponsibility:
The passage mentions that there is a "vast excess of earnings in man‘s life, which gives him the freedom to be useless and irresponsible to a great measure." This surplus is directly tied to the liberation of knowledge, which allows humans to explore science, philosophy, and objects that are ends in themselves rather than strictly tools for basic survival. Therefore, it is this freed Knowledge that enables the surplus and gives man the freedom to be useless and irresponsible in a utilitarian sense.

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