KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 Chapter 5 What is Moral Action 24-25

"What is Moral Action"

I. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BRIEFLY

In paragraph one, Gandhiji says that our conventional behaviour is:
- Answer: (c) Neither moral nor immoral, but necessary.
What is non-moral action?
- Answer: Non-moral action is an action that does not necessarily involve morality and does not spring from one's own will.
What is the difference between a mechanical act and an intentional act?
- Answer: A mechanical act is performed without thought, while an intentional act is done with conscious intention.
Give an example each for conventional behaviour and a moral act.
- Answer:
  - Conventional behaviour: Following societal norms.
  - Moral act: Feeding the poor out of genuine compassion.
The first paragraph discusses what is not a moral action. The second paragraph gives one important criterion to decide what constitutes a moral action. What is that criterion?
- Answer: The criterion is that a moral act must spring from one's own will.
When can the messenger’s act become a moral action?
- Answer: The messenger's act becomes moral when he considers it his duty and acts intentionally.
When, according to Gandhi, can we regard ourselves to have stepped onto the moral road?
- Answer: When we care only for what our conscience says.
What is the belief that Gandhi talks of in paragraph 2?
- Answer: The belief in the God within us, who witnesses all our acts.
All good actions need not be moral acts. When does a good action become a moral act? (paragraph 3). Give an example.
- Answer: A good action becomes moral when done with good intention.
  Example: Feeding the poor out of pity.
In the example of feeding the poor, whose action is moral action?
- Answer: The action of the one who feeds out of genuine concern is moral.
The result of our action determines whether our action is moral or non-moral. (True/False)
- Answer: False.
Why does Gandhi say that Alexander’s conquests cannot be called moral actions?
- Answer: Because his intention was conquest and renown, not moral good.
In each paragraph, Gandhiji adds one criterion to consider an action moral. What criterion is added in paragraph 4?
- Answer: The act must be done without compulsion.
When does simple living become moral?
- Answer: When done out of a sense of duty despite having the means to live otherwise.
When does an employer’s action of paying higher salaries to his employees remain non-moral?
- Answer: If done out of fear of losing employees rather than genuine concern.
When Gandhiji quotes Shakespeare (in paragraph 5), what argument does he want to strengthen?
- Answer: That actions driven by self-interest cannot be deemed moral.
Gandhiji mentions the name of Henry Clay as an example for moral/non-moral action.
- Answer: Non-moral.
What qualities of Daniel Webster does Gandhiji mention?
- Answer: Great intellect and heroic sense.
What is the single mean act of Webster mentioned in paragraph 6?
- Answer: Selling his intellectual integrity.
Why is it difficult to judge the morality of a man’s action?
- Answer: Because we cannot penetrate the depths of his mind.
What arguments does Gandhiji give to justify that a moral act should be free from fear and compulsion?
- Answer: An act done out of fear or compulsion lacks moral virtue.
To sum up, an action becomes moral when:
- (a) It springs from one’s will (paragraph 2).
- (b) It is done with the intention to do good (paragraph 3).
- (c) It is done without compulsion (paragraph 4).
- (d) It is free from self-interest (paragraph 5).
- (e) It is not done with expectations of benefit in the life after death (paragraph 6).

II. CLOSE STUDY

Extract 1:
"The great Saint Theresa wished to have a torch in her right hand and a vessel of water in her left so that with the one she might burn the glories of heaven and with the other extinguish the fires of hell, and men might learn to serve God from love alone without fear of hell and without temptation of heavenly bliss."

Why did Saint Theresa hold a torch in her right hand?
- Answer: To symbolize the burning away of the glories of heaven, showing devotion free from the desire for rewards.
What does “a vessel of water” signify?
- Answer: It signifies extinguishing the fires of hell, emphasizing service to God without fear of punishment.
What was her message to humanity?
- Answer: People should serve God out of love, not out of fear of hell or desire for heaven.

