Abstract
Aristotle
was a Greek Philosopher. A disciple of Plato, Aristotle is famous for his
writings on a plethora of subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry,
theater, music, logic, rhetoric, politics, government, ethics, biology and zoology.
He held the distinction of being the creator of Western philosophy, in
collaboration with Plato and Socrates. He is regarded as the epitome of
humanity. His teachings have influenced the life of the common man, in some way
or the other. Many writers are of the view that the chief title of Aristotle to
fame as political philosopher rests on his employment of the comparative method
in study of political phenomena. It is one of his contributions to political
science. It must, however, be remembered that the scientific method, of which
his politics is an illustration example, combines induction from facts with
deductive reasoning from first principle. His
study was based on facts, measuring the value of facts and respect for
tradition. Aristotle used comparative
method of studying various constitutions. He studied the constitution of 158
State and after comparing this constitution he concluded that there is need for
understanding the laws to understand any political system. We can say that Aristotle’s method was determined by
his empirical or inductive habit of mind, historic temper, respect for
traditions and a general readiness to accept the verdict of public opinion. So,
Aristotle was different in methods from his teacher, Plato. Due to his
scientific and comparative approach to study of political science he is known
as Father of political science.
Introduction
Aristotle
(384-322 BCE) is known as the father of political science. Aristotle was a
Greek philosopher who wrote on a wide range of subjects, including natural
science, poetry, ethics and geology. He is called the father of political
science largely because of his work entitled Politics. This treatise is divided
into eight books, and deals with subjects such as citizenship, democracy,
oligarchy and the ideal state. Aristotle along
with Socrates and Plato are the fathers of Western Philosophy. But, besides
Philosophy Aristotle significantly contributed to the field of Political
Science. A Macedonian, Aristotle studied Philosophy under Plato at the Platonic
Academy in Athens. After leaving the academy Aristotle traveled Asia Minor
teaching and studying and then became the teacher and mentor of the future King
of Macedonia Alexander the Great. As head of the Royal Academy of Macedonia
Aristotle taught Alexander and two of Alexander’s future generals and future
kings of different part of the word, Ptolemy and Cassander.
Aristotle’s
great contribution to the field of political science comes in the form of his
work Politics. In Politics Aristotle champions the role of the good of humanity
as the greatest asset in the creation of a good government or ideal. Like
Plato, Aristotle believed that virtue was what caused a city to be good, and
that if all men strived to find the good inherent in themselves people would
live well. Aristotle was basically a disciple of Plato who was called as the
father of political philosophy. He tries to understand the nature of politics
which can be within the experience and observation of human conscience which we
call it as empirical approach i.e. the foundational principle of his political
theory.
His
contribution to the field of politics is huge enough to call it as the science
rather than philosophy which was widely accepted. A few of his contributions
are: Theory of state where he quotes that man by nature a political animal
which intensifies his convictions towards state and humans), Theory of
citizenship, Theory of property, Theory of justice, Theory of equality, Theory
of democracy, Theory of revolution etc.
Are
his few contributions to the field of politics which mainly concerns about the
practical nature of their application. His approach is scientific rather than
metaphysical. His father was a physician and he applied the approach of biology
for the classification of types of constitution. He is the first person to use
inductive approach (particular to general). He studied nearly 158 constitutions
of his times to understand the nature of political structures in different
parts of the world. Thus, he can be rightly called as the father of political
science because of his new approach and contributions to the field of politics
viewing it as a science.
Problem Identification
Aristotle
is called as the father of political science is because of his empirical method
of understanding politics. Basically, understanding of politics involves
different approaches like say it can be normative approach, empirical approach,
historical approach, institutional approach, legal approach etc. He tries to
understand the nature of politics which can be with in the experience and
observation of human conscience which we call it as empirical approach i.e. the
foundational principle of his political theory. Throughout history many
political theorists, such as Hobbes, have challenged Aristotle’s view of
politics. They claim that Aristotle’s view of freedom is not good because it is
too broadly defined. The classification of state theory in six folds cycle of
Aristotle is criticized where no scientific
classification of states is possible because all the states are alike in as
much as all are supposed to have population, territory, government and
sovereignty. It is therefore impossible to achieve and vulnerable to
ideological wars since each person has his own definition of what it means to
live well and will want to impose that on other people. Father of political science dates back to Socrates at
times to, but as we have no real record of his writings, it's usually
considered Aristotle.
Review of Literature
Literature
review is the review of different materials. Literature reviews are secondary
sources and do not report new or original experimental work. It is the study of previous research report,
articles, books and journals in the related field or topic available in the
market that are published or unpublished. It helps to find out gap between
previous study and current research topic. So, literature review is an integral
part of the entire research process. It helps to know what other study in the
area of our problem has uncovered and avoids the investigating problems that
have already been answered.
