• Written by: African Politics
• June 15, 2014

PRESENTED BY:NWABIA PATRICK M

INTRODUCTION-The subject-matter of Political thought revolves around the nature and purposes of the state, its ultimate justification or indispensability and the relationship between it and the citizens. Also much of the History of Political thought adumbrates upon the logic of the state – the possibility that the state has logic in the performance of governmental task and the intuitionist notion that the state is a task-doer.
Consequently, political thinkers (philosophers) seeks answers to these and many other myriad of questions, and issues about the state, the citizens, and the relations of state with state, citizens etc. subsequently, the subject-matter of political thought had, to a great extent, shifted its focus from the best Political Organization for man to the more tedious and highly abstract task of analyzing the terms employed in political discourses. However, Leo Strauss (in Gould and Thu007rdy, 1969:48), posits that a study of political thought is “the attempt to know both the nature of political conduct, through critical and coherent analysis”. In other words, it’s a logical and systematic Investigation of the problem of man and Society in an effort to establish Knowledge of ultimate truth and justification of political matters. This introductory analysis obviously provides the answers to the question, “why do we study Political Thought”`
WHY DO WE STUDY POLITICAL THOUGHT?
The imperative of the study of political thought is first.
To accomplish the task of formulating goals towards the realization of which human societies should strive, while simultaneously attempting to formulate the best or ideal social political arrangement favorable to the attainment of such goals.This twin assignment is a task which the great political
thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Marx and others, engendered by the dissatisfaction with the sociopolitical organizations in which they lived, had endeavored to accomplish. This task is even more potent today than it was in the past, as far as our world is still far from being perfect and glaring inequalities among individuals and nations Economically, Militarily and politically, as well as the problems of Starvation, Poverty, Disease and Illiteracy continue to stare us in the face. These imperfections therefore make the task of formulating a more human and more utilitarian Sociopolitical arrangement in the world more urgent
Secondly, the subject-matters of political thought set standards for the evaluation of political actions. In other words, in its normative role, political thought formulates the basic assumptions upon which sociopolitical life is based and tries to influence human actions towards the desired common goals. For instance, the study and understanding of political thought could help the participants in a political competition on how to be magnanimous in victory as well as how to accept defeat gracefully or with equanimity in a sports man like fashion. Also the subject matters of political thought lays down the ideological standards which a political leadership ought to epitomize in any given society and political system. Again, political thought defines and prescribes the constructive purpose for which public power could be employed, since as stated in (Encyclopedia Britannica-Knowledge in Depth)….”Mankind has at its disposal the power either to create a world of civilization in which modern technology can immeasurably to the human race or destroy itself in pursuit of benefit of political myth. In this situation the scope of political thought is great; the clarification of its power purpose and limitations is an urgent aspect, indeed, of civilization’s survival.” Thus an imperative for the study of political thought.
Thirdly, the extent to which words and Concepts are employed in Political discourses are meant to influence actions, in a political process and since “ill defined political concepts may lead to confused and often contradictory, political actions”, the study and understanding of political thought becomes an imperative necessity for the analysis, clarification and articulation of these concepts such as “lobbying,” a political opponent”, “democracy”, “equality”, right”, justice”, liberty”, which may have contradictory meaning depending on the political system concerned. For instance in Nigeria the term “lobbying” may conjure the connotation of “Ghana-must go” (where money changes hands as a reward for some goal or expected action), where as in the united states from where the concept originated, it means Persuading someone by strength of one’s Superior logic and reasoning based on hard facts, raw and authentic data, to appreciate point of view which ought to have been well appreciated or acted upon without additional explanation in the first place. More so where as in the capitalist West, “Human rights” refer to civil, political, legal and socioeconomic/cultural rights, in the socialist east, “Human rights are basically rights to Food, Clothing, Shelter and the right to be treated as an end rather than as a means (the right not to be exploited). All of these exemplify the imperative need for the study of political thought.
On the final analysis however, it’s an obvious fact that the study of political thought helps us to sort for solutions to the various problem relating to Sociopolitical actions aimed at achieving societal goals in other words, the solution to the problem of bringing about reconciliation between ideologies and sociopolitical actions. This is in view of the fact that there must be a positive relationship between political ideology and political theories on one hand and the human actions or conditions which they were meant to address on the other hand.