The Essay paper of UPSC Mains 2021 conducted in January 2022 was as predicted and unsurprising- even though it has left many aspirants perplexed about ‘Philosophical’ Essays. The essay topics in the paper were undoubtedly abstract as can be expected from Essay topics but they were not Philosophical which is to say that no Philosophy was at the center of the debates enclosed in the topics.
There was instead a rich-interplay of Psychology, Technology and general awareness. The topics were centered around burning issues and debates which are ongoing in the public discourse such as the effects of technology, creativity, materialism etc.
This lesson is a detailed analysis of the questions asked in the UPSC Mains 2021 Essay paper along with a 4D analysis – Deconstruction, Demonstration, Discussions and Demystification.
UPSC Mains 2021 Essay Topic 1:
The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.
Thing 1: Self-Discovery
Thing 2: Technology
Heart of the Essay topic and Central themes:
The process of Self-discovery encompasses a life-long evolution for humans as they discover both, their environment and themselves through the journey of life.
Partly biological but mostly social, this process involves the formation of basic self-identity from childhood where caregivers and the inner social group shapes the personality of the child, and onwards through adolescence when the peer group becomes the dominant agency for self-discovery. The coming of age of children is a monumental transition into adult life- one which is invariably a deeply social process. While biologically, It might take 2 people to make a human being, It takes a tribe or a family to raise them. No one can come of age in isolation.
Technology has fundamentally altered this ancient and most sacred of processes. With smart phones and zoom calls, children no longer discover themselves through play but through video-games. We live in a world where social media posts remind us about the birthdays of our own loved ones- all in the midst of a veritable storm of click-bait. Children now discover how much their peers think they are worth by the number of likes, instead of fist-bumps and high-fives. Big Data, AI and the technological wizardry in our pockets and wrists now bombard us with more data about our own selves than we know what to do with….
How is self-discovery changing because of technology? Is it leading to desired outcomes? If not, then what can be done to achieve a synthesis? etc are some themes an aspirant would do well to address in this Essay topic.
UPSC Mains 2021 Essay Topic 2:
Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.
Thing 1: Perception of self
Thing 2: Perception of others
Heart of the Essay topic:
Art is in the eye of the beholder might be an understatement for the eyes of the beholder. It seems like our very selves exist only in the eyes of the beholder in as much our perceptions are subjective and personal. When we see ourselves, we see what we want to see. When we see others, we see mostly ourselves projected on to their personas. Thus we never really see the other person objectively.
Our perceptions of ourselves and of others are colored by our expectations. This distortion is the root of stereotyping, xenophobia and all social malice. Much evil has been perpetrated because of our blindness to this subtle force pulling the strings from behind our eyes- genocide, ethnic cleansing and riots are all different faces of projecting hate onto the ‘others’.
But the process is not all evil. Humans have a need to form social bonds and as a result, in-groups. This is the source of our sense of security and belongingness. It is also the root of empathy and of love.
The caveat is that during the course of doing so, it is easy to forget that the distinctions we impose on people are a matter of our own convenience and are not a truth ordained by nature. A contagious virus, for instance does not distinguish between communities or casts. Covid-19 is a brutal reminder of the artificiality of our socially constructed world.
Self-awareness about this subtle psychic process is called meta-cognition. The ability to observe impartially and to watch ones stream of thoughts passing by without acting on them is the seat of all power, all equanimity. But to catch the mind while it is up to it’s trickery is tricky business and reserved for only the most keenly aware among us.
This is the ultimate education for the more self-aware we are ,the more of ourselves we control and the better we can choose to be.
Other themes which might find mention in this topic of UPSC Mains 2021 are- mindfulness, psychology, development etc
UPSC Mains 2021 Essay Topic 3
Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.
Thing 1: Wantlessness
Thing 2: Materialism
Heart of the topic:
What is the best way to live life? To desire or not to desire-that is the question. This debate highlights our unending struggle between the desire which compels us forward and the inevitable misery it brings when we follow its lead. The Buddha said that desire is the root of all suffering and he was presumably correct. As a matter of experience- there is no lasting peace to be found in modern life which is rife with desire and consumable pleasures. The solution? To quell desire and to root it out. To be happy, become wantless.
But is this antidote a cure? Does not the meditating monk want enlightenment? How else would years of practice and training be justified? We are a species driven to explore the cosmos and to look beyond the big bang- the very moment of creation. We are driven to become millionaires, powerful bureaucrats and to have it all in our fleeting and short lives. More importantly, is it even possible given the evolutionary heritage of humans as the most curious and insatiable of creatures.
This is not to suggest that desire should be allowed to hold our reigns unfettered. For it will surely drive us into hedonism and self-destruction. Research shows that happiness is not derived from material possessions as much as it is from healthy social relationships. Cars and clothes do not translate to happiness- an appreciative compliment from a friend, does. And therefore materialism turns out to be as empty and vacuous as it’s twin- wantlessness.
Does does equal suffering. It brings with it the aches and pains of growth. In as much as we are purpose-driven, we are driven by desire. In as much as we stop pushing towards a purpose, we cease to exist. To give up desire is to give up purpose and that might not be cost worth paying.
