PPT: Political Theory | PSIR Optional for UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


Nature and 
Significance of 
Political Theory
Page 2


Nature and 
Significance of 
Political Theory
Nature and Significance of Political Theory
Polity
Organization regulating community through 
rules and authority.
Political
Public matters (e.g., defense, justice, economic 
regulation) serving common interests.
Sheldon S. Wolin (1960)
Political institutions uniquely address 
community-wide concerns.
Aristotle
Man is a "political animal," naturally suited to 
state life.
Key Point: Polity's authority distinguishes it from other social institutions (e.g., family, school).
Page 3


Nature and 
Significance of 
Political Theory
Nature and Significance of Political Theory
Polity
Organization regulating community through 
rules and authority.
Political
Public matters (e.g., defense, justice, economic 
regulation) serving common interests.
Sheldon S. Wolin (1960)
Political institutions uniquely address 
community-wide concerns.
Aristotle
Man is a "political animal," naturally suited to 
state life.
Key Point: Polity's authority distinguishes it from other social institutions (e.g., family, school).
Nature of Political Theory
Definition
Systematic knowledge of political phenomena.
Origin
Greek polis (city-state), emphasizing public 
activities.
Modern Scope
Limited to public sphere (e.g., elections, cabinet 
decisions), excluding private matters (e.g., faith, 
art) unless regulated.
Components
Political Science: Empirical (observation-
based) and logical (reasoning-based) 
statements.
Political Philosophy: Evaluative statements 
(value judgments, e.g., "men are born free").
Page 4


Nature and 
Significance of 
Political Theory
Nature and Significance of Political Theory
Polity
Organization regulating community through 
rules and authority.
Political
Public matters (e.g., defense, justice, economic 
regulation) serving common interests.
Sheldon S. Wolin (1960)
Political institutions uniquely address 
community-wide concerns.
Aristotle
Man is a "political animal," naturally suited to 
state life.
Key Point: Polity's authority distinguishes it from other social institutions (e.g., family, school).
Nature of Political Theory
Definition
Systematic knowledge of political phenomena.
Origin
Greek polis (city-state), emphasizing public 
activities.
Modern Scope
Limited to public sphere (e.g., elections, cabinet 
decisions), excluding private matters (e.g., faith, 
art) unless regulated.
Components
Political Science: Empirical (observation-
based) and logical (reasoning-based) 
statements.
Political Philosophy: Evaluative statements 
(value judgments, e.g., "men are born free").
Nature of Political Theory
Debate on Values
Logical Positivism: Evaluative statements are unverifiable, 
unscientific.
Counterview: Values have logical structure, can be debated 
rationally.
George Catlin (1957)
Political theory blends political science (facts) and philosophy 
(values).
Ideology vs. Theory
Ideology: Biased ideas defending power (e.g., capitalism, 
socialism).
Theory: Disinterested, seeks truth via facts and values.
Page 5


Nature and 
Significance of 
Political Theory
Nature and Significance of Political Theory
Polity
Organization regulating community through 
rules and authority.
Political
Public matters (e.g., defense, justice, economic 
regulation) serving common interests.
Sheldon S. Wolin (1960)
Political institutions uniquely address 
community-wide concerns.
Aristotle
Man is a "political animal," naturally suited to 
state life.
Key Point: Polity's authority distinguishes it from other social institutions (e.g., family, school).
Nature of Political Theory
Definition
Systematic knowledge of political phenomena.
Origin
Greek polis (city-state), emphasizing public 
activities.
Modern Scope
Limited to public sphere (e.g., elections, cabinet 
decisions), excluding private matters (e.g., faith, 
art) unless regulated.
Components
Political Science: Empirical (observation-
based) and logical (reasoning-based) 
statements.
Political Philosophy: Evaluative statements 
(value judgments, e.g., "men are born free").
Nature of Political Theory
Debate on Values
Logical Positivism: Evaluative statements are unverifiable, 
unscientific.
Counterview: Values have logical structure, can be debated 
rationally.
George Catlin (1957)
Political theory blends political science (facts) and philosophy 
(values).
Ideology vs. Theory
Ideology: Biased ideas defending power (e.g., capitalism, 
socialism).
Theory: Disinterested, seeks truth via facts and values.
Scope of Political Theory
Political Science
Describes political behavior, 
power dynamics, state-
citizen relations.
Political Philosophy
Prescribes goals, right 
conduct, legitimate power 
use.
Andrew Hacker (1961)
Science: Explains "what is" 
(e.g., actual political 
behavior).
Philosophy: Defines "what 
ought to be" (e.g., just 
society).
Integration
Philosophy needs empirical 
facts for coherence.