Political Philosophy
Political Philosophy
Paper – 1
Part A
Western Philosopher
Justice
o Cepheus: Justice is telling truth and paying debts
o Polymarcus: Justice is giving what is due
o Socrates: What do you mean by that?
Be good with friend and go against the enemy?
Justice is that enemy should be dealt fairly.
o Thrasymacus: Justice is interest of the Strongest (Ruler)
o Socrates: Intelligent ruler knows that his interest and his peoples’ interests are
aligned. Justice is integral to human life
o Plato Observation
Humans are motivated by
Hunger/Desire
Courage/bravery
Wisdom
Plato Creation of classes upon Polymarchus statement
Artisan/producer
Military/Soldier
Rulers (Due to Thrasymacus statement restrictions will be applied)
Characteristics
Division of society
Specialization (Right man for the right job)
Non-interferance
Criticism
Division no possible
Static concept of life
Lack of opportunities
Ignores rights
Non-interference is impossible
Plato Communism
o Communism for upper class only (marx theory whole community)
o Communism Property
Artisan can have property
Rulers & Military no property
o Communism Family/Wives
Artisan can do monogamy and have family
Rulers & Military can have shared wives and children
Wives and children will be looked by state
Size, quality and quantity of children will be monitored by state
Abortion, infanticide of chronically ill and unfit recommended by Plato
o Aims/Characteristics
Efficiency
Honesty
Devotion to state
Concentration of attention
Selflessness
Unity and harmony
o Criticism
Impracticable
Ignore fundamental human parental instincts
Ignores the importance of family
Against human psychology
Against natural process of upbringing
Family is the biggest motivation
Forces of Society
o Quality -> Rich/ Oligarch -> brings Tyranny/ oligarchy
o Quantity -> mass society, poor, democratic character of society
Democracy -> only middle class brings Democracy when they titled towards Quality and
Quantity equally
Aristotle said one type of ruler always bring the second one because it’s a cyclic process
Concept of state
o Human Nature ->Man is social animal
o Family -> it’s social, psychological and physical need
o Big Communities -> interdependent families, economically, socially
o State -> welfare state
o Differences
Plato Deductive vs Aristotle Inductive
Difference of communism concepts
Aristotle Constitution/polity and Plato Monarchy/ totalitarianism
Aristotle men superior vs Plato all are equal
Plato 03 x classes vs Aristotle 02 x Classes
X
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)
Thomas Homes
English philosopher
Influenced by Machiavelli
Saw reigns of James 1st, Charles 1st and Charles 2nd
Tussle between parliament and crown
Seconded Al-Farabi 10th century philosopher
Social Contract Theory
o Human Nature -> pessimistic human nature projection, emotions, bad person
o State of Nature -> every man was the enemy of other men, no common laws, authority.
Only might was right. Men were solitude, poor, nasty, brutish and short
o Social Contract -> “I authorize and give up my right of myself to this man or his assembly
of men on the conditions that thou give up your right to him or them and authorize all his
actions in right manner.”
o It was building block for Leviathan philosophy (contract with permission from governed)
o Social contract for security
Implications of the contract
o Unilateral -> between subjects
o Irrevocable contract
o Absolute ruler basis
o Contract is not growth but an artifice
o No revolution
Thomas Hobbes Sovereign
o Commonwealth by “institution” -> voluntarily submission
o Commonwealth by “acquisition” -> sovereign takes position by force
Powers of sovereign
o Absolute power/ authority
o No division of the sovereign power
Lords and commons led England to war
It can be either monarchy, aristocracy, democracy
Benjamin Franklin said “Those who sacrificed their liberty for the security neither deserves
security or liberty”
State of Nature
o Two Characteristics
Perfect Freedom
Men follow limits of nature
State of equality
Mutual assistance and preservation
o Ideal state of nature was an ideal moral order
Contract
o Political contract to establish a civil society
o Tow Folded
First step -> establish trust -> government is the trustee of the people
Representation form of government with supreme power to assembly
representative
Cannot exercise power as per whim
Powers according to general principle of the society
No depriving from property
Cannot delegate legislation
Forms of Government
o Republic => some elected people govern, check on electable, power took from nobles by
common people, few people Aristocracy, Many people Democracy, equality before law
o Monarchy => only one rules, mechanised power flow, checked by law, power took by
nobles from Monarch, Monarch rule by honour and respect, authority of judiciary.