The debate is the fine line between desire and progress and how to balance the two. Some other themes which can be inserted are socialism vs capitalism, consumerism, minimalism etc.
Essay Topic 4:
The real is rational and the rational is real.
Thing 1:Reality
Thing 2: Rationality
Heart of the topic:
Reality is the most slippery of concepts because it defies definition. Even if the mind can comprehend it, language can never adequately capture it. The Jains were keenly aware of this and correctly called their idea of reality- Anekantavad– meaning literally, the multi faceted. To a physicist, reality is composed of particles which combine according to laws of nature to give rise to the world we live in and indeed, us. While to an idealist, reality is non-material and composed of ideas/concepts. For a dualist, reality lies in the realm of both matter and mind.
If reality is what is experienced by the human mind/brain, then is the reality of a giraffe different from ours? If it is, are there multiple realities- perhaps as many as there are minds? Is reality subject to perception by a conscious mind or is it independent of minds altogether? The mystery of what reality is runs rampant.
What is clear in as much as there are minds, is that intelligence is based on rationality. Rationality is a subset of logic which minds use to navigate the world. We speak of ‘rational decision-making’ to imply decisions taken based on data, objectivity and calculations.
But is reality rational? What can be said about the rationality of nature is that it certainly uses logic in it’s designs. Logical and rational laws determine the movement of planets, the structure of DNA and most things on our scale of the universe. But things take a different flavor at the scale of the sub-atomic where rationality seems to dissipate as particles pop into existence out of the quantum foam of zero space and disappear into what, we know not.
The relationship of rationality and reality is hidden behind a veil looking beyond which seems forbidden.
If nature at it’s most fundamental level can be lax about rationality, then surely humans can expect themselves to be less than rational as well. This is in conformity with research from Behavioral Economics which is essentially the study of human irrationality. One need not refer to research to note the abject irrationality of humans as they exploit the Earth towards a point of no-return as climate change crosses a critical threshold. For a species which lives to reproduce, how paradoxical it is to witness us destroying the world for our own children.
And yet we are on the cusp of creating a truly rational intelligent synthetic life-form as Artificial Intelligence gets smarter by the day. If truly rational intelligence minds can be created by irrational creatures like us, is it so hard to allow for the possibility that an irrational universe could have created us in much the same way?
Perhaps reality is not yet rational but wants to be. Would love- the most irrational of forces exist in such a universe?
Other themes which may be discussed- Artificial Intelligence, human emotions, empathy and altruism as irrational but fundamental forces.
Essay topic 5:
Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Thing1: Hand that rocks the cradle (Nurturance)
Thing 2: The world
Heart of the Essay topic:
None of us would exist without our mothers. Nor would we be us had our cradles not been rocked by gentle, loving hands. The maternal and feminine is the first force we come in contact with upon birth. It is the bedrock upon which children explore their worlds and become fully functioning adults.
But to what extent is the force dominant in today’s world where women, on average are paid less than men for the same jobs. Men hold disproportionate wealth, opportunity and power today in most societies of the world. It was unthinkable for women to have the right to vote or to educate themselves until a few centuries ago. The world appears to rule over the hand that rocks the cradle instead of the other way round.
The maternal and feminine is however, not a human phenomenon but a universal one. We depend on the nurturance of mother nature as much as as child depends on the mother for its survival. Without her, we would cease to exist. The feminine force of nature is a force of love, compassion, care and creation. While we traverse the landscape, we often forget and take for granted the role of our parents in our lives just as we have forgotten how beholden we are to mother nature’s benevolence.
We might have forgotten about the hand of mother nature like mislead children but would do well to realize the debt we owe to the feminine force which truly rules the world.
Themes: Feminism, Compassion, Nurturance, Nature, Environment, Gender-equality etc.
UPSC Mains 2021 Essay Topic 6:
What is research but a blind date with knowledge
Thing 1: Research
Thing 2: Knowledge
Heart of the topic:
Knowledge may be acquired through intuition and bursts of insight or through careful deliberation. Research is one among many methods to acquire knowledge. Research involves the scientific method- the core values of which are objectivity, reason and verification. It is the process of accumulating information and testing out ideas/hypothesis to see if they survive scrutiny and drawing conclusions based only on rational evidence.
A fundamental tenet of research is to go where the evidence leads. And in as much it is a method to reach knowledge, it can sometimes take surprising twists and turns. Once an hypothesis is opened to research, it can lead the researcher anywhere. The history of science is replete with lucky detours leading to astounding discoveries- the discovery of Penicillin, DNA and Jupiter, to name a few.
Research is not the only thing on a blind date. Our fleeting human lives are on a blind date with destiny where infinite stories unfold in every moment. This is because of the inherent unpredictability of the universe. Research just mirrors this fundamental uncertainty.
Most research opens more questions than it answers. This makes science hard and unpredictable. It also makes it uncomfortable because research can lead to some discomforting revelations. Ever since Galileo discovered that the Earth was not the center of the universe, there has been wave after wave of humbling news for humanity. Not only we are not at the center of the universe but exist on a pale blue dot near a humdrum star, orbiting with millions of other worlds in a galaxy like billions of other galaxies. But why go to the farthest reaches of the cosmos when discomforting truths are found close to home- a recent case in point is the UNFCC report on Climate change which warns of impending disaster if global warming is not curtailed and predicts dire consequences for humanity’s inaction.
