Topic 1 - Introduction

PSCI 2210 - POLITICAL THOUGHT 1
Bachelor of Political Science, KIRKHS, IIUM
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1. POLITICAL THOUGHT Topic 1 INTRODUCTION What is political thought? The Origins of Western political thought? Common themes in political thought. Comparing political philosophers

2. REFERENCES: Donald G. Tannenbaum and David Schultz, Inventors of Ideas, An Introduction to Western Political Philosophy, UK: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004 Lawrence C. Wanlass , History of P olitical Thought , London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd. J.C. Johari , Traditions of P olitical Thought, Bombay: Himalaya Publishing House.

3. Definition “It is a thought about the state, its structure, its nature and its purpose.” Examples: “What you do if the government passed a law that you thought was immoral?” “What convincing arguments you would use to try preventing your government to impose GST?”

4. Definition: It may include your thought about: Justice Good government Good law Equality Liberty corruption

5. Why ? To know the past Awareness of heritage Source of inspiration To create the future Better future

6. Why? “Sense of wonder” or “passion for wisdom” Human beings always have a higher purpose in life than mere existence or the satisfaction of physical (bodily) appetites It provides alternative way of understanding the world Examples: How to reduce poverty? How to stop terrorism? How can freedom flourish?

7. Common Major themes (1)Philosophers consider the political crisis, or set of problems in their own time motivates them to write

8. Common Major themes (2) Each of the philosopher presented a personal methodology or method of thinking about politics: View of reality Definition of the world Assumption about society

9. Common Major themes (3)They present their own views of human nature Good or bad Constants or predictable? Men or women are same?

10. Common Major themes (4)They present a version of the proper role of government in dealing with the crisis. Economics Religion Education Social class family

11. How to compare Political Philosophers? (1)Examining the similarities and differences in concepts; Justice Equality Human nature

12. How to compare Political Philosophers? (2)By grouping them according to consistent pattern: Ancient Medieval Modern Postmodern How? The role of reason and science in political philosophy

13. How to compare Political Philosophers? Ancient: Plato to Cicero Method of idealism; abstract principles like justice, truth, virtue Medieval: From St. Augustine through the Middle ages Religious faith; described as theo -idealists, combining the ancient pagan idealism with Christian beliefs

14. How to compare Political Philosophers? The Moderns : Machiavelli Material values take precedence over any interest in ideals or salvation which become apparent either through our senses by way of empirical knowledge or rational Such values as power, wealth, progress through scientific and technological discovery are the highest goals people can seek. Postmodern Nietzsche Critical toward reason Urge us to criticize and even reject everything that we have received from the past and to replace it with an ever-changing, ever-evolving approach that is fragmented, inconclusive,

15. Problem or questions of political thought…. (1) STATE As the most universal and most powerful social institutions. Men must investigate this institution to ensure their development: To discover its origin To uphold its authority To dispute over the proper scope of its function

16. Problems/questions of political thought Contest for supremacy between spiritual and temporal authorities. Monarchic and democratic theories The extension of governmental regulation and control. Origin of the state: divine theory, force theory, social contract theory Obligation to state authority: divine order, innate political character of men, it secures greatest happiness of greatest number, consent of all, force (might makes right)

17. problems… Sovereignty : law, ruler, entire body of citizens, organs of government. Forms of government : single head, limited government, or widely distributed among the democratic masses. Proper scope of state activities : an individualism, paternalistic socialism. Relations among states : they owed no obligations to any except their people, equality of states, nature of treaties

18. Sources of Knowledge of Political T hought 1. writings of those political philosophers 2. Study of the history of political institutions and of the actions and policies of states 3. A knowledge of the general intellectual background of each period: philosophy, science, religion, ethics and economic. 4.Writings and speeches of men occupying official positions in government 5. official documents of states: constitutions, statutes, ordinances, court decisions, charters, departmental reports, treaties. 6. Public Opinion 7. Literature: poetry, fiction, drama

19. Muslim perspective……. Abdul Hamid A. AbuSulayman Issues……crisis of knowledge…..resulting from Backwardness Intellectual stagnation Absence of ijtihad Absence of cultural progress

20. Muslim… Reform our knowledge, culture and civilization…….ways: Rectify the relationship between divine revelation and reason manifested in our lines of thinking. Redefine knowledge in a way that leaves no ambiguity about concepts such as ijtihad and roles such as that of the faqih . We must reorganize and reorient the methodology of Islamic education and instruction in order to put an end to the confused dualism that divides knowledge into intellectual, social, religious and legal categories

21. Muslim… Islamization …..Political science…why? It drawn little attention from Muslim scholars. The existence of technical and unsystematic methods of thought dominating Islamic studies Those inadequate methods have failed to develop a comprehensive vision capable of providing solutions and alternatives appropriate for the requirement of time and place to meet the challenges of progress, change and construction.

22. Muslim perspective…. Example of case studies….. Al- Khilafah Syura Conventional concepts : democracy, sovereignty, separation of church and state

23. Muslim perspective… Suggestion: the need for the Islamization of knowledge in general and that of political science in particular. The first prerequisite in the process of Islamization is to have a clear idea of the reality of Islamic political studies