o Deposition => power from nobles, he is the law, rules by viziers (backed by despot
o himself), fear of despot among all, nobles and commoners are powerless
Montesquieu book “The spirit of Laws”, contain laws and their relation with government, laws if
designed properly and implemented thoroughly then society can be saved otherwise it will
collapse on itself
o Laws of education
Democracy => education for patriotism, self-restrain, Government election
process
Monarchy => education for self-interest but general good
Despotism => education for superiority of law
o Laws of economic
Democracy => for all, well defined limits for inequality
Monarchy => taxation, abolishment of wealth in few hands, national army
Despotism => national army requirement
o Laws of Civil and Criminal laws
Democracy => Government punishments. Criminal laws, rules and regulations
Monarchy => laws are required to maintain the day to day affair and to excel the
state
Despotism => it’s the will of the Governing not of the governed
o Laws of Corruption
Democracy => corruption must not be tolerated and checks must be implemented
Monarchy => sharing of powers, so every department can check other department
Despotism => Despot is already corrupt
o Laws of Territory
Democracy => small territory is preferred
Monarchy => small territory is preferred, confederation can govern large territories
Despotism => central authority will keep its fear
Al-Farabi (870-950)
b) Siyasatu'l-Madaniyah;
c) Ara'u ahli'l-Madinatu'l-Fadilah;
e) ljtima'atu'l-Madaniyah.
He discussed old Greek philosophers and tried to relate philosophy with Islam. He followed the foot prints of Plato but his teachings are
practicable.
He classified human society into different groups from villages,wards to Madina(ideal city state) and global community as an Ummah.
He gave the concept of social contract which later on adopted by the Thomas Hobbes because in the society, all the humans are not
equal in physical strength and power.
Al-Farabi=> Philosopherprophet
Al-Farabi enumerated twelve attributes of an ideal Sovereign, but he himself points out that
if this ideal is ever attained, its possessor would become the egotistical ruler of the habitable globe.
i) He must possess persuasion and imagination to attain perfection as well as a Philosopher skilled in the speculative science
v) He should discuss the matters with least possible arguments and must have authorite to get the work done;
vi) He must have power to convey to others exactly according to his wish and he has profound love of learning and knowledge;
vii) He must have perfect capacity for a comprehensive knowledge and prescription of the theoretical and practical sciences and art, as
well as for the virtues leading to good deeds.
viii) He, in order to become and prove an ldeal Rais over the state, must shun off playfulness and control over anger and passions. He
should not indulge in excess of eating, drinking and sexual intercourse,
ix) Al-Farabi's Ideal Rais must have love of truth; persuasion of justice and hatred of hypocrisy, knavery and duplicity:
x) He must have for utmost happiness to his subjects, and he should do away with all forces of tyranny and oppression;
xi) He must have power to distribute justice without any effort, fearless in doing things as he thinks best to be done; and
xii) He must serve the people of his state from all internal and external dangers. He must be in possession of considerable wealth, so
that he should not prone to greed and lust.
"Al-Farabi fully realises that these fine qualities cannot be found in one single human being,so he says that one without just five or six of
these qualities would make a fairly good leader.If however, even five or six of them are not found in a person, he would have one who
has been brought up under a leader with these qualities, and would thus seen to prefer some kind of hereditary Ieadership, with the
important condition that the heir should follow the fotsteps of his Worthy predecessor. In case even such a person is not available, it is
preferable to have a Council of two or even five members possessing an aggregate of these qualities provided at least one of them is
Hakim,i.e. one who is able to know the wants of the people and visualise the needs of the state as a whole. This Hakim is to Farabi a
desideratum of every kind of governament. If such a one is not procurable then the State is bound to be shattered to atoms."
He has to implement the existing divine laws and above the law as was Philosopher King.
State Administration:
• Rais being supereme Head(Heart) doesn't submit before any human superior but remaining caders(other organs of the body) will
submit to thier superior officials.
Al-Farabi's state allowed individual property, individual knowledge and individual action. He negated Communism and gave reasons
under which ignorant state (jahiliya) changes into political Society;
iii) inhabitants of the ignorant state learnt the happiness found in ideal state.
Kinds of states:
a) State of Necessity (Daruriya)=> People help each other in securing necessities of life.
b) Vile State (Nadhala)=> Strive for wealth and riches for thier own sake.
c) Base and despicable state=> Aims at attaining pleasure after obtaining necessities of life and wealth.
d) Timocracy (Madina Karama)=> Honour due to individual's personality traits (virtue) and accorded to men (wealth ).
Al-Farabi's Sovereignty:
Sovereign will acquire liberty, freedom and peace for his citizens.He will be contended with praise for his deeds and words. He will have
deep regard for the welfare of the subjects.
Al-Mawardi (974-1058):
1) Al-Ahkam Al-Sultaniyah=> Political theory=>Sources were past philosophy and contemporaries+ personal thinking.
Theory of Imamate:
• Objective of the state is the rule of justice and truth and to bring tranquility and peace to its inhabitants.
ii) Imamate is instituted by means of election and qualifications of the electoral college are:
c) Wisdom
a) Justice
b) Learning
e) Wisdom
f) Bravery
g) Quraishite descent
*In this context, Rosenthal elaborat"The Caliph be physically and mentally fit to discharge his duties as ruler, and he must possess
courage and determination to protect the territory of Islam and wage holy war (Jihad) against its enemies and against infidels. He must
also be a descendant of the Quraish. (Political Thought in Medieval Islam).
iii) The right of franchise is not enjoyed only by the people in the capital.
iv)It's necessary for candidate of Imamate to be from Quraishite descent=>Saqifah bani Saidah is evident.
vi) Election of the less qualified person in the presence of a more qualified person is perfectly legal.
vii) If there is only one suitable candidate for the Imamate, he automatically becomes the Imam and no election is required.
viii) The existence of two Imams contemporaneously is illegal.