In
the words of French Philosopher Renan, (Pandey, 2017) “Socrates gave
philosophy to mankind and Aristotle gave science to it.” Aristotle gives us
definite and clear-cut dogmas, instead of groping in illusions and
imaginations. He does not believe in abstract notions of justice and virtue but
has a concrete approach. He discarded utopian philosophy of Plato and advocated
logical and scientific theories based upon realism. Aristotle supported the
principle of unity through diversity. He was of the view that reality lay in
the concrete manifestation of things. He separated ethics from politics.
During
the middle Ages, he was simply considered “the Philosopher”. The recovery of
his manuscripts in the thirteenth century marks a turning point in the history
of philosophy. According to “the capital significance of Aristotle in the
history of political theories lies in the fact that he gave to politics the
character of an independent science. “He is founder of science of logic. His
monumental treatise “Politics” is the most valuable works on Political Science.
The “Politics” is a chief work on the science and art of Government giving full
justification for existing of the institution like the state, slavery and
family is calculated to suggest the remedies for the ill of the body-politic of
the city-state. Though it is generally said that “Politics” is an unfinished
treatise and often obscure but the half-understood words of Aristotle have
become laws of thoughts to other ages.
In an article, however, (Ambler, 1987) has argued that Aristotle is fully conscious
of how seriously deficient his account is as a defence of existing slavery.
Aristotle knows that there are few if any people who qualify as natural slaves
and that actual slavery, even in the ideal state, is unjust. Ambler argues that
Aristotle means to point out the deficiencies of nature in not providing sufficient
natural slaves, and thus to indicate 'the radical shortcomings of actual political
life' when measured against the standards of true (i.e. natural) morality.
Aristotle is thus recruited to Straussian pessimism about the morality of everyday
politics.
Methodology
The
researcher has focused on the secondary data more due to unavailability of
primary data and sources. The sources of secondary data include Books,
Journals, Newspaper, articles and other websites. This research involves in
depth study and evaluation of available information in an attempt to explain
complex phenomena. The researcher has to use the information already provided
to make a critical evaluation of the material and a comparative analysis is
done. The available information collected about Aristotle regarded as a father
of political science and it can be justified in the basis of following ground.
He used Scientific Approach and insisted that political science is the practical science requiring practical reasons, so he followed various methods of studying the state and other issues. Aristotle has done study leased on facts where he had studied 158 constitutions before writing ‘politics’. Thus, he gave political phenomena empirical approach. Aristotle also laid stress on the importance of measuring the value of facts. He held that true method of politics must not be historical and comparative but also teleological, that means to inquire into the final cause of things. His teleological ideas lead him to an organic view of the state, which leads him to regard ethics and politics as constituting one science. He used comparative methods in his study. After studying 158 constitutions, he came to the conclusion that there is a need for understanding the law to understand any political system. Aristotle was first to give many new concepts and theories in Political Science which was unimaginable at that time.
Conclusion
The
researcher has concluded that from the study the title of fatherhood of
Political Science bestowed upon Aristotle is appropriate. He was the first
Political thinker who gave his theories based on empirical basis. He studied
158 constitutions of his times and done comparative analysis. Then he
classified political system comparatively. He proposed solutions which could be
implemented of problems of political system. Plato is called Father of
Political Philosophy but Aristotle is called Father of Political Science
because Plato's ideas or philosophy was not possible to implement it was only
based on philosophy and idealized, where Aristotle's was based on experience
and somehow could be implemented. He gave functional theories on citizenship,
slavery etc. Thus, focusing on practical He focused more on what is than what
ought to be.
Aristotle
laid the foundation of a real political science by his keen and practical
political approach and systematic treatment of the subject. His encyclopedic
mind encompassed practically all branches of human knowledge. His works
reflected mind of Scientist rather than a Philosopher. He was a great pioneer
in Political Science and no discussion is ever complete without a reference to
his insights and methods of analyses. Aristotle
insisted that political science is a practical science requiring the exercise
of practical reason, so he follows various methods of studying the state and
its problem. His study was based on facts, measuring the value of facts and
respect for tradition. We can say that
Aristotle’s method was determined by his empirical or inductive habit of mind,
historic temper, respect for traditions and a general readiness to accept the
verdict of public opinion. So Aristotle was different in methods from his
teacher, Plato. Due to his scientific and comparative approach to study of
political science he is known as Father of political science.
Bibliography
Ambler, S. W. (1987). Aristotle on Nature and
Politics: The Case of Slavery', Political. Political Theory, 390-410.
Barker, E. (1973). The Politics of Aristotle. In E. Barker,
The Scientific Background of the
Politics (p. xxvii). New York: Oxford University Press.
Dunning, W. A. (1900, 6 1). The Politics of Aristotle. Political Science Quarterly,
pp. 273-307.
Pandey, D. S. (2017). Western Pplitical Thought. In D. S.
Pandey, Aristotle (pp.
15-28). Horizon .
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