Given below are the two statements: One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Gandhi's critique of science emanates from his dissatisfaction with the divorce of science and progress from morality.
Reason (R): Gandhi argued that the advance of science had added 'not an inch to the moral status of Europe'.

In the context of the above statements which of the following is correct?

Correct option is C

Both the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R) are true, and (R) provides the correct justification for (A).

Information Booster

Assertion (A) is true: Mahatma Gandhi's major critique of Western science and technology, as articulated in Hind Swaraj, was that it had become separated from ethical and moral concerns. He feared that progress, when pursued without moral grounding, only increased human suffering and led to violence and exploitation. His critique was indeed rooted in the divorce of science/progress from morality.

Reason (R) is true and is the correct explanation of (A): The statement "Gandhi argued that the advance of science had added 'not an inch to the moral status of Europe'" is a direct and well-known expression of the idea in Assertion (A). By stating that scientific advance (progress) did not improve Europe's moral status (morality), Gandhi provided the core evidence for his belief that science, when separated from ethics, is ultimately an empty pursuit. Therefore, (R) directly explains the basis of the dissatisfaction described in (A).