HISTORY OF WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

This book covers Western Political Thought from the very beginning to Karl Marx. It has been written in a simple and lucid style. Controversial matters have been dealt with in such a way that scientific and objective conclusions may be drawn. The book has been planned as an ideal textbook for the students and a reference book for the teachers.

Book Contents

Vol. I Introduction Nature and Subject Matter of Political Thought, Subject Matter of Political Thought, A Few Problems of Political Thought, Political Thought and the Environment, Importance of Western Political Thought, Divisions of the Subject, Four Periods of Political Thought, Scope of Political Thinking, Sources of Political Thought, Great Political Thinkers, Importance of Political Philosophy. 1. Greek Political Thought Before Plato The Scope of Greek Political Thought, The City State, Greek City State and Slaves, The States of Athens and Sparta, Characteristics of Greek Political Thought, Modern Thinking, Political Thought of Sophists, Their Philosophy, Important Sophists and Their Teaching, Their Importance, Political Thought of Socrates and its Importance, Life, Methods, Socrates and Sophist Thinking, Socrates on Law and State, Socrates on Democracy, Other Ideas, Significance of His Death, His Influence. 2. Platos (348 B.C. to 322 B.C.) Platos Life and His Philosophy, The Sources of Plato, The Method of Plato, His Works, Place of Plato in the History of Political Thought, Platos Emphasis on Virtue, Justice, Education, Evaluation, Indebtness to Socrates, Philosopher King, Education, Platos Communism, Influence of Socrates, Comparison of State with Individual and Conception of Justice, Criticism of the Platos Justice, Platos Ideal State, Organic Conception, States as Individual Writ Large, The Rule of Philosopher Kings, Philosopher King, Merits and Demerits, Defects, Platos Communism, Ideas that lead Plato to Communism, Platos Opposition to family, His Plea Against Family, Aristotles Criticism of Platos Communism, Aristotles Criticism of Community of Wives, General Criticism about Platos Communism, Similarities between Plato and Modern Communism, Dissimilarities or Differences between Platos and Modern Communism, Conclusion, Importance, Plato on Education, System, Educational Curriculum, Higher Training, Special Qualities, Criticism, Evaluation, Platos The Politics or the Statesman, Change, Classification of Governments, The Laws, Political Power and Wealth, Administrative Machinery with Proper Checks, The Republic and the Laws, Difference, Influence of Plato, The Helianic and Universal in Plato, Universalism, Functional Specialization and Division in Classes, His Ideas about Women, Aristotles Criticism of Philosopher King, Aristotles Criticism of Plato, Aristotles Opposition to Platos Communism, Criticism of Ideal State of Plato, His Criticism of The Laws, Evaluation, Similar Points, Differences, Evaluation. 3. Aristotle (384 B.C. to 322 B.C.) Life History, Platos Influence, Experience and Knowledge of Aristotle, His Method, Books, Politics, Evaluation, Critical Appreciation, Plato and Aristotle Contrasted, Differences, Aristotle as First Political Scientist and his Contribution to Political Science, Difference in Form and Method, Other Differences, Difference between Plato and Aristotle, Ideas about Rule of Law, Constitutional Rule better than rule of Enlightened Despot, Aristotle Practical, View on Constitution, Importance of Aristotle, Importance of Law, Views on Democracy, Division of Power, Practical Wisdom, Politics Natural to Man, Necessity of State, State Natural, Importance of Family, State is Necessary for Progress, The Ends of State, Aristotles Views on Slavery, Criticism, Arbitrary Division, Racial Prejudice, Illogical Reasoning, Status quo, Autocrates Exploitation and Disharmony, Unnatural Distinction, Aristotles Conception of Revolution, Causes of Revolutions, Differences, Specific Causes, Prevention of Revolutions, Importance of Education, Tyranny, Distributive Justice, Criticism, Aristotle Aims for Life of Virture and Happiness, Best Government According to Aristotle, Classification of States, Population, Territory or Size. Character of People, Classes in the State, Education, Other things, Criticism, Citizenship, Criticisms, Conclusion, Aristotles View about Family, Property, Classification of Constitution, His Distinction Between State and Government, Sovereignty, Sovereignty of Law, Usefulness and Importance of Law, Classification, Cycle of Change, Criticism, Evaluation, Law, Communism, Effimism, Ethics, Education, Ideal of City States, Democracy, Similarity in Details, Exclusive Citizenship or Aristocratic Temper, Classification of a State, Direct Participation, Slavery, Conclusion, Comparison, Platos Ideas, Criticism. 