Who would have thought a few centuries ago that humans will walk the moon? or split the atom? or defeat an invisible disease by manipulating the virus’ molecular structure? The world which science has revealed to us is far more beautiful, mysterious amazing and mind-blowing than we could ever have imagined.
Research is on a blind date with truth because truth truly is stranger than fiction.
Essay topic 7:
History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, then as a farce
Natural disasters and calamities are the result of forces much larger than human beings and we hold little power to prevent them from occurring.
The difference between a devastating tsunami and a devastating war is that we, alone are responsible for the latter. An Earthquake or a tsunami can come without warning and may repeatedly occur but our human response and preparedness to these natural events is not set in stone.
But if we know this to be the case then why is history littered with wars and tragedies? Is history then a chronology of events or a repository of human mistakes?
The latter offers a more interesting prospect because with a list of mistakes passed on from generation to generation, humans can learn from them. And to some extent we have.
History repeating itself from World War I in World War II was a tragedy-an unfortunate and regrettable turn of events. Thankfully the farce has not yet occurred in the several decades after the tragic war as the United Nations has kept World War III at bay. This is not say that it will never occur. If it does, it might be the final farce humanity will witness.
And yet we find ourselves poised to create the greatest farce the world has ever seen as we fail to arrest global warming within sustainable levels pushing not only ourselves, but thousands of other species, to their doom.
Essay topic 8:
There are better practices, to best practices
Assignment:
- Deconstruct the above Essay topic from UPSC Mains 2021 into Thing 1 and Thing2
- Try to drill down to the heart of the essay topic and identify key debates
- Write a micro-essay in less than 300 words
-Ravi Kapoor IRS
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There are better practices to best practices
Deconstruct method
Thing 1 Better practices
Thing 2 best practices
Heart of the essay
Being the best at something and please one has reached the peak one’s potential ,While being better me there is still room for growth and improvement.
T1 Better practices
T2 Best practices
Being the “best” at something implies that one has reached the peak of one’s potential, while being “better” means that there is still room for growth and improvement.
The concept of “best practices” has become commonplace in the business world as a means of promoting efficiency, consistency, and excellence. However, it’s worth noting that the notion of best practices is often flawed, and there are several better practices that can be implemented instead.
Micro-essay:-
‘Best practices’ is a term ubiquitously employed across industries, suggesting tried and true methods and guidelines. The assertion “There are better practices to best practices” Invites us to rethink this conventional wisdom, proposing that there’s always room for improvement.
This essay aims to explore the dynamic nature of practices, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, innovation and the continuous pursuit of excellence even beyond established best methods.
To move beyond ‘best practices’ it is crucial to create an environment that encourages experimentation and risk taking. Encouraging experimentation also involves fostering open communication and collaboration. When diverse perspectives are valued and teams are empowered to share their insights, the innovative ideas emerge. Feedback and reflection are integral components of continuous improvement. The feedback can highlight areas for improvement and uncover new opportunities, for growth.
Reflection, both at an individual and organisational level, allows for critical analysis and the identification of areas that require adjustment or innovation. By fostering a culture or reflection, individuals and organizations can continuously learn from experiences, success and setbacks, leading to the development of better practices.
Rather than rigidly adhering to established practices, a flexible mindset allows for agility and the ability to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. Flexibility and adaptability can be cultivated by embracing emerging technologies, staying informed about industry trends and remaining open to new ideas and perspectives.
By embracing continuous improvement, organizations and individuals can break free from the constraints of ‘best practices’ and embark on a journey of exploration, innovation and sustainable growth.
Things 1 Better practices
Things 2 Best practices
Better and Best they are connected each other like a stair if you want to reach best step you have to across better step. They are used to compare someone. In today’s world we many times compare each other.
A average student if inhabitants with topers ,she gradually change herself seeing all of them. She will start to try how they studied followed their instructions . Day by day this way she practices more and more , after few days she scores better from previous. With lots of patience and concentration days went on and at the end ,She scores best . This practice can make anyone master in any field. This is why we say practices make you Best.
1. Better Practices
2. Best Practices
Better and best are two practices with which we can approach any situation. The formal is flexible and evolutionary in nature while the latter is static, the supreme position attained after a series of development. When we talk about better and best we are dealing with two other dimensions they are Time and Market. While being better is with respect to time and competition, best always deals with competition.
Best is a state of value attached to any component. Best refers to 100% but in reality achieving best is next to impossible. Being better is always the best practice and being the best among others is always better. Being rigid and simultaneously flexible is the best state possible. Just like our constitution, it has faults and mistakes and becomes outdated, but being open to change is what makes it best.
The state of being better everytime is always the best practice.
UPSC Mains 2021 Essay Topic 8: “There are better practices, to best practices”
Thing 1: Ways of doing things
Thing 2: The very best ways of doing things
Heart of the Essay Topic:
This essay talks about how we do things, like in jobs or daily life. It suggests that instead of having a fixed idea of the very best way to do something, we should focus on finding ways that are better and keep improving.
The main point is questioning whether there’s one best way that works for everything or if we should adapt our ways to what fits each situation best.
