Nature of Political Science

October 29, 2022

Nature of Political Science
There are different views on the nature of politics. Aristotle, Bodin, Hobbes, Bluntschli, Montesquieu, Lewis, Sidgwick, etc. hold that politics is a science. But the thinkers like J.S. Mill, Maitland, Catlin, Barker, Buckle, August Comte, etc. maintain that it is only an art.

Meaning of Science and Art
Science generally means a systematic way of gathering and organizing knowledge. Science is knowledge ascertained by observation and experiment, critically tested, systematized and brought under general principles.

Art means skill or way of doing a particular thing in a particular way. It can be improved by practice, guided by principles.

Politics is a science
Politics is considered as science on the following grounds-
1. Politics can be studied in a systematic manner.
2.It is said that experimentation is possible in politics.
3. Political science, like the other sciences, has absolute and universal laws.
4.It is possible to make predictions in politics, but in a limited area.
5.There are certain principles and methods on which political thinkers unanimously agree.
6. Politics is a subject which has scientific nature.
7.At present, politics has attained modernity. Aristotle called politics as supreme science.

Politics is not a science
Politics is not considered as science on the following grounds-
1.Politics has no absolute and universal laws like physical sciences or exact sciences.
2.It does not observe the theory of cause and effect, which is the basis of all sciences.
3.The subject of politics has not developed in a steady, regular and continuous manner.
4.Scientific methods of observation and experimentation cannot be applied to politics because political conditions are ever changing and difficult to be experimented upon.
5.The subject matter of politics is related to men in society and men's individuality behavior.

FOR VIDEO👇