4. Greek Political Thought After Aristotle, Epicureanism and Stoicism (Zeno, Crates, Aristipus) Impact of Alexanders Empire, Cause of Decline of City States, Rise of Stocism, Impact of Big Empires, Rise of New Ideas, Epicureanism. Stoicism, Patriotism, High Civic Sense, Idealistic but Practical, Harmonious Mixture of Ethics and Politics, Common Life, Secular and Rational, Democracy, Liberty and Authority, Freedom of Conscience or Freedom of Thought and Expression, Love for Freedom, Equality, Justice, Education, Sovereignty of Law, Constitutionalism, Effinimism, Theory of International Relations, Natural Law. 5. Roman Political Thought (Saneca, Cicero and Justinian) Political Career of Rome, Roman Political Institutions, Impact of Greek on Rome, Development of Rome Law, Development of Law under Roman Empire, Roman Concept of Law, Social Contract and Theory of Natural Rights, Popular Sovereignty, Imperium, Conception of Universal Brotherhood, Roman Contribution to Political thought, Polybius 204 to 102 B.C., Classification of Government, Mixed Type most Stable and Best, Cicero (106 to 53 B.C.), Importance, Difference with Plato, Classification of States, Natural Laws, Belief in Equality, Growth of Jus Gentium, Direct Effect about the growth of Jus Gentium, Corpus Juris or Code of Justinian, Importance of Roman Law. 6. Christian Political Thought (St. Paul and St. Augustine) The Growth of Popacy, Roman Empire and Roman Catholic Church, Popacy and the Holy Roman Empire, Legacy of Greek and Rome, Doctrine of two Swords, Conflict, St. Augustine (345 to 403 A.D.), De Civitate Dei, His Views about State, Property and Slavery, Influence. 7. Medieval Political Thought (St. Paul, Pope & Greagory VII) Universalism, Supremacy of Church, Monarchical Conception of Government, Holy Roman Empire, Representative Government, Feudalism, Development of Guilds, Corporations, Growth and Concept of Law of Nature in the Middle Ages, Representative Government, Constitutional Monarchy, Legal System, Feudalism of middle ages. 8. Controversy between Church and The State (St. Paul, Pope Greagory VII, Innocent III) Supremacy of Pope, The Ecclesiastical Claim for Supremacy, Criticism, The Secular Claim, Secular Arguments. 9. Supporters of Papal Supremacy (Greagory VII, John of Salisbury, Thomas Acquinas) John of Salisbury, Ideas of John Salisbury, St. Thomas Acquinas (1227-1274), St. Thomas Acquians, Life, Environment, Work, His Views about State, Classification of Government, Supremacy of Church, Law, Evaluation. 10. Supporters of Secularist Supremacy (John of Paris, Marsiglio of Padua and Dante) John of Paris, Early Life, His Views about States, Defence of Property, Limited Authority of Church, Marsiglio of Padua (1270-1340), Life and Ideas, On State, Law, The Organs of Government, Popular Sovereignty, Church, Other Views, Dante (1265-1321), Dantes De Monarchia, De Monarchia His Book, Church and the Empire, Defence of Empire, Comparison with Acquina and Salisbury, William of Occam, Arguments against Supremacy of Pope, Conclusion. 11. The Conciliar Movement and Some Medieval Conceptions Environment, Purpose, Arguments for General Council, Causes of its Failure, Significance of the Conciliar Movement, John Gerson, Nicholas of Gusa, Medieval Idea of Kingship, Law, Idea of Representation, Natural Law, Corporations, Popular Sovereignty. 12. Renaissance and Machiavelli (1469-1527) The Renaissance, Machiavelli (1469-1527), His Books, Environment, Influence, His Importance, Environment, His Spititual Ancestry and Method, Historical Method, His Conception of Human Nature, Separation of Politics and Ethics, His Erastianism, The Doctrine of Aggrandisement, Attitude towards Religion and Morality, Impact, Conclusion, National State, Patriotism, Human Nature, Evaluation. 