Key Debates:
1. Same for Everyone or Different for Every Situation: Should we have one best way of doing things that fits everyone, or should we change our approach based on the situation?
2. Ways Keep Changing: The essay questions the idea that there’s one fixed best way to do things and suggests that our ways should keep getting better.
3. Being Creative and Trying New Things: It encourages thinking about how being creative and trying new things can help us find better ways of doing things, challenging the idea of sticking to old methods.
Micro-Essay:
In this essay about how we do things, it suggests that instead of having one fixed best way for everything, we should keep finding better ways. Whether it’s in our jobs or daily life, our ways of doing things can change based on the situation. The essay makes us think about whether there should be one way that fits everyone or if we should be open to changing how we do things. It also talks about how being creative and trying new things can help us improve our ways, going against the idea of sticking to the same old methods. The main question here is whether we should have one fixed way or keep trying to find better ways for different situations.
We’ve often heard about the “best ways” to do things, but Emily’s story shows that sometimes, new and different ideas can work even better. Emily broke away from usual rules and found success. This teaches us that following our own path can lead to great things. In this essay we wil see how this idea applies to individuals, families, communities, and the whole world.
Like Emily, people who don’t always follow the usual rules can achieve amazing things. Steve Jobs changed the tech world by thinking differently. Even though “best ways” existed, Jobs made his own way and succeeded.
Similarly Families are all different, so there can’t be one “best way” for all. Instead of just following what everyone says, families should do what’s best for them. In India, the “Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana” helps families plan for their daughters’ future. This is better than only following old rules.
Also Big groups, like communities and countries, can also find better ways. In India, the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” made towns cleaner. They didn’t just use old ideas, they found new ones that worked for them. India also chose to use renewable energy like solar power. This was a better choice than sticking to old ways of using energy.
Changing the World Together:
The world works better when everyone works together. The Paris Agreement is an example. Many countries joined to fight climate change. They didn’t just follow old rules, they made new ones to help the planet.
Why Better Ideas Matter:
Today, the world changes fast, and what worked before might not work now. India’s “Make in India” campaign shows this. Instead of copying others, India made its own way to grow. Better ideas help us deal with new challenges.
The Future of Better Ideas:
In the future, finding better ways will be super important. We’ll need to keep learning, changing, and trying new things. In school, we might learn in ways that make sense to us, not just follow old rules.
Conclusion:
In the end, Emily’s story and real examples remind us that “best ways” aren’t the only ways. Trying new things and finding better ideas can make the world better. We’ll need to be brave like Emily, explore new paths, and make the world a brighter place.
Practice does not make perfesct. Only perfect practice makes perfect.
There are better Practices, to best practices
Thing 1: Better practices
Thing 2: Best practice
In today’s modern and evolving world the term best and better have taken new level of significance. It’s crucial to understand difference between best practices and Better practices. The term best practices is that there is no need for evolving and the practice has already reached it’s peak. Better practice is term that there is scope for evolving and improving and adapting something new.
The term best practices is often a flawed term. What is best for other’s might not be best for you. There need for better practice arises. For instance in India, it depended on traditional method of farming to supply raw materials but in modern era the techniques for agriculture has also improved. Like in traditional farming they used natural fertilizer like cow dung and now new fertilizer such as ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulphate has developed the better means of farming.
The change is nature of law and the need for it occurs due to betterment of Nation , some socio-economic conditions. The human beings are also evolved like in Darwin’s theory of evolution the human beings were apes and slowly they evolved. In industrial sector too modern technologies were used instead of traditional technology.
Now a days Government are to coming with best policies like old policies which are not of use are ammend. Recently there was new to ammend IPC 1860 by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which has replaced the old British era laws to Indian Laws.
The best practices are Myth because evolution needs better practice and it’s often good to improve rather than to struck at single practice.
• Thing 1: Better Practices
• Thing 2: Best Practices
• Heart of the essay topic: originality versus creativity. The idea of better practices and best practices revolves around themes of conformity and rigidness.
• key debates: Big data, cloud seeding technology, carbon capture, ocean desalination
• Write a micro-essay in less than 300 words:
When you have best practices it means you’ve taken something and you’ve given it a structure and you say this is the best way to do it just follow this. This works wonderfully well in places where you require stability. For example, the army or any militarized place in fact where you require stability. A best practice for COVID and avoiding it is to wash your hands. It is to follow the safety protocol the social distancing protocol and so on. You don’t need to get innovative with that. It’s not a good idea to start to become innovative with something so vital.
What you might require creativity is for instance starting a business that does not require and it should not be done traditionally. It has been the same thing applies to UPSC preparation and everybody goes through a different journey even though all are reading the same subjects and will appear in the examination on the same day. Your journey will be very different from the journey of the person sitting next to you in the examination and it does pay to find your way in this examination and in life where a set pattern of best practices is not promised to lead you anywhere.
There are certain aspects of life including during development or during our lives where best practices are best and which have survived the test of time. But at the same time, there is always hope for improvement. Nature and the environment around us continue to throw different challenges at us which might not be amenable to best practices. A very good example is the Omicron COVID variant, the best practices for the other variants don’t apply to it. A new approach is required so to deal with novelty. We cannot have best practices we require better practices to best practices.
