With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, regarding Sankhya school :
- Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul.
- Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent.
Smart Elimination
Statement 1: “Does NOT accept rebirth”
• This is an extreme rejection of a very common idea in nearly all Indian philosophical systems. In UPSC, if a statement denies a widely-accepted core Indian belief → usually WRONG. So, eliminate Statement 1 just by common sense of Indian traditions.
Statement 2: Focus on self-knowledge, not external agents. This sounds more logical, neutral and typical of many Indian schools
Potential Trap
The phrase 'does not accept' in Statement 1. Sankhya actually believes in the evolution of Prakriti for the liberation of Purusha, involving rebirth.
Answer Key & Explanation
Answer: BThe correct answer is Option B.
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Sankhya school (founded by Kapila) accepts the theory of rebirth or transmigration of the soul. It believes that the Purusha (Soul) is bound to Prakriti (Matter) and goes through cycles of birth until liberation.
Statement 2 is Correct: Sankhya is a dualistic realism. It holds that Right Knowledge (Viveka-Khyati)—the ability to discriminate between the Self (Purusha) and Matter (Prakriti)—is the only way to liberation (Kaivalya). It does not rely on any exterior agent (like God/Ishvara) for salvation (originally Sankhya was atheistic).
Value Addition
- Dualism: Purusha (Consciousness) and Prakriti (Matter).
- Evolution: The world evolves from Prakriti.
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Foundational question based on core concepts.