13. Reformation Luther Martin and Calvin Influence, General Political Influence, Life, Ideas, Calvin, Life, Ideas. 14. The Theory of Sovereignty Bodin and Crotius Law of Nature, Family and the State, Citizenship, Sovereignty, Limitation of absolute Sovereignty, Criticism, Bodins Importance, Bodin on Revolution, Causes of Revolution, Differences, Evaluation, Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), Life, His Percursors, Natural Law, Law of Nations or Jus Gentium, Sovereignty, Sovereignty and International Law. 15. Seventeenth Century Thought Some Minor Thinkers Sir Thomas More and his Utopia, Utopia, Richard Hooker, Political Ideas of John Milton, Life, Views, Robert Filmer and His Political Thought, Benedict Spinoza, Views. Vol. II 16. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) The State of Nature, Natural Rights and Natural Law, The Origin of the State, Hobbess Theory of Sovereignty, On Law, Individualism in Hobbes Political Philosophy, Criticism of Hobbess Theory, Contribution, His Influence. 17. John Locke (1632-1704) Background, Human Nature, The State of Nature, The Social Contract, Features of Contract, Locke on Natural Rights of Man, Locke on Government, The Right of Revolution, The Place of Locke in the History of Political Thought, His Influence. 18. Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1770) The Life and Works of Rousseau, Life, His Writings, State of Nature, Social contract, Rousseaus Concepts of General Will, General Will, Its Criticism, Merits, Confusion and Different Conclusions on Rousseau, General Will. 19. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau Compared 20. Montesquieu (1689-1755) Life, Civil Liberty, Political Liberty, Theory of Separation of Powers, Criticism, Republic, Monarchy, Despotism, Criticism, Contributions of Montesquieu. 21. Hume and Burke David Hume (1711-1778), Refutation of Social Contracts, His Place, Edmund Burke (1729-96), Burkes on Social Contract, State and Society, Burke on Human Rights, His Views on British Constitution, Burke as Champion of Conservation, Criticism, Bibliography, Books for General Study, Books for General Reading in Order of Importance. 22. Bentham to Marx Introduction The Background of Modern Political Thought, Characteristics of the 19th Century, French Revolution and American War of Independence, Increase in Population and Urbanization, Change in Intellectual Field, Utilitarian Theory, Theory of the Historical Study of Law, Organic View of the State, Utopian Socialism, Scientific Socialism, Idealism, Doctrine of Sovereignty, Scientific or Psychological School, Conclusion, Utilitarianism, History and Background of Utilitarianism, The Founder of Utilitarian School, Basic Features of the Utilitarianism, Popularity of the Utilitarianism, Conception of Utility, Utilitarian and Individualism, Conclusion. 23. Utilitarianism Bentham (1748-1832), Life History of Bentham, Meaning of Utility, Reforms, Benthams Ideas, Impact, Evaluation, J.S. Mill (1806-73), Mill on Liberty, Views on Democracy, Main Function of the Government, Mills Views on Election, Mills View on Legislature, Mill and Democracy, Defects of Democracy according to Mill, An Evaluation of Mills Views on Representative Government, Difference between Mill and Bentham, Mill on Liberty, Views on Democracy, Conclusion, Summary, John Austin (1790-1859), Early Life, John Austins Theory of Sovereignty, His Contribution towards Law, Criticism of Austins Theory of Sovereignty, Conclusion, Summary, Individualism. 24. Sovereignty Emergence of Powerful State and Rulers, Contribution of Social Contract Thinkers, Views of Pluralist Thinkers and Montesquieu, Summary. 25. Idealism General Features of Idealism, A Brief History of Idealistic School, Distinction between Reall Will and Actual Will is False, Two kinds of Idealism, Principles of Idealism, Principles of Liberal Idealism, Difference, Idealists are Conservative, Conclusion, Kant (1724-1804), Life Sketch and Writing of Kant, Political Idea of Kant, Kants Conception of Moral Freedom, Hegels Criticism, Kants views regarding State, Individualistic Elements in Kants Thoughts, Kant and Social Contract, Kants Views on Sovereignty and Law, Kants Doctrine of Punishment and Duty, Against Revolution and War, Kants Views on Functions of States, Kants Views on Government, Kants Views on Peace and Progress, Evaluation, Summary, A Brief life Sketch of Hegel, State and General Will, Freedom and State Absolutism, Nationalism and War, International Law, History, Property, Punishment, Evaluation, Hegel, Introductory, Hegels Criticism of Kantian Conception of Freedom, Liberty is Possible only in Social Life, Is Hegelian Liberty a Mockery, Hegel regards State as Omnipotent, State is Above Natural Law and Morality, State is Unrestrained in international Field, Hegel is not a Pacifist, History, Criticism of Hegels Conception of Freedom, Views of Green, Other Views, Evaluation, Summary, The Characteristic Feature of Hegels Philosophy, Dialectic, State, Criticism of Hegel, Summary. 