There are better practices, to best practices
Thing 1 : Better practices
Thing 2 : Best practices
At first glance, it may seem as if the concept of “best practices” is a good idea. After all, this would mean that businesses and other organizations would be doing their best to achieve their goals and objectives and excel in whatever field they work in. There are, however, some disadvantages to this concept.
One such disadvantage is that it can often result in people being marginalized or discriminated against because of the way they look or who they are. This means that there will always be those who do not have access to these “practices” simply because they don’t meet certain criteria set by society. For example, women might find themselves excluded from jobs where men dominate due to gender stereotypes.
While “best practices” can be helpful and worth considering, they shouldn’t be blindly adhered to. Instead, think of them as useful guides. If they reflect your own way of working or can help you solve a problem you are having, then that is great. But if they don’t fit within your own context or workflow, then don’t feel pressured to follow them—creativity is about making things your own, after all.
Thank you sir for this amazing video.
THERE ARE BETTER PRACTICES TO ”BEST PRACTICES”
THING 1 BETTER PRACTICS
THING 2 BEST PRACTICS
A BEST PRACTICS DESCRIBE AS MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DOING THE THINGS. EVERY BEST PRACTICS IS BETTER PRACTICS AT ANY POINT OF THE TIME. LOKE AT THE EXAMPLE OF MODERN WORLD IN THE FIELD OF SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT.
A BETTER PRACTICS THATY HAVING SOME SOUGHT OF SATISFACTION BUT ALSO HAVING SOME DRAW BACK WHICH MAY/MAYNOT IMPROVE OVER THE TIME.THE BETTER PRACTICS BECAME BEST PRACTICS BY SEVERAL MODIFICATION AND TRIAL.
EXAMPLE LOOK AT THE BANKING SECTOR-BEFORE ALL THE TRANJECTION DONE THROUGH PAPPER WORK WHICH IS MIGHT BE BETTER PRACTICS AT ANY POINT OF THE TIME BUT WITH THE INTODUCATION OF COMPUTER AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY BANKING BACAME EASIER AND TIME SAVING.
BEST PRACTICS ALSO SUFFER FROM LACK OF TECHNICAL ERROR LIKE IT IS NOT CHANING OVER COURSE OF THE TIME
Essay topic: There are better practices to best practices.
Deconstructing method :
Thing 1: Best practices
Thing 2: Better practice
Heart of the topic :
Best practices are the procedures that are widely accepted and treated as superior as they give optimal results for situations or problems faced by people worldwide. In the process of evolution, challenges thrown by the nature, the inevitable dynamic nature of the world and the evolving technology and its effects makes the best practices to no longer be apprised.
The adaptive nature of the living beings to the new environment and new challenges, makes them to find new and better ways for survival which is absolutely necessary. Further, the competitive world with advanced technologies ignites the urge of the people to stand out from the rest of the world by using their cognitive ability, they come up with innovative ideas breaking the regular standard methods which evolve as better practices to the existing best practices.
Practices which appear to be best in the past are now considered to be inefficient and practices which are now considered best may become obsolete in future. They may get replaced with better ways in future and these keep changing with time.
Best practices are evolved as a result of thorough research and are proved to be efficient in tackling difficult situations which are faced by our ancestors. It is good to follow their ideas for the experiences they had gone through at severe pandemic times. But they should not hinder creativity and innovation of humans where there is scope of improvement with better practices and make them sustainable in long run.
Materialism may appear to be best practice as it gives comfort with lavish lifestyle but following minimalism as better practice gives happiness and peace.
Our Government coming up with polices is a best practice but for instance, making sure to reach them to vulnerable sections by strengthening the local governments and improving service delivery mechanism would be a better practice.
For example, making stringent laws, convicting and punishing the accused for their crimes like rape, murder etc; are best practices followed but counselling the accused to realise their mistakes and see not to repeat them, rehabilitating them, friendly policing are some of the better practices.
One more example, Now a days Schools started online education platform to children is a best practice but improving standards of education with creativity, critical thinking and moral values are better practices.
During this pandemic situations, Improving medical and hospitalisation facilities for unhealthy are best practices but bringing awareness among people about symptoms and follow the safety measures and to build resistive power with healthy diet and to maintain hygienic surroundings and providing moral support to patients to defeat the disease are better practices.
In my opinion, best practices evolved to be best as they survived test and time but may not suit for all the challenges for time being. We need new innovative ideas for continuous improvement and creativity targeting better practices to overcome situations and envisage best results for the desired futures.
Good evening sir, thank you so much for the insights on essays sir, they are very helpful.
Essay topic: There are better practices to best
practices.
Deconstruction :
Thing 1: Best practices
Thing 2: Better practices
Heart of the topic :
Best practices are methods or procedures that are widely accepted and treated as superior to any other alternatives as they gave optimal results in a given situation or problems faced by mankind. But in the process of evolution, challenges thrown by the nature, the inevitable dynamic nature of the world and the evolving technology and its effects makes the best practices to no longer be sacrosanct.