Succession:
2) Nominee by the Imam doesn't be his his father or son=> in case of son concurrence must be obtained.
3) Nomination of a person as heir apparent becomes effective only when he declares his consent to it. The Imam can't withdraw
nomination until there occur important change ls in nominee which legally invalidate him.
4) Ruling Imam can appoint electoral college as well as the persons who may contest for the Imamate.
5) Imam can nominate two or more heirs-apparents to succeed him one after the other.(Battle of Mutah)
• Imam may he addressed as the Khalifat Allah=> Majority jurist forbid it because Caliph Abu Bakar exclaimed "Don't address me as
Khalifat Allah but as the Khalifa Rasul- Allah."
i) To safeguard and defend the established principles of the religion with proper arguments.
ii) The dispensation of justice and disposal of all litigations in accordance with the Shari'ah.
iii) Maintenance of law and order in the country for peace and prosperity of the subjects.
iv) The enforcement of criminal code of Holy Quran to protect fundamental rights of the people and implementation of Islamic
teachings.
v) The defensce of the frontiers against foreign invasions to guarantee the security of life.
vii) The imposition and collection of Kharaj and Zakat in accordance with the laws of the Shari'ah.
viii) The sanction of allowances and stipends from the state Treasury to the needy.
ix) To appoint honest men to the principal offices of the state and to Treasury.
x) The Imam personally should look into the affairs of the state to protect the interest of the subjects and cordial relationship with the
neighbors.
Imam can't be removed from the office unless there occurs some definite changes in him:
1) Occurrence of moral changes either connected with his body or his faith.
2) Occurrence of physical changes like loss of physical senses(loss of the mental health and eye-sight),bodily organs or inability to
Administer the state(Usurper, captivity).
Although he borrowed concepts from many others and remained confused in some thoughts but he wrote about each and every
institution of the state.
Al-Ghazzali (1058-1111):
a) Ihyaul-Ulam
b)Tibrul-Masbuk
c)Kitabul-Wajiz
Concept of state:
•Biological Similes (Heart-King, Common sense -Minister, Limbs-Professions, Desire -magistrate,Anger -Police)
•Method=> Historical
e) Advocate peace, practice leniency and strive for justice and tranquility. He must avoid harshness in his official dealings.
vi) Divide his time into four parts=> Prayers, State affairs & justice, food & rest, and Recreation.
vii) Not pay head to the advice offered by his favorite wife
IBN-KKHALDUN(1332-1404):
• Born in Africa from a migrant family after Christian's conquest of Spain. He wandered to different countries and finally came back and
took refuge in African desert Qalah Ibn-Salamah and compiled his work. His Famous writing is Muqaddamah.
1)Establishment of solidarity=>Voluntary unity under the command of Chief due to cultural,religious & other factors.
2) Period of Consolidating the ruler's power to create absolute kingship by paid Administration
4) Period of rest and self indulgence=> Ruler and ruled are satisfied and complacent.
Definition of Khilafahat:
It is the general authority to undertake the establishment of Religion through the revival of religious sciences, the establishment of
the pillars of Islam, the organisation of jihad and its related functions of maintenance of armies, financing the soldiers, and allocation of
their rightful portions from the spoils of war, administration of justice, enforcement of hudud, elimination of injustice, and enjoining
good and forbidding evil, to be exercised on behalf of the Prophet (PBUH).
6) Jihad
i) universally recognized conditions: Adult,Sane,Brave,Male, wise and ability to hear, observe and articulate etc.
Four Modes based on the precedents that were set in the appointment of the Pious Caliphs.
His works:
v) Bang-e-Dara.
vi) Zaboor-e-Ajam
viii) Javed-Namah.
ix) Bal-e-Jibraeel.
xi)Zarb-e-Kaleem
xii) Armughan-e-Hijaz
• Divorce between religion and politics will result in cultural and ethical degradation
There is harmonious relationship between individual and society. Individual and nation are mirror to each other.
iv) Preservation of traditions=>Communal ego must be preserved to protect the individual ego.
Democracy:
Western democracy is absurd => Anti-Islamic values
•secularism=> Atheistic
•Capitalism=> Exploitation
Self ego/Khudi:
Human faculties can be best utilized by proper training. Man have a lot of hidden capabilities which are still to be explored.
A man can strength his ego by some do's and don's.
i) Love
iii) Courage
iv) Tolerance
v) Kas-e-halal
i) Fear
ii) Beggary
iii)Slavery