PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Western Political Thought
Explain the Aristotelian view of politics. To what extent do you think it has contributed to the development of modern-day constitutional democracies?
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes
G39 politics as master science → state for the good life → ethical foundation of constitutional govt, reach partial €R1 man a political animal (reason/speech) → ethics + justice inseparable from politics → foundation laid, but incomplete
Body flow
Ria political animal via logos → politics inseparable from ethics, justice at core (Ebenstein: moral over legal sovereignty) → rule of law over personal will (law = reason without passion) → regimes judged by common good vs self- interest → polity / mixed constitution / middle class → contribution: rule of law → constitutionalism, mixed govt → checks & balances, middle class → Stability, citizenship (rule & be ruled) → civic republicanism, common good → test of legitimacy → absorbed via Montesquieu / American balance of few & many
Counter-view
contribution foundational, not direct → slavery, exclusion of women & workers, small homogeneous polis → far from inclusive mass democracy
Conclusion routes
G3} Aristotle gives the grammar of constitutional govt (law, balance, civic virtue, common good), not its democratic substance €33 influence deep in foundations, limited in extent
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