The adaptive nature of the living beings to the new environment and new challenges, makes them to find new and better ways for survival which is absolutely necessary. Further, the competitive world with advanced technologies ignites the urge of the people to stand out from the rest of the world and so with their cognitive ability they come up with innovative ways breaking the regular standard procedures which evolve as better practices to the existing best practices.
Best practices are evolved as a result of thorough research and are proved to be efficient in tackling difficult situations which are experienced by earlier generations. It is good to follow them to avoid threat to ourselves and to the society. But they should not hinder creativity and innovation of humans where there is scope of improvement with better practices and make them sustainable in long run.
Practices which appear to be best in the past are now considered to be inefficient and practices which are now considered best may become obsolete in future. They may get replaced with better ways in future and these keep changing with time.
Materialism may appear to be best practice as it gives comfort with lavish lifestyle but following minimalism as better practice gives happiness and peace.
Government coming up with best polices is a best practice but make sure to reach them to vulnerable sections by strengthening the local governments and improving service delivery mechanism would be a better practice.
Making stringent laws, convicting and punishing the accused are best practices but counselling the accused to realise their mistakes and see not to repeat them, rehabilitation, friendly policing are some of the better practices. Example : Police with the help of local people and organisations conducting games like volleyball for the youth to avoid them engaging in cockfights and gambling.
Providing online education with sophisticated equipment to children is a best practice but improving standards of education with creativity, critical thinking and moral values are better practices.
Improving health infrastructure, medical and hospitalisation facilities for unhealthy are best practices but bringing awareness among people to prevent diseases with dietary and life style changes, hygienic surroundings and providing moral support to patients to defeat the disease are better practices.
Consensus, framework, COP’s on climate change, conservation of nature are best practices but implementing the designed strategies and monitoring them are better practices. For example, recently Tamilnadu government has set up first ever SPV (Special purpose vehicle) mission which includes planning, execution and monitoring it’s statewide nature conservation programs for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Art restorers usually use chemical agents, recent laser techniques to remove dirt, oil, glue or pollutants from the monuments, stone works and paintings which can be considered as best practices but researchers used grime eating bacteria like Desulfovibrio vulgaris to clean marble monuments and recognising role of microorganisms in protecting artistic heritage is a better practice.
Best practices evolved to be best as they survived test and time but may not suit with the changing time and challenges. And so, we should provide room for continuous improvement and creativity targeting better practices and envisage best results for the desired future.
People say “practice makes a man perfect”how far is that true??
Will the same practice gives us the solutions to the oncoming problems,the answer is very complex.Current best practices may not actually solve our oncoming problems,but they will enable us to think in the path of solving the coming problems.
Our constitution is a best example for this,it is written by the best minds of the day,precisely written document including all the positivity from constitutions of many countries,but still it is subjected to change with the time, coming to education
Till the time we were hit by the pandemic,we thought that physical mode of teaching is the best practice,but now the things changed and we are not able to teach physically. Now,the online teaching with graphics and animated pictures is also showing great results in improving concept clarity in the young minds.Since
“Necessity is the mother of invention”When the time comes we should definitely go for adopting better practices than the better practices which are offered on the day.
Thing 1: Better Practices
Thing 2: Best Practices
“Practice makes a man perfect” is a very commonly used phrase we encounter in our lives when we are attempting to try or learn something new. However, the question lies as to how to differentiate between better and best practices. we could say that best practices are those which are universally defined or followed, it’s accepted as the “right” way of doing something. whereas, better practices are not acknowledged as the “best” ones only because those are not mainstream. Although, we would never know the difference between them until we have experienced or taken in consideration both of the practices. For some humans the idea of “best” practices might work and for some they won’t. The capability of every human differs from each other. The idea of better practices might work for a few too, however, it is most advisable to change or alter these practices to ideas we think might work the best for us. Exploring, researching and analyzing ourselves is a very important process as human beings. This will help us to know more about ourselves and will help us figure out our positives and drawbacks. To achieve the best we indeed should practice the best but it does not necessarily mean that we just follow the crowd and lose the sense of ourselves and our needs. Altering the prescribed “best” practices to cater our own needs and our capabilities is something that we should do to achieve the best. We can also make the “best” of our “better” practices and that is how we can master anything we want. If we keep working on our better practices it would one day become the best practice for us. However, the main idea of this is to keep working hard and keep pushing ourselves to our fullest potential and that is how you can become the best.
“There are better Practices to best practices”
Thing 1: Better practices
Thing2: Best Practices
Eventually the growth of a human is from better practices. One’s initial life is getting better with best practices since childhood. Different aspects of life teach us to lead both better and best practices in various situations. One must know to handle according to perceptions of situations.
We all follow random habits simultaneously, leading our life in a better way. We must consider being at better practices to lead it smoothly. Better choices makes better aspects to follow. Better practices not only give temporary satisfaction but also, permanent relaxations. Importantly we must also consider the society. The place of living gives us choice, whether to take better practices or best practices.
Best practices are considered to necessity sometimes for enhancement. These practices are like pre-defined libraries introduced for efficient working of humans. Even here, the society i.e, the geographical concern is necessary to choose best or the better practice for a livelihood. Consider for example a law or rule which strictly followed in other countries, might be a daily practice in India by the people. As so, geography also plays a vital role in selection of practices to be followed.
