Florence (Year 13) Editor's note: Year 13 student Florence, applying to study Law at university, wrote this insightful piece exploring the extent to which law should intervene in personal autonomy. Florence carefully concludes that whether or not the law should intervene is a complex issue that is largely based on the individual case - there … Continue reading To what extent should law intervene in personal autonomy?
Shaurya (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Shaurya entered this essay into the John Locke Global Essay Prize 2025 in the Economics category. He addresses the questions: What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit? Is such behaviour better or worse, on balance, than the behaviour we should expect if all … Continue reading What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit?
Tanisi (Year 9) Editor's note: Talented Year 9 student Tanisi submitted this interesting essay to the annual John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize in the Junior category. This essay explores the benefits of free speech from two philosophical perspectives, focusing on the roles of both listener and speaker in individual growth and societal interaction. CPD … Continue reading Do you benefit more from your own freedom of speech, or other people’s?
Paarshva (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Paarshva wrote this essay for entry into the annual John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize. Paarshva explores the debate between the political wisdom of the 'lettered'—those with formal education and theoretical knowledge—and the 'unlettered'—those with experiential, practical knowledge. It examines whether the collective judgment of the unlettered … Continue reading David Hume celebrated the wisdom of “unlettered men”. In a democracy, do the votes of unlettered men tend to protect a country against the bad ideas of the lettered or do the votes of the lettered tend to protect a country against the bad ideas of unlettered men?
GSAL Economics Society Editor's note: This collection of insightful essays represents considerable time and effort from passionate, engaging members of GSAL's student-led Economics Society. The student authors wrote these essays during their time in Year 12; they are all now in Year 13. The essays include: Some claim that modern communication platforms, such as Zoom, … Continue reading GSAL Economics Society: A Collection of Essays
Philippa (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 13 student Philippa wrote this insightful essay during their time in Year 12. The essay discusses whether the financial investment in space travel and exploration is justifiable given pressing global issues such as hunger, inadequate housing, and climate change. It questions the morality and priorities of allocating vast sums … Continue reading Is the amount of money spent on space travel and exploration justifiable?
Fahim (Year 10) Editor's note: Fahim, now in Year 11, wrote this engaging piece whilst in Year 10. William Basson, a young man from a successful family, struggled with traditional education and his father’s expectations, finding solace instead in philosophy and abstract thought. Despite academic challenges and a serious illness, he resolved to take full … Continue reading Change: Embracing oneself and taking full responsibility
Tanisi (Year 8) Editor's note: Current Year 9 student Tanisi wrote this short essay during their time in Year 8. It is fantastic to see some of our passionate younger students engaging with the GSAL Journal. Tanisi argues that conflict is a natural and inevitable aspect of human interaction, often driving societal change and growth … Continue reading Conflict
Rehan (Year 12) Editor's note: Rehan, now in Year 13, wrote this essay in year 12. Developing economies face a critical choice between prioritizing environmental sustainability and pursuing economic growth, with climate change posing an urgent global threat that demands economic transformation. CPD Currently, the greatest threat to developing economies is climate change, and it … Continue reading Should developing economies prioritise environmental sustainability over economic growth?
Lochan (Year 9) Editor's note: Lochan, now in Year 10, wrote this essay during their time in Year 9. It was submitted into the annual Perse School Aristotelian Essay Prize. Nuclear fusion is a promising energy source with potential to provide unlimited, low-carbon, and clean energy, but significant challenges hinder its immediate viability as a … Continue reading To what extent can we regard nuclear fusion as the solution to the world’s energy crisis?
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