← All questionsGS4 · 2016 · Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude ·Ethics Theory
QUESTION 8
GS4
10 marks

Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to matters of personal conscience, and that State bureaucracy may possess its own independent bureaucratic morality. Critically analyse this statement.

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7 min
150 words
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What the examiner wants

Critically analyse the exact proposition in the PYQ — “Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to matters of personal conscience, and that State bureaucracy may possess its own independent bureaucratic morality.…” — using concept/chronology or mechanism, evidence on both sides where relevant, and a conclusion that answers the directive rather than merely describing Ethics Theory.

Critically analyseAnswer exactly what the question asks.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1For the prompt cue ‘Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to matters of personal co’, directly answer: Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to matters of personal conscience, and that State bureaucracy…≈35 words
  2. 2For the prompt cue ‘Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to matters of personal co’, directly answer: Critically analyse this statement≈35 words
  3. 3For the prompt cue ‘Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to ma’, add one verified official-source anchor and a limitation/counterpoint specific to Ethics Theory≈35 words

Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.

Answer plan

Frame Ethics TheoryEvidence/arguments supporting the propositionLimitations/counter-viewBalanced judgement tied to the directive

Where marks usually go

  • For the prompt cue ‘Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to matters of p’, avoid a generic note on Ethics Theory; answer the actual wording/directive and the Ethics Theory proposition
  • For the prompt cue ‘Max Weber said it is not wise to apply to public administration the same moral and ethical norms applied to matters of p’, do not add examples around Ethics Theory unless they prove, qualify or rebut the proposition asked

Value addition

  • 3-box flow: concept/context → core argument/evidence → implication/way forward
    → Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.

Official source anchors

These are authoritative sources selected for this exact PYQ. Where a card is an official-domain anchor rather than a fact-level citation, verify the precise provision, definition or data point on the linked source before using it.