Last, but not least, we tend to follow better practices to lead a best life and best practices to lead a better life.
Thing 1- Better practices
Thing 2- Best practices
A best practice method is that, which is generally accepted and is most safe as well as efficient.
A Better practices is that having a some sought of satisfaction but is also having drawbacks, which has to be improvised by several modifications and trials.
For example-
1.Classroom teaching
In this method, things had been thought and there were no gadgets or any media which is easily conveying the information.
But now because of the advanced technology classroom teaching became more efficient and effortless.
2. Banking
Again because of the technology, banking had become easier and time saving.
Which is also because of better trial and errors, resulting in best practices.
Thus we can say best practice is the result of several better practices and some emplifications of smarter ideas.
THERE ARE BETTER PRACTICES TO “BEST PRACTICES”.
A BEST PRACTICE IS A METHOD THAT HAS BEEN GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS SUPERIOR TO ANY ALTERNATIVES. BEST PRACTICES ARE IDEAL , MOST EFFICIENT,SAFE AND EFFECTIVE METHOD TO DO SOME TASK.AS NO PERSON IS PERFECT,LIKEWISE NO PRACTICE IS PERFECT.EVERY PRACTICE HAS SOME DRAWBACKS.IT IS POSIIBLE TO IMPROVE IT AND MAKE IT BETTER OR TO REPLACE THE EXISTING PRACTICES WITH BETTER PRACTICES. THEREFORE IT IS SAID THAT THERE ARE BETTER PRACTICES TO THE BEST PRACTICES.
EVEN THE BEST PRACTICES KEP ON EVOLVING . WHAT WERE BEST PRACTICES IN PAST ARE NO CONSIDERED OUTDATED AND INEFFICIENT HAT ARE NO CONSIDERED THE BEST PRACTICES ILL BE OBSOLETE AND INEFFICIENT IN FUTURE. THEY WILL BE REPLACED BY BETTER PRACTICES .
NOW WE HAVE FACED A PANDEMIC INFRONT OF US DURING THESE DAYS , BUT IT WAS ALSO CAME BEFORE THE PAST CENTURY .SO MANY BEST PRACTICES ARE DID BY OUR ANCESTORS AT THAT PERIOD OF TIME, LIKE ESPECIALLY THE QUARENTINE AND MAINLY SELF ISOLATION OF INDIVIDUALS TO STOP THE WIDESPREAD .AND THEY ALSO TOOK THE PRACTICE OF STOPPING TRANSPORATATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS WHICH WILL LEAD THE WIDESPREAD.NOW WE ARE USING THOSE PRACTICES EVEN BETTER TO STOP THE VIRUS SPREAD AND ALSO THERE ARE EVEN BETTER PRACTICES LIKE VACCINES FOR VIRUS,WHICH AS GREATLY YIELDED GOOD RESULTS. SO MANY WERE RESCUED BY THESE PRACTICES.EVEN AFTER THE NEXT CENTURY IF THERE IS A PANDEMIC LIKE THIS OUR EVEN BETTER PRACTICES WERE BECOME MORE THAN BEST PRACTICES.
WORLD IS ALWAYS CHANGING TO ADAPT THE ATMOSPHERES OF NEW CHANGES. SO THERE ARE ALWAYS THERE BETTER PRACTICES FOR BEST PRACTICES.
THING 1: BEST PRACTICES
THING2:BEST PRACTICES
HEART OF THE TOPIC: THERE ARE ALWAYS BETTER PRACTICES TO BEST PRACTICES, WE EVEN KNOW WHAT IS BEST BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE FOR EVEN MORE BETTER PRACTICES.
MY DEBATE IS OUR ANCIENTS HAS MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN OURS , EVEN THIS PERIOD OF TIME WE DIDNT KNOW HOW PROFOUND ARE OUR ANCIENT MEDICAL PRACTICES.BUT WE THOUGHT OURS AS BEST, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS THE BEST, WE ARE ALWAYS TRY TO BE BETTER, ARE WE REALLY BETTER THAN ANCIENTS ON THE TOPIC OF RELEVANCE OF MEDICINE THAT I MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE EASSATY TOPIC?
Q.1
THINGS1=SELF-DISCOVERY
THINGS=TECHNOLOGY
Q. 2
A. THINGS 1 =PERCEPTION OF ME
THINGS 2 = AWARNESS OF ME
Q.3
A . THINGS 1 = WANTLESSNESS
THINGS 2 = MATERIALISM
Q. 4
A . THINGS 1 = REALITY
THINGS 2 = RATIONALITY
Q.5
A. THINGS 1 = HAND THAT ROCK
THINGS 2 = THE WORLD
Q.6
A. THINGS 1 = RESEARCH
THINGS 2 = KNOWLEDGE
Q.7
A. THINGS 1 = HISTROY REPEAT
THINGS 2 = FARCE
Q.8
A. THINGS 1 = BETTER PRACTICES
THINGS 2 = BEST
The change of time period discovered many things .such as change in habit ,living sense etc.
not in a life of human beings but also in life of other living beings .
But one thing is not changed and should not the discovery of self because without that a human cannot exist . Even this world not
Changing is a part of society or world .It is not for human only but for other too .
