Introduction
to Political
Thought
PSM 429- PHILIPPINE POLITICAL THOUGHTS
Table of contents
01 02 03 Features of
Salient
Origin of Political Greek Political
Introduction Thought Thought
04 05 06
Subject Matter of Western Political Division of
Political Thought Thinkers Political Thought
Table of contents
07 08
Sources of Political
Political Problems Thought
01
Introduction
Political Thought
- Is the set of ideas based on the analysis of the nature of the state, forms of
government, function of the state, nature of political power.
- It refers to the exploration and analysis of ideas, values, and principles that
shape political systems and governance.
_ It seeks to find permanent or near permanent solutions to the issue
confronting politics.
- It is about the State, its structure, nature and purpose. It is nothing but
“the moral phenomena of human behavior in Society”.
Origin of Political
Thought
“Political Thought begins with
Greek. Its origin is associated
with the calm and clear
rationalism of Greek mind”
– Earnest Barker
Origin of Political
Thought
“Greeks were the first to present the
political ideas and concepts in
systematic form and their ideas
greatly molded the European
thought and form the basis of
modern political thinking.”
– Chester Maxey
Salient Features of Greek Thought
Exclusively Political Main Concentration
Character of Treatise on Nature of State
- The concept of man as a political animal.
In the case of Greek Political - The state become the center of Greek political
Thought the existence of number thinkers because they discussed the origin and
of independent treatises which are end of the state and distinguished between various
meant to study the political forms of government, and determine the order in
problems. which the changes take place in governments and
the laws governing them.
Salient Features of Greek Thought
Importance of
Social Nature of
The City-State Education
Man
- Greek thinkers gave top significance
-The Greek thinkers were the first to put -Men shared with
to education and stressed its
weight on social nature of man and community for common
importance in making the people on
highlight that an individual could not life and purpose, it was an
par with the spirit of constitution. They
think as an lonely and independently. He ample social organization
highlighted on practical system of
could get perfection only in a healthy in which citizens
education which could help in
state, so they considered state as uninterruptedly took part.
promoting modesty, self- control,
essential for the sake of life as well as
patriotism, sociability and other
good life.
similar qualities.
Salient Features of Greek Thought
Concept of
Rationalism Law
-They consider that reason is an aspect of the -The Greek concept of law was connected with
importance and man was free, when he had freedom of their belief in reason. They thought that law and
reasoning, this made man to identify himself with justice as two sides of the same coin, and
corporate life, which made to stop his personal and considered the justice done by the law.
selfish interests and just into the jurisdiction of wider
interpretations and higher purposes. Belief in Inequality
View on Justice
-They measured that disparity is natural and
- he Greek political thinkers gave top priority to justice, allowed the dominance of Greeks over barbarous, of
which enabled a citizen to discharge his duties properly, the free man over the slave; of the gentle man
and contributed towards development of human faculties.’ artisan etc., they however acceptable equality with
Justice was implied to mean willing obedience to the laws in a class.
of state.
Salient Features of Greek Thought
Individualistic Primary of
Element Discussions
- Another important feature of Greeks was that,
-The Greek political thinkers gave a they committed great importance to discussion.
significant position to the individual, their They approved the method of discussion for
thought and claimed it was the right of present their ideas and philosophy, and truth can
individual to articulate his own thoughts and be exposed only through proper reasoning and
direct these thoughts publicly and act discussion.
according to the dictator of conscience. .
Subject Matter of Political
The State
Thought The Government
Politics can be defined as the study of state and The people of the world and all ages have assumption about the
Government. It deals with the mechanism in which man government by its nature, function and organization. They tried
can govern himself and the society. The state and its to understand several institutions of government to attain its
institution comprises very significant part of social purpose and how should be organized to work better. Such
setup. Every movement of man in society is measured things gave rise to political thinking which is as old as the
by the government. recorded history.
Human Nature and its Relation to
Universe
Political thinking does not limit to state and government, it has reached beyond them. It is connected to nature of
man and his relation to universe. The completes cope of political thought was illustrated by great political
thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Marx, Hegel and Green. Chanakya, and Bruhaspati
provided number of examples in ancient India. The chief purpose of political thought is state, they participate in
discussion of its nature, origin, purpose, functions organization etc., then to speculation about the nature of man
and his place in universe.
Western Political
Thinkers
Some of the most important thinkers in Western
Political Thought
Thomas Hobbes
Plato (428-348 (1588-1679
BCE) Aristotle (384-322 BCE) BCE)
John Locke Jean-Jacques
Rousseau Karl Marx
(1632-1704) (1818-1883)
(1712-1778)
Thomas Hobbes
(1588-1679)
He was an English philosopher who is
considered one of the founders of modern
political thought. His book Leviathan (1651)
is a classic work of political philosophy that
explores the nature of the state and the
relationship between the individual and the
state.
Plato
(428-348 BCE)
He was a Greek philosopher who founded the
Academy in Athens, one of the first
institutions of higher learning in the Western
world. His ideas about the ideal state and the
nature of knowledge have had a profound
influence on Western thought.
John Locke
(1632-1704)
He was an English philosopher who is
considered one of the most important figures
in the development of liberalism. His ideas
about natural rights, limited government, and
the separation of powers have had a profound
impact on the development of Western
political thought.
Aristotle
(384-322 BCE)
He was a Greek philosopher who was a
student of Plato. He was a prolific writer on a
wide range of topics, including politics,
ethics, and logic. His ideas about the natural
world and the human condition have been
influential in many fields, including political
science.
Jean Jacques Rosseau
(1712-1778)
He was a Swiss philosopher who is
considered one of the most important figures
of the Enlightenment. His ideas about the
social contract, the general will, and the
natural goodness of man have been influential
in many fields, including political science,
sociology, and psychology.
Karl Marx
(1818-1883)
He was a German philosopher, economist, and
sociologist who is considered one of the most
influential thinkers of the 19th century. His
ideas about class struggle, the labor theory of
value, and the communist revolution have had
a profound impact on the development of
political thought and social movements
around the world.
Western political thought is a rich and complex
field that has been shaped by the ideas of many
different thinkers. It is a field that is constantly
evolving, and it continues to be a source of
debate and discussion today.
Division of Political Thought
It can be divided into four periods:
Ancient Medieval Modern Contemporary
Political Problems:
1. The origin of the State and its Nature
2. Relation of Political Science with religion and ethics or
controversy between the Churcha nd the State
3. Function of the State
4. The Organization of the State and the Government
5. Sovereignty
6. Law
7. Justice
8. Classification of Government
9. Utility or justification of the state
10. Relation of political science with other physical and social
sciences.
Sources of Political Thought
1. Geographical Conditions
2. Contemporary conditions and social setup or social
environments
3. Individual circumstances and experiences
4. Gret Philosophers and their works
5. Official documents as the main source
Thanks!
