POL-UG-E101: Introduction to Political Theory and Thought: Unit I: Meaning, definitions, nature and scope of Political Science Approaches to the study of Political Science: Traditional, Behavioral, Post-Behavioural and Marxist. Political Science and other Social Sciences-Interdisciplinary study. Unit II: Basic concepts in Politics Liberty, Equality and Justice. Theories of origin of State and concept of sovereignty. Theories of nature of State: Individualist, Idealist, Marxist; Rights, Citizenship and Law. Unit III: Western Political Thought Greek thought: Plato, Aristotle. Roman thought: Cicero. Medieval thought: Church and the State. Renaissance and Machiavelli. Reformation (Luther and Calvin). Unit IV: Selected Political Thinkers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, JJ Rousseau, Hegel and Marx.

Selected Readings: P Gauba: Principles of Political Thought. S P Verma: Modern Political Theory. J C Johari: Principles of Modern Political Science. Andrew Heywood: Politics. R C Agarwal: Political Theory- Principles of Political Science. A Mukhopadhyay: Western Political Thought. S Ramaswamy and S Mukherjee: History of Political Thought.

WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT ANCIENT GREEK POLITICAL THOUGHT: (PLATO & ARISTOTLE) 400-500 BCE ROMAN POLITICAL THOUGHT: 1. POLYBIUS. 2. CICERO 200BCE-300AD 301-1500 BCE MEDIEVAL POLITICAL THOUGHT: 1. Ambrose of Milan, 2. St. Augustine, 3. St. Thomas Aquinas, 4. Marsilius of Padua 1400-1500 BCE REFORMATION: 1. Martin Luther, 2. John Calvin 1501-1950BCE MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT: 1. Nicola Machiavelli 1950BCE Onwards POST-MODERNISM

WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT Ancient Greek Political Thought: Main Features: Rational and Logical Mind. Freedom of Discussion on State Affairs. Democratic Environment. Greek City-State. Assembly. The Council. Court

Unit III: WESTERN POLITICAL THINKER Socrates (469-399 BCE): Greek philosopher who spent his entire life in the discussion of philosophical and political problems. He was interested in affairs of the state, politics and law. The then rulers of Athens thought his lessons harmful and he was prevented from preaching further and his lesson were banned. Socrates was severely penalized for preaching and upholding progressive ideas. He was charged of being corrupt and impious. The indictment against him was “Socrates is guilty of refusing to recognize the Gods recognized by the state, and of introducing the other, new divinities. He is also guilty of corrupting the youth. The penalty demanded his death. The Athenian Court sentenced him to death.

Major Political Thought of Socrates: Ethics and politics closely connected. Concept of law. In the light of Justice. Supporter of Philosopher king. The ruler should not acquire pleasure or to satisfy personal whims and the wishes but to ensure the welfare of the common people.

2. PLATO (427-347 BCE): Greek philosopher Plato was born of an aristocratic family. He became a follower of Socrates, who is the principal figure in his ethical and philosophical dialogues. After Socrates death in 399 BCE, Plato founded his own academy in order to train the new Athenian ruling class. Plato taught the material world consists of imperfect copies of abstract and eternal ideas. His political philosophy, expounded in The Republic and the laws, is an attempt to describe the ideal state in terms of the theory of justice. Both works are decidedly authoritarian and pay no attention to individual liberty, believing that power should be vested in the hands of educated elite, the philosopher kings, he was therefore a firm cretic of democracy. Plato’s work has exerted wide influence on Christianity and on European culture in general.

Major contribution of Plato: IDEAL STATE 1 Major contribution of Plato: IDEAL STATE 1. The republic: concerning Justice 2. The laws: 3. The statesmen

Deliberative function Classification of Human mind Classification of class in the state Classification of the function of the state Reason    Ruler  Deliberative function Spirit  Worrier  Protective Function Appetite  Producer (artisans & farmers)  Acquisitiveness Function

Component of ideal state: Philosopher King. Communism of Wives. Communism of Property. Justice.

Justice : Incorporated in the Republic According to Sabine “the theory of the state in the republic culminates in the conception of Justice. Plato’s Four cardinal virtues of the State: Wisdom: Philosopher King Courage: Worriers Temperance/self control: Producer and Justice: is bond of three virtues

Meaning of Justice: Justice as a bond which hold society together. Functional Specialization/non-interference of the function of other class. In Plato's theory to perform nature-ordained duty is justice. Role of Philosopher king.

Aristotle:

Aristotle (384-322 BCE): Greek philosopher Aristotle was the student of Plato and tutor of young Alexander the Great. He established his own school of philosophy in Athens in 335 BCE; this was called the peripatetic school after his tendency to walk up and down as he talked. His 22 surviving treatise, compiled as lecture notes, range over logic. Physics, metaphysics, astronomy, meteorology, biology, ethics and politics. In the middle ages, Aristotle's work became the foundation of Islamic Philosophy. His best known work is politics, a study of an ideal constitution.

According to Aristotle: “Political Science is the architectonic or master discipline and naturally it controls all other discipline”.

Aristotle on IDEAL STATE: stage of self Sufficiency Nature of polis or State: According to Aristotle State/Polis is a community of persons. State is the highest among all the Communities. And naturally its purpose shall be the highest and supreme. It is the Associations of Association.

Theory of state: State is a natural institutions Theory of state: State is a natural institutions. It started with the individual, family, villages and ultimately state, According to their purpose.

CONSTITUTION: Nature of constitution. Classification of constitution. Ideal and perverted form.

Aristotle’s classification of States 2. Qualitative basis The end that the rulers serves Which serve the selfish interests of the rulers Perverted State Normal State which serve the good of all 1. Quantitative Basis: Rule of One 1. Monarchy 2. Tyranny Rule of Few 3. Aristocracy 4. Oligarchy Number of persons in whom the sovereign power is vested Rule of all or Majority 5. Polity (Moderate Democracy) 6. Democracy (mobocracy or Extreme Democracy

ROMAN THOUGHT: major features and thinkers There is a controversy about the contribution of Romans to political Theory. It is true that we do not find any single philosopher in Rome in the rank of Plato and Aristotle. Rome cannot boast any clear and systematic political theory but their Legal, Administration and governmental system of Rome regarded as fertile sources of political thought.