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DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)
Applied Sociology
Easy

Name the great Greek philosopher who remarked that man is a social animal.

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

  • The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with the famous statement that "man is a social animal.".
  • He used the Greek term 'zoon politikon,' which translates to 'political animal' or 'social animal.'.
  • Aristotle's philosophy posits that humans are naturally sociable and that they can only achieve a good life and reach their full potential by living in a community or 'polis' (city-state).
  • This concept is foundational to political science and sociology, emphasizing that individual life is intrinsically linked to social and political life.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Auguste Comte was a French philosopher from the 19th century, not an ancient Greek philosopher. He is known as the founder of sociology, not for the 'social animal' concept.
  • Option B: Leopold von Wiese was a 20th-century German sociologist. His work focused on creating a systematic classification of social processes, which is different from the philosophical statement in the question.
  • Option D: Georg Simmel was a German sociologist from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is known for his work on 'formal sociology,' analyzing the forms of social interaction, not for the specific quote mentioned.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of the philosopher associated with the concept of 'man as a social animal' as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Aristotle's concept that humans are social beings is a cornerstone of holistic nursing care. A patient's social support system (family, friends, community) is a critical factor in their health and recovery.
  • Nurses assess a patient's social environment to identify resources or stressors that can impact treatment adherence, mental well-being, and overall health outcomes.
  • What if? If a patient is socially isolated (e.g., an elderly person living alone with no family nearby), the nurse's priority shifts. The care plan must include interventions to address this, such as connecting the patient with social workers, community groups, or home health services to prevent complications related to loneliness and lack of support.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key phrases in the question: 'great Greek philosopher' and 'man is a social animal'.
  • This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of the history of philosophy and social thought.
  • Evaluate each option against the 'Greek philosopher' criterion. Auguste Comte, Von Wiese, and Simmel are all sociologists from the 18th, 19th, or 20th centuries, not ancient Greece. This eliminates them.
  • Recall or deduce that Aristotle was a major ancient Greek philosopher.
  • Connect the famous quote 'man is a social animal' to Aristotle, who is widely credited with this idea ('zoon politikon').
  • Confirm that Aristotle is the only option that fits both criteria (Greek philosopher and author of the concept).
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Identification of the philosopher associated with the concept of 'man as a social animal'.
  • Stem keywords: Greek philosopher, man is a social animal
  • Lead-in keywords: Name

Question ID

QosPYwBKGlGW93FKLJZZhL

Reference Book

E6 Applied Sociology for Nurses TK Indrani pp. 48-50, 46-48

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 3160-3162

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