GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

"Man by nature is a political animal". Explain with reference to Aristotle's idea of the state in life of the society.

Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Syllabus: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

How toppers approached it

From 4 of the 5 answers · about 170 words · 50% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening2 of 4
  • A restatement2 of 4

Body

  • Points and prose2 of 4
  • Continuous prose2 of 4

Close

  • No separate close2 of 4
  • A summary1 of 4
  • A way forward1 of 4

The toppers’ answers

Kanishak KatariaAIR 1 · CSE 2018 · 151 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a restatement

Man by nature is a political animal, it is the society which makes him a social animal & teaches the rules of conduct & how to behave.

Body · continuous prose

In this regard the role of society becomes in state & the presence of state in the society becomes critical.

Only if society is present, man will be able to look beyond the parochial political interests & think about social justice & equality.

Similarly, had it not been for state the existence of man in society would have become unsustainable. As Hobbes' theory of Leviathan says Man is intrinsically egoistic but to stay alive in the society man pools power with the state & enjoys liberties under it.

Similarly as Chanakya's theory of Matsyangaya or world without state being like a fish world, state or the ruler needs to be a Chakravathi Samrat to rule with morality.

Close · a summary

Hence state becomes critical in the society.

More on World Thinkers

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

All GS4 questions on World Thinkers