In field of many and with many aspects there should be a change .
But earlier , the discovery of human being is fast the revolution occurs in the field of technology as compared to now.
Bcz at some point we become addictive to it, ofcourse it is the best thing changes a life of one and can change many life of others .
But use in direction matters of technology even it can change and lead to self -discovery also .
There are better practices to best practices
Thing 1: Better Practices – Adaptive
Thing 2: Best Practices – Conventional
Best practices refer to a set of practices that are effective and produce excellent results. Best is a superlative degree while better resonates with improvement. No matter what the best practices are, there’s going to be better ones as we evolve.
A Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, ” Change is the only constant in life.” From studying in Gurukul to studying in the comfort of one’s home, we have come a long way. Technological advancements have enabled students to interact with peers across the globe and learn new things at their own pace. Earlier, companies solely focused upon improving the efficiency of machines to increase profits. However, these days, the focus also lies upon the well being of employees. Recent studies show that a sense of belonging and fulfillment in an individual impacts his productivity, thereby increasing the efficiency of organization as a whole. From monarchial rule to democratic government, we are still evolving to include better practices towards an effective government.
Practices that seem best at a particular time may not be a good solution later on. Humans are ever evolving and so are the practices. In the words of Charles Darwin, ” It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the intelligent, it is the one most adaptable to change.”
Spoorthi S Shetty
Sir how find assignments that you are talking in telegram audio my email is saurabhee0066@gmail.com
SECTION A
Q.1.
A. THINGS 1 = SELF DISCOVERY
THINGS 2= TECHNOLOGY
SELF DISCOVERY, MEAN THAT DISCOVERY FROM INSDIE THAT WHAT YOU ARE IN REAL LIFE . WHAT YOU WANT DO IN WANT IN LIFE , YOU JUST LISTEN YOUR SELF FROM INSIDE YOUR CORE AND GET WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE . BUT MORE IMPORTANT YOU SHOULD DEVELOP YOUR SELF CONFIDENCE THAT YOU BECOME INDEPENDENT IN YOUR LIFE AND LOVE YOUR SELF TO BE YOU ARE DICOVER YOUR SELF.
TECHNOLOGY, WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND NOW DAYS IT WILL HELP YOU TO ACHEIVE IN YOUR LIFE TO HELP IN SELF DICOVERY . TECHNOLOGY HAS ALLOWED TO PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER ALL OVER THE WORLD “FROM DEKSTOP TO iPHONES” .
USE OF TECHONOLOGY :- WE CAN TEXT TO OTHER , BY MESSAGING THROUGH E-MAIL
LEARN HOW TO COOK
WHAT SUBJECT WE STUDY
LEARN HOW TO USE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ETC.
JUST 20 YEARS AGO , PERSONEEL COMPUTER BECOME SMALLAND AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES TO BUY AT HOME.
Q. 2
A. THINGS 1 =PERCEPTION OF ME
THINGS 2 = AWARNESS OF ME
Q.3
A . THINGS 1 = WANTLESSNESS
THINGS 2 = MATERIALISM
Q. 4
A . THINGS 1 = REALITY
THINGS 2 = RATIONALITY
Q.5
A. THINGS 1 = HAND THAT ROCK
THINGS 2 = THE WORLD
Q.6
A. THINGS 1 = RESEARCH
THINGS 2 = KNOWLDGE
Q.7
A. THINGS 1 = HISTROY REPEAT
THINGS 2 = FARCE
Q.8
A. THINGS 1 = BETTER PRACTICES
THINGS 2 = BEST
There are better practices, to best practices
Thing 1: Futuristic
Thing 2: Status quo
Heart of the topic:
Being futuristic is the most important component in today’s world. Even if someone has given some conclusion on any topic, one must not accept it as status quo or the ultimate truth. When a set of practices is accepted as best practices it often leads to restricting future exploration of that practice. For instance, posting letter was considered to be best way to communicate until telephone was discovered. Just like the way how telephone change the idea of best practice similarly today emails and video calls has taken the place of telephones in the field of best practices for communication.
Change is the law of nature and everything remains best until something better is introduced. Moreover, the idea of best practice is very personal head changes birth person to person and from time to time. For instance, engine is am the best way to attain liberationist through salvation. But in Buddhism, following middle path is considered to be the best way to attain liberation. Therefore, the idea of best practice itself is dynamic in nature.
The constitution mentions development of scientific temper as one of the fundamental duty of every citizen. This reflects that one must always be open to research and adapt to better ways of accomplishing any objective. Only with optimistic and futuristic mindset, one can explore future possibilities.
Does it mean that there should not be any best practices? Will that not lead to developing a sense of indiscipline in society? Will that not make everything absurd? Yes. There are some areas like national security, armed forces, intelligence wing etc new where set of practices are considered as best practices that must be followed. This is to ensure certain level of discipline in there working which is very essential. But, this must not be considered as sacrosanct. There is always some flexibility in order to adapt to better practices that may evolve in future.
The only best practice are the practices that makes provision to get itself with time, just like Indian constitution.
Other themes: inquisitiveness, theory of evolution of Darwin, scientific temper, growth as a lifelong process, discipline versus flexibility.