Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology

College of Arts and Social Sciences

Department of Political Science

Mapping the Terrain of Political Theory: A Personal Essay

Rochelle Zhayne C. Sabac

2nd Year BA- Political Science
POS 140 - Introduction to Political Theory
Asst. Prof. Yasmira Moner

September 5, 2022
Rochelle Zhayne C. Sabac

POS 140 | A5 - Introduction to Political Theory

Mapping the Terrain of Political Theory: A Personal Essay

It became a prominent intuition on what political philosophy entails in the basic

Philosophical disciplines as it was defined by the questions in which they address it. According
to Aristotle, the method of investigation in inhabiting the meaning of political philosophy is to
study things in the process of development from the beginning, whereupon Political Philosophy
embodies two histories of Political Theory where it traces the growth of the central ideas in
Western Political Theory. The history of Political Philosophy is described as a matter hence it
still has its subject. Learning the analogous of Political Philosophy calls for constant renewal to
reflect not just re-readings of the tradition even so the demands of current events. Political
philosophy can be characterized as a philosophical analysis of the ideal configuration for our
collective existence, as well as the political institutions and social behaviors like our economic
system and family structure. Political Theory and Political Philosophy have their corresponding
meaning as both incorporate theoretical reflection and some concern for political questions.
Given that political science focuses on discovering value rather than what should be in the field
of politics, it is important to associate neutral value approaches with normative value learning.
Terms like political theory and political science are frequently used interchangeably. Empiricism
from the seventeenth century served as the foundation for political science. The term "science"
describes a method of learning through observation, experimentation, and measurement. The
"scientific method," which is a key component, entails testing hypotheses against empirical data,
preferably utilizing Political Theory, in order to confirm or refute them.

By restricting a citizen's rights, the interests of that citizen fully developed into moral
claims against other persons whose rights are independent of their membership in a particular
social group. "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,
and the Pursuit of Happiness," the first line of the declaration of independence reads. Do people
have obligations to the government? Truth be told, yeah. What the individual legitimately owes
society and the government is the core query of liberal political theory, which is frequently
referred to as the question of "political obligation." An individual has a legal obligation to the
state to uphold its laws, just as they would have a moral obligation as citizens. The political
obligation only provides the citizen with an additional justification for acting following the law
when the act or forbearance in question is ethically demanded for other reasons.

For individuals who embrace this perspective, the concept of power helps to constrain
how far their political analytical capabilities can go. This makes it surprising that the idea of
power has sparked so much debate, disagreement, and violence. It is a concept that was used in
the Western Tradition to think about political phenomena. The ability of individuals or
collectives "to get things done" efficiently, particularly when their objectives are hampered by
some form of human resistance or opposition, is the core aspect of its meaning, nevertheless. The
challenge of handling opposition thus raises the issue of coercive tactics, such as the use of
physical force, and how coercion relates to the voluntary and consensual components of power
structures. Treating "influence" and occasionally money, as well as coercion in various aspects,
as "forms" of power has the effect of treating power as simply the generalized ability to achieve
ends or goals in social relations, independent of the media employed or of the status of
"authorization" to make decisions or impose obligations. Political power, in some ways,
represents my daily life since it doesn't guarantee society's safety. Those in positions of power do
not always associate justice with specific case-by-case circumstances. An illustration of such
would be a drunk driver hitting someone on the street and this victim lacks the strength to defend
himself just as his opponent's father holds a position in parliament. It demonstrates some of
society's incompetent leaders in situations where the offender should be held accountable yet is
not. This isn't just the case in this instance now; due to various strong political influences, more
people commit crimes in society without being punished. Although this may not always be the
reality, several candidates in the most recent election deliberately ran to expand their influence or
authority. It demonstrates that our nation's political structure is not sufficiently robust to suit the
needs of the populace. It has an impact on everyone in this country, not just me.

From antiquity to the present, the idea and ideal of statesmanship have been passed down
to us, yet they have a paradoxical connection to the contemporary state. Although the phrase
implies that statesmanship presupposes the state, this seems to be at odds with contemporary
sovereignty. Statesmanship can be loosely characterized as ethically superior polity-level
leadership. Jacobsohn (2016) implies that understanding the standards by which such evaluations
are made is more crucial than actually evaluating statesmanship. Its gloomy conclusion is that,
despite the state being under increasing pressure, statesmanship may not become more possible
but even more necessary. Fears contend that a statesman is not a tyrant but rather the sovereign
leader of a sovereign individual who must have four essential qualities: (1) a solid foundation of
moral values; (2) a moral compass; (3) a vision; and (4) the capacity to forge alliances to realize
that vision. There is a significant difference between the definitions of a statesman and a
stateswoman. As per my analysis, a stateswoman is someone who has some connections to the
legal and political systems but does not embody all of the attributes and aspirations of a
statesman.

A hundred new nation-states have been created in every state during history, while many
of the remaining fifty or so political entities have drastically changed their prior forms of
government by force, revolution, conquest, elections, or a shift in political philosophy. The
age-old debate about the ideal kind of rule that men should live by has been revived as a result.
Given that it grants people the freedom to express themselves and elect their leaders, democracy
can be seen as the ideal type of government. Since the entire population holds the reins of power
rather than just a small minority, our constitution is referred to as a democracy. Everyone is
treated equally under the law when it comes to resolving private disputes, but when it comes to
choosing one individual over another for a position of public responsibility, the man's actual
abilities matter more than his membership in a certain class.

Politics is still regarded as a social activity that is carried out through language, whether it
be spoken at rallies or written in books. Thus, concepts like "human rights," "democracy," and
"capitalism" are more polished and logical than the amorphous circumstances they strive to
depict.
References:

Andrew, H. (2004). Political Theory An Introduction. Palgrave Macmillan.

Klosko, G. (2013). History of political theory: An introduction: Volume II: Modern (Vol. 2). Oxford University
Press.

Overeem, P., & Bakker, F. E. (2019). Statesmanship beyond the modern state. Perspectives on Political
Science, 48(1), 46-55.

Parsons, T. (1963). On the concept of political power. Proceedings of the American philosophical society,
107(3), 232-262.