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?
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?
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
Hanna (Year 11 student) Editor's note: Year 11 student Hanna submitted this excellent essay to the prestigious John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize 2024. In a strong field of entries from all over the world, Hanna's entry was recognised as 'Very Highly Commended'. The essay demonstrates excellent independent research, skilled synthesis of a range of … Continue reading Why do civilisations collapse? Is our civilisation in danger?
Seetal, Annabella, Arsh, Jasmine, Krishay, Kathryn, Kiran and Leah (Year 7 Students) Editor's note: Year 7 students, including members of GSAL's very own 2008 Society (critical thinking), have been busy writing short articles on particular areas of interest as part of their Year 7 Challenge. Some of these articles have also been entered into essay … Continue reading Year 7 Challenge & Minds Underground
Paarshva (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Paarshva skillfully gets to grips with complex philosophical and functional arguments in seeking to better understand the extent to which machines can/could ever experience emotion like we can. Paarshva suggests that machines are increasingly able to recognize and simulate emotion, but this is distinct from the more … Continue reading Can machines experience emotion like we can?
Francis (Year 7) Editor's note: This essay was recently entered into the Minds Underground: Young Minds Essay Competition. CPD In my personal view, it is highly unlikely that world-leaders would co-operate to such a high standard that such a utopia is achievable, I can explain this belief in two issues that lie in contemporary politics. … Continue reading Is a world without borders possible, and should it be pursued?
Editor's Note: As part of their British Science Week celebrations, GSAL hosted a science writing competition on the theme of Time. The competition was open to all students in years 7-10 and received a good number of entries, all of which were read and independently judged. The entries interpreted the brief in a number of … Continue reading GSAL Science Week Competition 2024
Vishnu V - Year 12 Student Editor's Note: Year 12 Student Vishnu V considers a big, moral question through multiple different theories. A well researched piece on a discussion that holds a multitude of viewpoints. Vishnu has entered this into the NCH Undergraduate Essay Competition. EB For an action to be morally correct, it must … Continue reading Can it Ever Be Morally Acceptable to Sacrifice an Innocent Person for the Greater Good?
The GSAL Journal 