History Of Political Thought – Sushila Ramaswamy (1)

The legislator was a charismatic figure with semi-divine qualities. He was independent of the people, but would devote himself to their happiness by protecting their interests. Rousseau had the same adulation for legislators that one found subsequently in Burke. The legislator played a key role in the establishment of the state, but not in its routine law-making functions. He proposed laws with the support of the people. Rousseau frequently mentioned Lycurgus, the lawgiver of Sparta as an example. Interestingly, he suggested that he was qualified to be an appropriate legislator for Corsica and Poland.

The legislator had to be aware of the size of the territory, which had to be small and compact for self-sufficiency and self-government. Like Plato and Aristotle, he felt that moral character and political participation were best possible in a society that was fairly equal and with sufficient material goods. He did not have any conception of a mass society. Rousseau also gave centrality to the role of education in moulding character, shaping opinions and tastes. He was equally concerned with public ceremonies and public education, for these would instil a sense of national patriotism.

For Rousseau, contrary to a representative parliamentary government, a participatory democracy was desirable, for it secured freedom, self-rule, equality and virtue. These were things that justified restraints on the individual, for they would make him truly happy. And since no existing government fulfilled all these criteria, none of them had an absolute claim to an individual’s obedience. Salvation of the individual would be through politics and not through religion (Colletti 1969: 146). It was with the destruction of the present coercive society, and with the institution of a free form of political and ethical community that salvation would be attained.

Rousseau, like Plato, believed in the primacy of politics. Rousseau rejected the English parliamentary system of government, for it gave the people the illusion of freedom whereas in reality the English people were free only during the time of elections. Once representatives were elected, people lost their freedom. Sovereignty cannot be represented, for the same reason that it cannot be alienated …

the people’s deputies are not, and could not be, its representatives; they are merely its agents; and they cannot decide anything faintly. And law which the people has not ratified in person is void; it is not law at all. The English people believes itself to be free; it is gravely mistaken; it is free only during the election of Members of Parliament; as soon as the Members are elected, the people is enslaved; it is nothing (Rousseau 1958: 141).

Rousseau firmly believed that freedom was a reality when people actually governed and took part in the law-making process. It was when people exercised their freedom devoid of appetites that they were truly their own masters. He therefore proposed direct participation in legislation, for human will could not be represented.

A HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT: Plato to Marx, Second Edition Subrata Mukherjee and Sushila Ramaswamy © 2011 by PHI Learning Private Limited, Delhi. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN-978-81-203-4389-4 The export rights of this book are vested solely with the publisher. Seventeenth Printing (Second Edition)……………………………………………………January, 2012 Published by Asoke K. Ghosh, PHI Learning Private Limited, Rimjhim House, 111, Patparganj Industrial Estate, Delhi-110092 and Printed by Rajkamal Electric Press, Plot No. 2, Phase IV, HSIDC, Kundli-131028.

OceanofPDF.com To the memory of Prof. George H. Sabine OceanofPDF.com Contents Preface………ix Preface to the First Edition………xi 1. What is Political Theory?………1–53 Changing Context of Words and Its Implication for Political Theory………8 Key Theoretical Concepts in Political Theory………10 Intellectual Influences Responsible for the Decline of Political Theory………12 Behaviouralism………17 Criticism of Behaviouralism………19 Is Political Theory Dead?………21 Revival of Political Theory………25 Berlin’s Views on Political Theory………31 Wolin’s Defence of the Classical Political Tradition………33 Kuhn’s Seminal Contribution………35 Post-behaviouralism and Neobehaviouralism………37 Why is the Classical Tradition Important?………37 How to Study the Classics………41 Limitations of the Classical Tradition………45 Conclusion………51 2.

Plato………54–100 Life Sketch………55 Plato’s Corpus………57 Context of the Republic………58 Philosopher Ruler………65 Justice………72 Education………80 Community of Wives and Property………86 Regeneration of the Ideal………89 Plato’s Second-best State………90 Is Plato a Forerunner of Modern Totalitarianism, or the First Fascist?………92 Conclusion………96 3. Aristotle………101–147 Life Sketch………102 Aristotle’s Corpus………104 Critique of Plato………107 Conception of Human Nature and State………115 Nature of Happiness or Eudaimonia………118 Household (Slaves, Women and Property)………122 Rule of Law and Constitution………131 Conclusion………143 4.

Niccolò Machiavelli………148–179 Life Sketch………150 Renaissance and Its Impact………153 Machiavelli’s Political Theory………155 Science of Statecraft………164 Conclusion………175 5. Thomas Hobbes………180–206 Life Sketch………182 Developments in Science and Their Influence on Hobbes………184 Hobbes’ Political Philosophy………187 Human Nature………188 Women and the Gender Question………202 Conclusion………203 6. John Locke………207–234 Life Sketch………210 Locke and the Glorious Revolution………212 Locke’s Political Theory………216 Conclusion………232 7. Jean Jacques Rousseau………235–263 Life Sketch………237 Enlightenment………238 Rousseau’s Political Philosophy………240 Analysis of Inequality………242 Institution of Private Property………243 Civil Society………245 General Will and Individual Freedom………247 Role of the Legislator………253 Critique of Liberal Representative Government………253 Federation of Nations for World Peace………255 Women and Family………258 Conclusion………261 8.

Immanuel Kant………264–286 Life Sketch………266 Political Ideas………269 Philosophy of History………275 Notion of Perpetual Peace and Cosmopolitanism………278 Kant and Hegel………283 Conclusion………285 9. Edmund Burke………287–309 Life Sketch………288 French Revolution and England………290 Political Ideas………291 Criticism of the French Revolution………293 Critique of Natural Rights and Contract………294 Limits of Reason………297 Citizenship and Democracy………299 Representation and Pitkin’s Analysis………300 Religion and Toleration………301 The Actual Revolutionary Process and Burke………302 The Burke-Paine Debate………303 Conclusion………306 10. Jeremy Bentham………310–342 Life Sketch………311 Meaning of Utilitarianism………317 The Modern State………324 Economic Ideas………329 Notion of Liberty, Rights and Law………331 Women and Gender Equality………335 As a Humanist………338 Conclusion………340 11.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

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