GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” Plato

Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2024–2025

World ThinkersDimensions of EthicsLaw and MoralityHuman ValuesFamily, Society and EducationIntegrity

Syllabus: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

How toppers approached it

From all 5 answers · about 140 words · 20% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening100%

Body

  • Points60%
  • Points and prose20%
  • Continuous prose20%

Close

  • No separate close40%
  • A way forward40%
  • A summary20%

The toppers’ answers

Diksha RaiAIR 40 · CSE 2025 · 131 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

In this statement Plato highlighted the ineffectiveness of law in enforcing morality among people who don't want to act ethically through their own volitions.

Body · points and prose

Ethical people follow laws and ethical principles voluntarily. for eg- I don't act in a non-violent manner only because I may get punished otherwise. Rather I act non-violently because I believe in the value of 'ahimsa'.

On the other hand despite stringent laws and harsh criminal provisions for punishment of crimes such as rape, the Kolkata rape case signifies how evil people are least deterred by presence of laws.

In this context the role of society, family and educational institutions in inculcating ethical values becomes significant.

Diagram
Ethical Good people -> Have inner motivation to act ethically -> Act conscientiously -> are guided by ethical values -> Have internal locus of control

Thus,

Diagram
Value education -> Ethical people -> increased efficacy and reduced dependency on law to guide ethical behaviour

Close · a summary

Thus it is rightly said that ethics can't be externally imposed, rather it is a light that burns from within.

More on World Thinkers

Moral thinkers and philosophers from outside India used as a source: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Mill, Rawls, Confucius and others.

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