Western Political Philosophy-I in English | DU SOL B.A Program Semester 4th/5th

Q1. Why and how should political philosophy be studied? Describe Skinner's idea of 'Historical Absurdities'.

Answer

Introduction

Political philosophy is a branch of philosophy that seeks to define what an ideal socio-political system should look like. Its main purpose is to understand what government is, how it should be formed, how a good society can be created, and which principles, values, and policies are important for this. Topics within political philosophy include politics, justice, freedom, property, law, and rights.

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Why we should study political philosophy:

Political philosophy is not just an intellectual debate; it is connected to important aspects of a person's social and political life, which makes its study essential. It gives us a new perspective on how society should be, what the rights and duties of citizens should be, and so on. John Rawls has discussed the following roles of political philosophy

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How to study political philosophy:

1. Understand time and historical contexte:  To understand the ideas of political thinkers, it is essential to know the social, economic, and political conditions of their time. Every thinker's. ideas are influenced by the problems and needs of their era. Therefore, to understand these ideas correctly, we must consider them in the context of that period.

For example, Thomas Hobbes was influenced by the English Civil War of his time and proposed the theory of the "Social Contract" to maintain peace and order in society.

2. Compare with modern perspective: When understanding old political ideas and theories, it is important to view them in the context of today's times. Many ideas in history were developed to address specific conditions and challenges of their time, yet many of these ideas remain relevant today.

For example, Marx's theory of critique on capitalism was meant to highlight the exploitation of workers in his time. Even today, this theory helps in understanding situations where workers' rights are violated.

Skinner's idea of 'Historical Absurdities':

According to Skinner, the correct way to study political philosophy is not to view any idea in a single, fixed direction. Doing so makes it difficult to understand the idea and its purpose, and it prevents a historically impartial study. Skinner warns us against certain scholarly tendencies, which can lead to interpretations of thinkers' ideas that he calls "Historical Absurdities."
Quentin Skinner

1. The First Form of Mythology of Doctrine

• The first form of the "myth of theory" is that when we write the biography of an ancient thinker, we often consider them the originator of ideas that are important to us today, like freedom or democracy. We assume that these ideas have always existed and were simply waiting for the right time to fully emerge.
• This creates the impression that ancient thinkers already understood the values suitable for our modern society. Scholars study them based on how well their theories align with today's values, rather than understanding their ideas in the context of their own time.

2. The Second Form Of Mythology Of Doctrine

• This is the opposite of the first form. The second form of the "myth of theory" is that we criticize an ancient thinker because they were unable to fully develop an idea.
• For example, some people criticize Locke for not taking a clear stance on universal suffrage. In this way, thinkers are criticized for their incomplete efforts.

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3. Mythology of Coherence

• The myth of coherence assumes that the philosophy of famous classical thinkers is a closed-coherent system in which there should be no incoherence.
• If a reader finds incoherence in ideas, it is the reader's job to read all the works and find evidence of how these incoherences can be resolved.
• According to Skinner, this can be dangerous because it leads the reader to try to find coherence on their own, which may not actually be there. Changes in the ideas of thinkers, incomplete theories, or lack of interest can also cause incoherence.
  
  

4. Mythology of Prolepsis

• The myth of prolepsis suggests that we tend to view old ideas through our modern context and consider them relevant to our current problems. When we look at old works from today's perspective, it becomes difficult to understand the original thoughts and intentions of the author from that time.
• For example, Karl Popper labeled Plato as an enemy of freedom, while Plato's thinking was different for his time. Similarly, Machiavelli is considered the first "modern" political thinker, but this is based on our perspective, not his true intentions. When we claim that one scholar influenced another, it requires solid historical evidence.

Conclusion
Skinner believes that to avoid these "historical distortions, we should view thinkers in the context of their own time, understanding their circumstances and problems, rather than judging them by modern standards. We should study their theories with historical impartiality to accurately assess their original ideas and contributions.

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