Q.6. Why is Aristotle regarded as the father of political science.
Ans. In comparison with the radical and abstract nature of Plato's philosophy the political philosophy of Aristotle is empirical and descriptive. Inspite of many repetitions and certain inconsistencies the centrel theme of Aristotle's Politics is balance or moderation. Catlin remarked that, "After Confucious Aristotle is the supreme apostle of common sence and Golden means. The confusions 33 on digressions of Aristotle were responsible for opening new chapters in political science. Aristotle aimed at the reconciliation of ideals and actualities. In doing so he dealt with most of modern problems. He deviated a long way from Plato, but for this very reason he widened the scope of political science.
1. Father of the Study of Comparative Govt Aristode's the ries were based on a detailed knowledge of the past history and on a reliancee on the teachings of experience in history. He condoned Plato for paying insufficient attention to history and creating schemes of Government without due preference either to the nature of Ira nian, animal or actual form of government. According to Sabine, the true romance of the Republic is the romance of a free intelligence, unbound by custom and untrammelled by facts. But Aristotle had a great love for facts because of hisbrologkal training and scientific studies, wmchmade him a careful and systematic observer. He had an exttaoidiaary knowledge of the political institutions both of his own timesand of the past. He had studied over 150 constitutions before he wrote his Politics. 'Political studies thus became emoirical or inductive in his hands.
2. Return of Actuals: Ethics and Politics. Besides attaching great importance to collection of facts, Aristotle stressed the problem of values and importance of ethical judgments. He judged the significance of the facts in terms of the end or purpose of the state. Politics was to him, the culmination of ethics. He was the first realist as against idealism of Plato. While Plato raved in the imaginary world of idealism, Aristotle dealt with the reforming of actuals. That is why Plato could not be honoured with the title of Father of Political Science.
3. Empirical and Descriptive: Aristotle never completed his ideal state for which he gave introduction in hisBook III. It is because of the reason that these ideals were bunk in the mid stream of realities. According to Sabine, "What all he wrote was a book not on an Ideal state, but on the ideals of state".This is due to the reason that he was more empirical and descriptive. He did not have the bold sweep and courage of Plato to destroy all that stood in his way. He was more cautious and moderate. He was more of a reformatory than revolutionary. What he did was to bring the ideal of Plato down to earth. Accepting Plato's general view of proportion and harmony, Aristotle adopted it to the practical politics of the city state. This new line, this revolt on Plato was fruitful in the sense that it opened new world in political science.
4. Plato v/s Aristotle: Pointing Out the diffcresce between Plato and Aristotle Maxy said. "As Plato is father to idealists, romanticists, revolutionists and Utopians of political philosophy, so Aristotle is father to the realists, scientists, pragmatists and utilitarians. All who believe in new worlds for old are disciples of Piato, all who believe in old worlds made new by the tedious and toilsome use of science are disciples of Aristotle." Again, "Where Plato lets his imagination take flight, Aristotle is factual and full; where Plato is eloquent, Aristotle is exact; where Plato leaps from general concepts lo logical conclusions, Aristotle slowly works from multitude of facts; where Plato gives us an ideal commonwealth that is the best his mind can conceive, Aristotle gives us the material requisites out of which, by adopting them to the circumstances, a modern state can be constructed.
5. Value of Laws: The chief defect of Piato's political philosophy was that it was cut up into two incompatible halves. His ideal state of 'Republic' had absolute rule of the philosopher-king untrammelled by law or consent of the people. But his second best stale of "The Laws" gave importance to laws and public consent. This he did grudgingly. Therefore, he was not able to restore law properly. It required complete revision of the psychology and the theory of knowledge underlying 'The Republic'. Aristotle took up the hint and the direction suggested by Plato. He restored few to its proper place. He established sovereignty of law in the state. The Laws made him regard law not as a make shift but as an indispensable condition of a moral and civilised life.
6. Constitutional Rule: Due to his regard for law, Aristotle laid emphasis on constitulional rule. It was to him, consistent with the dignity of the subject, whereas a personal or despotic rule was not. According to Aristotle, the constitutional ruler rules over willing subjects. He rules by consent. Constitutional rule is the rule in the public interest as against a factional or personal interest. It is a lawful rule in the sense that the government is carried on by general regulations and not by arbitrary decrees.
7. Study of Actual States: Aristotle did not like to confine the scope of political science to the construction of the ideal state as it was for Plato. Aristotle wanted that political science should be widened to include a study of the actual states also. Political Science should teach the art of governing and organising all types of states, good as well as bad. Aristotle discussed how even tyrannies may be preserved. He did not use the deductive method of Plato but used descriptive or inductive method while dealing with the actual states, He defined and described the features of various formsof government. He gave the causes of their decay and the best ways to preserve them.
8. Ethics and Politics : Aristotle divorced politics from ethics and thereby seemed to be most modern. The middle portion of his 'Politics' is entirely empirical and moral considerations are put aside. At places his treatment is almost Machiavellian. However, he did not reject the ethical purpose of the state. He retained thebasic ideal derived from Plato. He went farther than his master, and in so doing he introduced fundamental modifications. Besides the moral end of the state, he included in his new and more general science of politics, "an empirical study of elements of state, both political and social, of actual constitutions, their combination, and the consequences which are bound to follow from these combinations."
9. Definition of Political Constitution : Aristotle defined a constitution as an arrangement of citizens. It is the expression of the kind of life which the stateis designed to foster. A change in the form of government would signify a change in the constitution or the underlying kind of life that the citizens are trying to realise. Aristotle was shrewd enough to observe that a political constitution is one thing and the way it works is a different thing. A given form of government would work in a very different way if a new social class acquires ascendency.
10. Profound Political Generalisations: Aristotle's works contain many profound generalisations which may be applied to political life in all limes and climes. For instance, 'Man is a political man' and 'state came into being for the sake of life, it continues for the sake of good life. The themes, underlyingthe thought of Plato, Aristotle gave them theirclassicalexgress ton. To him, the purpose of the state was not to extend its dominion or enrich its people, but to widen knowledge, promote virtue and ability of the mass. This led him to favour a vague sort of democracy. He gave ultimate sovereign power to the mass of citizens though the actual reigns of government would be in the handsof the bestcitizens only. He warned that permanent exclusion of themultitude from alloffices is dangerous because it produces widespread discontent.
11. Definition of Democracy: Aristotle did not agree with the current definition of democracy as the form of government in which the masses are supreme. According to him democracy is that form of government in which the poor, who constitute the majority, are supreme. It may be defined as the polity based on the principles of civic equality and freedom. To be equal the citizens must all have an equal right to share in the work of government. All the citizensarerulersas well asthe ruled. Electionsto various offices should be based on universal suffrage and should be conducted by lot or rotation. Elections should have no property qualification or only nominal one. The tenure of office should be short in order that all may be able to share them.