Extract 2:
"Wherever he went (in the course of his conquests), he took the Greek language and Greek culture, arts and manners, and today we enjoy the benefits of Greek civilization….... It was all right that he was termed “great”, but moral he cannot be called."

Who does ‘he’ refer to?
- Answer: Alexander the Great.
What is his contribution to mankind?
- Answer: The spread of Greek language, culture, arts, and manners, laying the foundation for Greek civilization.
Why doesn’t Gandhi consider him moral?
- Answer: Because his intentions were for conquest and glory, not genuine betterment of humanity.

III. PARAGRAPH WRITING

Mahatma Gandhi’s Comments on Action Prompted by Motive of Happiness in Another World:
Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes that actions taken merely for achieving happiness or rewards in the afterlife are not moral. True morality arises from pure intentions, free from self-interest. For example, St. Francis Xavier's devotion was guided by duty, not the pursuit of heavenly rewards. Therefore, moral acts must come from love and responsibility rather than selfish motives aimed at gaining personal rewards.
Why Gandhi Says a Moral Act Should Be Done Without Compulsion:
Gandhi believes that actions done out of fear or external pressure lack moral value. True morality arises from free will and ethical commitment. For instance, a wealthy person living simply out of empathy for others exemplifies morality. In contrast, actions driven by fear or coercion, such as complying with societal norms out of pressure, fail to be moral.

IV. VOCABULARY EXERCISES

Similarities/Differences in Pairs of Words:
- Say - Tell: Say focuses on words spoken; tell includes giving information or instructions.
- Moral - Morale: Moral relates to ethics; morale refers to confidence or spirit.
- Custom - Habit: Custom is societal; habit is personal.
- Between - Among: Between refers to two; among refers to many.
- Enough - Sufficient: Both indicate adequacy; sufficient is formal.
- Same - Similar: Same means identical; similar means alike but not identical.
- Culture - Civilization: Culture is a way of life; civilization is an advanced society.
- Rise - Raise: Rise is intransitive (no object); raise is transitive (requires an object).
- Sympathy - Empathy: Sympathy is feeling for others; empathy is feeling with others.
- Practice - Practise: Practice is a noun; practise is a verb (British English).
- Pardon - Forgive/Excuse: Pardon is formal; forgive is personal, excuse is casual.
- Mistake - Error/Blunder: Error is general; blunder implies a grave mistake.
- Conscience - Consciousness/Conscientious: Conscience is moral awareness; consciousness is being awake, and conscientious means diligent.
One-word Substitutes:
- The absence of government: Anarchy
- A story that gives a moral: Fable
- One who takes delight in the suffering of others: Sadist
- Making atonement for one’s sins: Penance
- A decision which cannot be changed: Irrevocable

V. VERB FORMS

A. Fill in the blanks:

Sachin plays great innings.
“Look! He is going there. I see him

every day.”

The boy was punished because he broke the slate.
I learned swimming from my father.
As I was watching the procession, someone called me.
If I were the Chief Minister, I would do justice.

Summary of "What is Moral Action" by M.K. Gandhi (Simplified for Class 10 Students)

In this lesson, M.K. Gandhi explains the difference between ordinary actions and truly moral actions. He says most of our daily actions are non-moral because they are done to follow rules or customs, not from our inner will. A moral action, according to Gandhi, comes from a person's own decision and must be done with the intention of doing good.

For example, if a king pardons someone out of kindness, it is a moral action. But if the messenger simply delivers the pardon without thinking about it, his act is not moral unless he does it with a sense of duty. Gandhi also says that moral actions should not be forced or done out of fear. For example, living a simple life is only moral if it is chosen out of care for others, not because someone cannot afford luxuries.

He also warns that actions done for personal rewards, whether in this life or for rewards in heaven, are not truly moral. Moral actions should come from pure intentions, without selfish motives or fear.

In short, Gandhi teaches that a moral action is done with good intention, from one's own will, without fear, selfishness, or compulsion.