26. English Idealist Thinkers Green (1836-1882), His Life, Greens Writings, Sources of Greens Thought, Green on State, Green on Freedom, Principles of Political Obligation, Green on Rights, Individual Right of Resistance, Green on Property, Green on Punishment, Green on War, Green on Individualism, Green on General Will, Green and Hegel, Evaluation, Greens views on Liberty and Greens Positive Freedom, Greens Liberal Ideas, Green and Kant, Differences with Hegel, Summary, Political Obligation, Resistance to Authority, Negative Functions, Positive or Constructive Functions, Education, Evaluation, Summary, Green on Rights, The Right to resist the State, Natural Rights (Law), Natural Law, State and Other Association, Summary, Conventional Theories of the Punishment, Greens Conception of Punishment, Summary, Greens Views on Property, Criticism, Green about War, Importance of Right to Life, Green on Internationalism or Universal Brotherhood, Summary, Greens Political Thought, The contribution of Green to Modern Liberalism, Introduction, Individualistic and Liberal Influence on Green, Influence of Liberalism, Criticism, Estimate, Summary, Francis Herbert Bradley, Life, Ideas, Criticism, Evaluation, Summary, The Political Thought of George Benard Bosanquet, Introduction, Actual and Real Will, Institutions, The State, Public and Private Acts, Bosanquet on Punishment, War, Views on War and Difference with Green, Bosanquet and Hegel, Criticism, Evaluation, Summary, Views on State, Summary, Division. 27. Scientific School Herbert Spencer Individualist (1820-1903 Biological Approach) His Life, His Writings, Sources of Spencers Philosophy, Negative Functions of the State, Organic and Evolutionary Conception of Society, Evaluation, Summary, Spencers Theory of Evolution, Influence of Darwin, Evolution of Society, Comparasion with Body, Support of Individualism, Summary, Evolution & Organic Theory, Evolution, Dissimilarities between State and Organism, Consequences of Organic Theory of the State, Mill Vs. Spencer, Summary, Views on Rights, Favour of Individualism by an Organic View of Spencer, Contribution of Spencer, Inconsistencies of Spencers Thought, Estimate, Wrights Comments, Summary. 28. The Psycholocigal School (Bagehot, Graham Wallace and Mc-Dougal) Introduction, His Work, His Political Philosophy, The English Constitution, Estimate, Summary, Graham Wallas (1858-1930), Life, His Works, Introduction, Human Nature, His Book Great Society and its Impact, Evaluation, Summary, Introduction, His Works, His Political Ideas, Evaluation, Summary, Importance of Economics, Summary, Evaluation. 29. Socialism Introduction, Various Definitions, Socialism in India, Summary, Indian Outlook, Socialism in Modern age, Essentials of Socialism, Summary, Christian Socialists, Lauis Balance and Proudhan, Summary. 30. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Introduction, Engels, His Works, Evaluation, The Communist Manifesto, Advancement of Industries, Evaluation, Summary, Hegels Influence, Views of Engels, Influence of Other Thinkers, Views of Stalin, Summary, Materialistic Conception of History, Importance of Economic Factors, Historical Process, Slave Society, Feudal Society, Capitalistic State, Socialistic Society, Communistic Society, Historical Determinism, Criticism, Summary, Marxs Theory of Class Struggle, Effect of Capitalist Society, Criticism, Summary, The Basic Principles of Marxism, Criticism, Surplus Value, Criticism, Summary, The Marxian Theory of the State, Hobbess Influence, Importance of Working Class, Criticism, Summary, The Evaluation of Marxism, Clear Cut Theory, Terror to Exploiters, Demerits of Marxism, Revisionism, Summary, Conclusion.