Related questions:
v What in your view are the essential tasks of a political philosopher? Distinguish between political philosophy and political science.
v Identify the essential features of political philosophy.
v Attempt a distinction between political philosophy, political science and political theory.
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(YOUR INTRODUCTION)
WHAT IS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Expecting to get a straightforward definition of political philosophy is unnecessary, as like philosophy itself, it has no specific definition. However, it is important to note that political philosophy is an infrastructure of discipline which is directly under ethics as a sub-branch. A very easy way to define political philosophy is to first analyse its constituent words separately. Accordingly, a philosopher is a thinker about reality who asks fundamental questions that are of a universal character. Politics is simply a social science concerned about the creation and regulation of peaceful human co-existence via laws and legal structures in order to make the society a better place. Therefore, political philosophy can be defined as “an infrastructure of discipline which seeks to discover, as well as solve the deep rooted problems of social existence faced by man, thereby making possible the successful relationship between man and civil society”. Political philosophy is prescriptive, largely theoretical and universal in concept.
THE ESSENTIAL TASKS OF A POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER
It must be understood that political philosophy is strictly concerned with man and his existence in society (with other men). So, without much ado, it is stated that the major tasks of the political philosopher is to; firstly, analyse the nature of man and then secondly, evaluate the ways in which man relates or can relate with his society. These are the main tasks of a political philosopher. Accordingly, a political philosopher prescribes what standards a man should live by in society. This shows the reason for the close symbiotic relationship between ethics and (socio) political philosophy, as aside other things, they are both normative and prescriptive; and they extensively deal with human conduct and man’s relationship with the society. Some of the fundamental questions which a political philosopher could ask are;
§ What is the purpose of the state?
§ Should man be free?
§ Can one be justified to disobey the state?
§ Can one man really rule another?
THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
There are some basic ingredients which any political philosophy must have to qualify as such. These elements, which are connected to the essential tasks of a political philosopher, determine the nature of any political philosophy. Firstly, the basic element which determines any political philosophy is one’s metaphysical orientation (i.e. his ideology about the nature of man which could be idealistic or materialistic). In other words, for a political philosopher to prescribe for man, he must ask and answer (like an anthropologist) the question “what is man”? It is the answer to this question that a political philosopher would use to prescribe laws and rules based on his discoveries about man. Secondly, any political philosophy is a product of its epoch and time as the answers to the questions and problems of any political philosophy stems from the philosophers experience and culture. In this respect, two things come into play which are; “the ideas by other political philosophers before him” and “the events happening at the time”. These two things combine to shape the prescriptive ideas of any political philosopher; they help to enlighten one on how man can relate with his society.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political science and political philosophy would have almost been the same, as they are both contextually concerned with man and his relationship with society. However, political science is very different from political philosophy in concept. Unlike political philosophy which handles universal and general questions, political science deals with particular questions and situations. Also, political science gives descriptive answers (it says “what is and what is not”) to these particular questions, unlike political philosophy which is prescriptive and normative in approach (it says “what ought to be and what ought not to be”). Again, political science applies empirical and investigative methods in its approach unlike political philosophy which uses analytical and evaluative methods. Lastly, political science is very practical and pragmatic unlike political philosophy which is largely theoretical and cerebral in nature, as it prescribes for the political scientist to implement. Accordingly, a politician is closer to being a political scientist than being a political philosopher. Also, most (if not all) political philosophers hardly implement their prescriptions.
POLITICAL THEORY
From the foregoing, it is obvious that the political philosopher and the political scientist cannot function in isolation, but together (although this may not always be the case). However, a political theory occurs as the by product of both the political philosopher and scientist. A political theory is naturally the end result of the prescriptions of a political philosopher and the pragmatic implementation of a political scientist. In other words, when a political philosopher prescribes a maxim and then a political scientist applies same; over time, what happens is, when such prescriptions become validated by the continuous application and successful practicability, it then passes as a political theory. It is perceived as a trusted principle that works.
(YOUR CRITICISMS AND CONCLUSION)
