POLITICAL SCIECNE

COURSE INSTRUCTOR
MINHA NAZ
MPHIL POLITICAL SCIENCE
 Contents
Introduction to Political Science
Definitions of Political Science
Evolution of political science
Nature of Political Science
Key Concepts of Political Science
Political Philosophy
Difference b/w Political Science and Philosophy
State

Definition of State
Historical conceptions of State
Plato

Aristotle
 Introduction to Political Science
Political science is an academic discipline that deals
with the study of government and political processes,
institutions, and behaviors.
The study of political science is motivated by the need
to understand the sources and consequences of
political stability and revolution, of repression and
liberty, of equality and inequality, of war and peace,
of democracy and dictatorship.
Origin: Ancient Greece
Derivation of politics : Greek word `Polis’ which means the city state
Meaning of politics:
Activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a
government or getting and keeping power in a government.
(Merriam Webster)
According to Greek Philosophers, Politics was a subject which dealt
with all the activities and affairs of the city state
Definitions of Political Science
“Science of analyzing and understanding the state from different
angle” (Bluntschi)
“Political Science begins and ends with the state (J.W.Garner)
“Political Science means the study of the activities of political life and
activities of various organs of government” (Catlin)
“Political science is social science that deals with the state and
government”(Paul Janet)
Evolution of Political Science
1st 2nd
phase: Emerged as sub Phase: 3rd 4th Phase: Development in
dominated by autonomous
Ancient discipline of Medieval phase: discipline Contemp Europe after
religion.
Times philosophy Times Moder n orary WWI
Times
Thinkers: State became
Socrates, Thinkers: central subject After WWII,
Augustine, under the
Pluto, Thomas Aquinas patronage of US
Aristotle
Thinkers:
Machiavelli, Jean
Bodin, Thomas Thinker: Fredrick
Hobbes. Nietzsche.
Key Concepts of Political Science
power

