Politics - Economics - Globalisation - Political Science

[karene]

Political Philosophy: Discussion of Philosophers Quotes on Politics and Society

... by nature man is a political animal. Hence men have a desire for life together, even when they have no need to seek each other’s help. Nevertheless, common interest too is a factor in bringing them together, in so far as it contributes to the good life of each. The good life is indeed their chief end, both communally and individually; but they form and continue to maintain a political association for the sake of life itself. Perhaps we may say that there is an element of good even in mere living, provided that life is not excessively beset with troubles. Certainly most men, in their desire to keep alive, are prepared to face a great deal of suffering, as if finding in life itself a certain well-being and a natural sweetness. (Aristotle, Politics)

We should be similarly wary of accepting common opinions; we should judge them by the ways of reason not by popular vote. ... There is a huge gulf between the man who follows the conventions and laws of his country and the man who sets out to regiment them and to change them. ... Peoples nurtured on freedom and self-government judge any other form of polity to be deformed and unnatural. Those who are used to monarchy do the same . (Michel de Montaigne)

I advocate world government because I am convinced that there is no other possible way of eliminating the most terrible danger in which man has ever found himself. The objective of avoiding total destruction must have priority over any other objective. (Albert Einstein, 1947)

Introduction to Political Philosophy

Politics is derived from the Greek words 'Polis' which means community and 'Poli' meaning many. Politics can be defined as the laws, methods and practices of group which makes decisions (i.e. a government over a community).
History has confirmed that political systems have a tendency towards dictatorship and self interest, and these human instincts must be tempered with the truth, as Albert Einstein wrote;


Any government is in itself an evil in so far as it carries within it the tendency to deteriorate into tyranny. However, except for a small number of anarchists, every one of us is convinced that civilized society cannot exist without a government. In a healthy nation there is a kind of dynamic balance between the will of the people and the government, which prevents its degeneration into tyranny. It is obvious that the danger of such deterioration is more acute in a country in which the government has authority not only over the armed forces but also over all the channels of education and information as well as over the economic existence of every single citizen. I say this merely to indicate that socialism as such cannot be considered the solution to all social problems but merely as a framework within which such a solution is possible. (Albert Einstein, 1947)


Unfortunately, because of a failure of philosophy / metaphysics to understand what is ultimately true (i.e. to understand reality as the source of truth) we live in a time of relative cultural truths that leads to many conflicts and causes humanity great harm. This allows societies to be manipulated by our more primitive emotions (rather than reason / truth) as Julius Caesar observed (and which is very relevant to our modern world).

Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar. (Julius Caesar)



Our political philosophy website http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Politics-Globalisation.htm (though very incomplete) has many quotes from famous philosophers, revolutionaries and politicians on politics and society. e.g. Aristotle, Cicero, Caesar, Machiavelli, Hobbes, de Montaigne, Hume, Bismarck, Mussolini, Einstein, Lenin, Stalin ... The central purpose of the webpage though, is to introduce a new metaphysical foundation for politics (the Metaphysics of Space and Wave Structure of Matter).

The philosopher Thomas Hobbes saw Society as a giant machine (perpetually in motion), thus the title of his great work, The Leviathan, which is founded on Mechanics (the Motion of Bodies / Matter).

For by Art is created that great Leviathan called a Commonwealth or State which is but an Artificial Man; though of greater stature and strength than the Naturall, for whose protection and defence it was intended; and in which, the Soveraignty is an Artifical Soul, as giving life and motion to the whole body. (Thomas Hobbes, 1651)



Whilst it is interesting that Hobbes understood a relationship between politics / society and the greater whole / Leviathan, his foundation of motion of matter as discrete 'particles' within Space causes many problems (what is the necessary connection between these 'particles'?).
The Metaphysics of Space and the Wave Structure of Matter removes this interconnected motions of particles (his conception of Leviathan) and replaces it with the Spherical Standing Wave Motion of Space. Thus we realise that the true Leviathan is the universe and the universal laws which necessary follow from this. We must abide by these fundamental laws if Humanity is to be Wise (and not destroy both Nature and ourselves).

In Leviathan, Hobbes argues that the natural state of man (without any civil government) is war;

During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man. (Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan)

To this war of every man against every man, this also in consequent; that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the cardinal virtues. (Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan)

No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. (Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan)

Thus Thomas Hobbes supports an absolute monarchy, where power resides in the king or queen, as this absolute power to create and enforce laws was necessary for justice and the formation of a moral society. However the central point that we wish to emphasise is that this absolute power of the monarch / king must be constrained by the absolute truth that necessarily arises from physical reality and our interconnection to all other matter in the universe. This explains why Plato argued that philosophy was so important to politics;

The society we have described can never grow into a reality or see the light of day, and there will be no end to the troubles of states, or indeed, my dear Glaucon, of humanity itself, till philosophers are kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands, while the many natures now content to follow either to the exclusion of the other are forcibly debarred from doing so. This is what I have hesitated to say so long, knowing what a paradox it would sound; for it is not easy to see that there is no other road to happiness, either for society or the individual. (Plato, Republic)

However it is always difficult to change an existing political system, as Machiavelli wrote;

There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new system. The innovator has the enmity of all who profit by the preservation of the old system and only lukewarm defenders by those who would gain by the new system. (Machiavelli, 1513)



Philosophy is of great importance to the world, as it is myth based customs from our past (rather than truth) that cause errors in our thinking and behaviour (and which ultimately lead to conflict). Ultimately truth has a unique power to change the world for the better, as David Hume so elegantly stated;

And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself throughout the whole society, and bestow a similar correctness on every art and calling. (David Hume, 1737)



Conversely, if we continue to ignore philosophy and live by cultural myths, humanity and nature will always suffer as Hobbes declares;
Hell is Truth Seen Too Late. (Thomas Hobbes)


Its pretty obvious that modern politics is dominated by market economics. While it is important to have a healthy economy, the problem is two fold for humanity.
i) Market economics selects what is profitable rather than what is good for people.
ii) Market economics does not take into account the future state of the natural environment (which is becoming a very serious problem for humanity).
I need to write this up more in the future. So if you have any thoughts or comments, we'd love to hear them.


Cheers,
Karene

http://www.spaceandmotion.com/how-to-help-the-wave-structure-of-matter.htm
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Economics.htm
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Aristotle-Philosopher.htm