A student in a political science course is writing a paper on Aristotle's The Politics, in which Aristotle offers his...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A student in a political science course is writing a paper on Aristotle's The Politics, in which Aristotle offers his opinion on political instability and gives advice on how constitutions can be preserved. Aristotle observes that different forms of government can fall in different ways—for example, oligarchies might grant power to military leaders during wartime who refuse to relinquish that power during peacetime—but some methods of preserving order apply across all forms of government. The student claims that in particular Aristotle asserts that in a healthy state obedience to law must be as close to absolute as possible and that even minor infractions should not be ignored.
Which quotation from a philosopher's analysis of The Politics would best support the student's claim?
When constructing his argument regarding the characteristics of a well-functioning government, Aristotle asserts that 'Transgression creeps in unperceived and at last ruins the state,' illustrating this idea with a comparison to frequent small expenditures slowly and almost imperceptibly chipping away at a fortune until it is ultimately depleted.
When Aristotle writes on the necessity of avoiding corruption in government, he proposes that 'every state should be so administered and so regulated by law that its magistrates cannot possibly make money.' In particular, he thinks oligarchies are particularly susceptible to corruption through bribery.
When Aristotle considers the health of constitutions, he states that 'Constitutions are preserved when their destroyers are at a distance, and sometimes also because they are near, for the fear of them makes the government keep in hand the constitution.' He holds that rulers who wish to see constitutions preserved must continually remind the populace of the dangers that would result from a constitutional collapse.
When contrasting different forms of government, Aristotle holds that 'oligarchies may last, not from any inherent stability in such forms of government, but because the rulers are on good terms both with the unenfranchised and with the governing classes.' That is, oligarchic leaders who wish to hold on to power will introduce members of disenfranchised classes into government in a participatory role.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A student in a political science course is writing a paper on Aristotle's The Politics, in which Aristotle offers his opinion on political instability and gives advice on how constitutions can be preserved." |
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| "Aristotle observes that different forms of government can fall in different ways—for example, oligarchies might grant power to military leaders during wartime who refuse to relinquish that power during peacetime—but some methods of preserving order apply across all forms of government." |
|
| "The student claims that in particular Aristotle asserts that in a healthy state obedience to law must be as close to absolute as possible and that even minor infractions should not be ignored." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A student claims that Aristotle believes healthy states require near-absolute obedience to law, including strict attention to minor violations.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that a student is analyzing Aristotle's work on political stability. After noting Aristotle's broader observations about different forms of government and universal preservation methods, we focus on the student's specific claim about Aristotle's view that healthy states require strict law obedience with no tolerance for minor infractions.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which quotation would best support the student's specific claim about Aristotle's views on law obedience.
What type of answer do we need? A direct quote from Aristotle that provides evidence for the student's assertion about absolute obedience and attention to minor infractions.
Any limiting keywords? Best support, student's claim, Aristotle's views on law obedience.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer needs to show Aristotle believes that strict obedience to law is crucial for state health
- Specifically that minor violations shouldn't be ignored
- We're looking for evidence that small infractions can harm the state
- Supporting the idea that even minor violations matter
When constructing his argument regarding the characteristics of a well-functioning government, Aristotle asserts that 'Transgression creeps in unperceived and at last ruins the state,' illustrating this idea with a comparison to frequent small expenditures slowly and almost imperceptibly chipping away at a fortune until it is ultimately depleted.
✓ Correct
- Contains Aristotle's direct statement that transgression creeps in unperceived and ruins the state
- Perfectly supports the student's claim that minor infractions shouldn't be ignored
- Shows that even small violations can ultimately destroy the state
When Aristotle writes on the necessity of avoiding corruption in government, he proposes that 'every state should be so administered and so regulated by law that its magistrates cannot possibly make money.' In particular, he thinks oligarchies are particularly susceptible to corruption through bribery.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses specifically on magistrates and corruption through bribery
- Doesn't address general law obedience or the importance of minor infractions
When Aristotle considers the health of constitutions, he states that 'Constitutions are preserved when their destroyers are at a distance, and sometimes also because they are near, for the fear of them makes the government keep in hand the constitution.' He holds that rulers who wish to see constitutions preserved must continually remind the populace of the dangers that would result from a constitutional collapse.
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses preserving constitutions by keeping threats away
- Doesn't mention law obedience, minor infractions, or strict enforcement
When contrasting different forms of government, Aristotle holds that 'oligarchies may last, not from any inherent stability in such forms of government, but because the rulers are on good terms both with the unenfranchised and with the governing classes.' That is, oligarchic leaders who wish to hold on to power will introduce members of disenfranchised classes into government in a participatory role.
✗ Incorrect
- About oligarchies maintaining power through relationships with different classes
- Doesn't address minor infractions or strict enforcement principles