authority legitimacy

conepts

sovereignty state

government
Political Philosophy
What is Philosophy?
The term "philosophy" means, «love of wisdom»
philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to
understand fundamental truths about themselves
Philosophy is a particular, unique type of thought or style of thinking.
philosophy is a pursuit.
What is Political Philosophy?
It is the search for comprehensive knowledge of wisdom about political things.
Political philosophy seeks the application of ethical concepts to the social sphere
and thus deals with the variety of forms of government and social existence that
people could live in.
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as politics, liberty, justice,
property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority.
Difference b/w Political Science and
Philosophy
State
A state is a community of persons, more or less numerous,
occupying a definite territory, possessing an organized government,
and enjoying independence from external control.
As used in political science, the word state means a community or
society politically organized under one independent government
within a definite territory and subject to no outside control.
Derivation: Latin word status, meaning condition, circumstances
Definition of State
“A community of families and villages having its end a
perfect and self-sufficing life.” (Aristotle)
“The state is the politically organized people of definite
territory.” (Bluntschli)
“A territorial society divided into government and subjects
claiming within its allotted physical area, supremacy over all
other institutions.” (Harold J Laski)
Historical conceptions of State
Greek and Roman precedents:
The history of the Western state begins in ancient Greece.
Plato and Aristotle wrote of the polis, or city-state, as an ideal form of
association, in which the whole community’s religious, cultural, political, and
economic needs could be satisfied.
the Greek idea corresponds more accurately to the modern concept of the
nation i.e., a population of a fixed area that shares a common language, culture,
and history.
Roman res publica, or commonwealth, is more similar to the modern concept of
the state. The res publica was a legal system whose jurisdiction extended to all
Roman citizens, securing their rights and determining their responsibilities.
Machiavelli and Bodin:
It was 16th century that the modern concept of the state emerged
In The Prince, Machiavelli gave prime importance to the durability of
government by sweeping aside all moral considerations and focusing
instead on the strength, the vitality, courage, and independence of
the ruler.
For Bodin, power was not sufficient in itself to create a sovereign;
rule must comply with morality to be durable, and it must have
continuity i.e., a means of establishing succession.
Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau
Hobbes:
• man is self-seeking and
competitive.
•Man subjects himself to
the rule of the state as the
only means of self-
preservation
Locke Rousseau
• the social contract by • the state owed its
which individuals agree authority to the general
not to infringe on each will of the governed.
other’s “natural rights” • For him, the nation itself
is sovereign, and
the law is none other
than the will of the
people as a whole.
Why states are important?
Plato and Aristotle also maintained that the aim of the state was public good and moral welfare.
Necessity of State:
The state is badly needed for the public good, maintenance of law and order, social welfare,
establishment of justice, economic and political welfare of the people.
In the absence of the state anarchy will prevail and there will be chaos and confusion in society.
The progress of the individual is not possible in the absence of the state. Development of human
personality is possible only in the well-ordered life.
The state is badly needed for the smooth-running of human life.
The state not only aims at the maintenance of law and order but also provides the individuals with
the opportunity of making progress.
The state aims at imparting justice and protects the weak against the strong.
Plato
 427-347 BCE
 Son of wealthy and influential
Athenians Student of Socrates
 Aristotle was a student at his “Academy” in Athens
 Being a student of Socrates, Plato started to adopt his philosophy & style of debate.
 When Socrates died, Plato traveled to Egypt and Italy, studied with students of Pythagoras,
and spent several years advising the ruling family of Syracuse
Major Works
 Republic
 Statesman
 The Laws
Republic
 The Republic
 Plato portrays an Ideal state in his widely known work
REPUBLIC. State was recognized as Utopian One.
 eight features of Plato’s ideal state:
 A Ruler should be a Philosopher:
 the government should be headed by a Philosopher-King who embodies the perfect
knowledge.
 Education assumes importance in the Ideal State of Plato: It should be directly under the
control of the Rulers.
 The Spirit of Justice is Supreme in the Ideal State: Justice in the state means the due
performance by each individual of the functions for which he is best fitted by aptitude
and training.
There is a complete Ban on art and poetry: He was against poetry
because he believed that poetry deals with unreal.
Stratification of Society:
Society was divided into three classes –
◦ ruler,
◦ soldiers,
◦ peasants
◦ there is the principle of functional specialization which prevails in the ideal state.
◦ communism of property and wives: should not own any private property at all. According to
his depictions of an ideal state, the state should monitor and have a control over human
reproduction.
Citizens of Ideal State:
◦ Plato’s ideal state was a republic with three categories of citizens:
 Philosopher-kings
 Auxiliaries
 Artisans
communism of property and wives: should not own any private property at all.
According to his depictions of an ideal state, the state should monitor and have a control over human
reproduction.
Philosopher-kings foresight and knowledge to rule wisely.
Auxiliaries, a class of guardians, possessed the courage necessary to protect the state from invasion.
Artisans, were dominated by their desires, and therefore destined to produce material goods.
Plato concept of Justice
According to Plato, an ideal state possessed the four cardinal virtues of:
◦ wisdom,
◦ courage,
◦ discipline
◦ justice.
It may refer to individual virtue, the order of society, as well as individual rights in contrast to the
claims of the general social order.
Plato viewed justice as an idea, an attribute of the mind, which expresses itself in a just, political and
social order.
Justice is a knowledge that can be acquired from within by means of exploring one’s own talents and
through education as well.
Justice, therefore, is a relation between individuals depending on social and political organization.
 Plato Education System
Early Education, must be imparted to all in the early stages without any discrimination.
Plato also emphasized on moral education.
Plato’s system of education can be broadly divided into two parts:
Elementary education: the first 10 years, there should be predominantly physical education.
Higher education: take an examination that would determine whether or not to pursue
higher education at the age of 20. Those who failed in the examination were asked to take
up activities in communities such as businessmen.
who passed the exam would receive another 10 years of education and training in body and mind.
Again at the age of 30, students would take yet another examination. Those who did not
succeed would become executive assistants, auxiliaries and military officers of the state.
Those who passed in the examination would receive another 5 year advanced education in
dialectics
Finally at the age of 50, those who withstood the hard and fast process of education were
introduced to the ultimate task of governing their country.
The Statesman
Its represent an attitude toward democracy which was differ from the Republic.
he good statesman should be an expert. He knows how to rule, and his
capacities constitute his right.
The task of the ruler is to develop a virtuous people.
In the Statesman Plato admits that, although there is a correct science
of government
he stresses the need for the rule of law, since no ruler can be trusted with
unbridled power
 Aristole
Aristotle life
Born in the city of Stagira in Northern Greece.
Student of Pluto
Aristotle has been called ‘the father of political science’
Aristotle addressed the city in his work titled Politics. Aristotle considered the city to be a
natural community.
Work
The Politics” is a work of political philosophy
“Eudemian Ethics” is a work of philosophy by Aristotle. Its primary focus is
on ethics
Features of the Ideal State:
There is supremacy of law in his ideal state. He favors impersonal rule of law which represents
the wisdom of community since the ages.
It is an ethical institution to develop the moral qualities of the citizens to promote good and
happy life of everyone.
Aristotle’s ideal state is marked by division of labor where slaves are engaged in
agriculture residents in commerce and citizens in political activities.
There should be six classes, viz., agriculture, artisans, and a war like class, leisured class, priests
and administrators. Only the later four are entitled for citizenship.
There is a predominance of middle class that provide stability because
it possesses twin qualities of obedience and command.
Citizenship in the ideal state
Full citizen Matics Slaves
Compulsory in
society
People come for Do work related
Permanent
work and trade to
administration
at local level.
Citizenship in the ideal state
•A person, who has the authority to participate in the judicial administration of the state, is
termed as a citizen of that state.
•All those people who are permitted to take part in the political process of that state. Example:
casting a vote or contesting elections.
•Aristotle opines that all those who are trained and are capable of becoming either the ruler or
the ruled, ought to be citizens.
•A citizen is one who’s both parents have is citizens.
Concept of Slavery
Aristotle strongly believed and justified the institution of slavery.
He stated that slavery is natural and beneficial to both the masters as well as the
slaves.
According to Aristotle, natural slaves are those who understand reason but
possess no reasoning ability.
He was of the belief that the slaves have no reasoning power despite the ability
to understand and follow their intellect.
What is Eudemonia?
In its simplest form, Eudemonia is often taken to mean happiness.
Sometimes it is translated from the original ancient Greek as welfare, sometimes flourishing,
and sometimes as well-being.
Origin: Eudemonia comes from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics.
Aristotle’s view was that every living being has a Telos, some good that it naturally strives to
actualize
Aristotle saw that what was especially unique to our human nature (and what separates us from
animals) was our ability to live in accord with reason, and the most complete way to live
according to reason was to live virtuously.
Thus Aristotle arrived at his famous conclusion that eudemonia is about a “certain activity of
soul in accord with complete virtue.