CSS Solved Political Science 2024 Past Paper | Aristotle’s theory of the Ends and functions of state.
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Question Breakdown:
The examiner has asked to prove Aristotle a realist concerning his theory of the ends and the function of the state. The answer starts with an introduction and then builds an understanding of the jargon “realist” and “idealist”. In addition, briefly explains the theory of the ends and the functions of the state described by Aristotle. Now, prove Aristotle a realist by the reference to his Theory of the Ends and the Functions of the State. Finally, wrap the answer up by giving a critical analysis and a final thought.
Outline
1- Introduction
Aristotle, through his theory of state and the theory of the Ends, describes popular sovereignty, apprehends the state’s obligation and the function of middle-class, unfolds the importance of a judicial system, and ponders over the tenets of justice and education as the duty of the state in his literary work, Politics, justifying him as a realist.
2- Diagnosing the jargon “realist” and “idealist”
3- Contextualizing Aristotle’s realism
4- Overview of Aristotle’s theory of the ends
5- Comprehending the functions of the state as per Aristotle’s political philosophy
6- Justifying the realism of Aristotle under the light of his Theory of Ends and the Functions of State
- ✓Realism at the ends of the state
- Justice and rule of law
- Education and Ethics
- Provision of ultimate good
- ✓Realism in governmental structure
- Role of the middle-class
- Parliamentary system
- Constitutionalism
- ✓Pragmatism, regardless of imagination
- The act of averting revolution
- Materialism vs imagination
7- Critical analysis
8- Ending Statement
Answer to the question
Introduction
Aristotle had a well-known assessment of the material world, especially through observation and scientific methods. He, because of his experiential studies on the governmental structure and the approach towards the existence of the world in real-time, quantity, and quality, is generally known as a realist. Moreover, Aristotle concluded that all the world around us, either biological, astronomical, empirical, governmental, political, or any theoretical practice, is working to attain a particular “end”. To Aristotle, the End means the formulation of society, including every abstract and non-abstract thing, to attain maximum benefit for humans and create stable, peaceful circumstances. In addition, Aristotle gave his philosophical ideas about the nature of a state and its ultimate function to promote the common good. He defined three social classes and titled the middle class as a means to control the elite sections and governmental policies to achieve the “Ends”. Hence, Aristotle’s opinion on the functions of the state and his Theory of the Ends justified him as a realist.
Diagnosing the jargon “realist” and “idealist”
Before answering the main query, understanding the meaning of realist and “idealist” is important as it would simplify apprehending the major question. A realist is a person, either a philosopher, theorist, scholar, or statesman, who takes the existence of a thing as it is or accepts a situation as it is and plans to tackle it accordingly. He does not associate any abstract theory with the existence of material things; however, he believes that everything around has certain characteristics that make it prepare for its role. And here, realist theorists and scientists observe, discover, and express the nature and purpose of the existence of any social, biological, and political phenomenon.
On the other hand, an “idealist” is an individual who is guided by intuitions, ideas, and abstract knowledge rather than empirical or practical knowledge. A person who dreams of perfection, utopia, and an ideal situation that existence is possibly impossible. For instance, an idealist relates the material world to some idea in the mind, the idea behind the creation of a thing, instead of describing things regarding their purpose in real time, space, and situation.
Contextualizing Aristotle’s realism
For Aristotle, any phenomenon, either natural, biological, or political, if implemented in real-life situations, then it is correct. However, any piece of knowledge, philosophy, governmental model, or political theory that could not be implemented in the material world has no authenticity. Thus, Aristotle not only neglected the political theories of theorists before him but also studied many governmental models, observed their practicality, collected data on the political structures of numerous governments in Europe, and calculated the best political charters, ultimately proposing his Theory of Ends and the functions of a state.
Overview of Aristotle’s theory of the ends
Though Aristotle is called a realist, describing the existence of things in real-time, space, and situation, he argued that entire human activity, either social or political, in one way or another, has certain pursuits. He first formulated a hierarchy in a society where man or family is the basic unit of society while the state is regarded as an end. According to Aristotle’s theory of the ends, the purpose of a state is to provide a common good to all the basic units of society, while the status, strength, and stability of the state should remain inviolable. In addition, the entire range of human actions and the functions of the state revolve around some good, goal, or telos. Moreover, these acts or ends are quite varied, like the ends of a state are providing justice, education, protection, and peace, and the ends of kingship are unity, contentment, solidarity, etc., concerning the present situation, time, and need.
Comprehending the functions of the state as per Aristotle’s political philosophy
Aristotle, in his literary effort “Politics”, expounded on the functions of the state. He explained the purpose of the state, polis, is the result of humans’ instinct to form social institutions to able to achieve a more fulfilled life. Thus, the ultimate necessity of human socialization in the form of a state is the providence of the common good. Moreover, the functions of a state, such as justice, education, political and civil rights, legislation, and the rule of law, are the means to the ends, the common service. Thus, it could be concluded that the ultimate determination of a state is to deliver a decent life to its citizens, which particularly revolves around virtue, ethics, and justice.
As Aristotle stated:
The formation of a state is based on the concept of providing a good life to people, and its continuity continues for the sake of a good life.
Justifying the realism of Aristotle under the light of his Theory of Ends and the Functions of State
The wide belief in Aristotle as a realist could be justified by analyzing his Theory of Ends and the Theory of State, generally assumed as the functions of the state.
- ✓ Realism at the ends the of state
Aristotle, unlike his teacher, Plato, explored the world around him and took the status that the human world is not just an illusion, a game of mind or spirit, or forms, but everything that assumes a sensible existence could be evaluated and has a purpose in a world. Similarly, he gauged the purpose of a state and named it the “Ends of State”. To him, a state must provide unrestricted justice, regardless of capital, influence, and political affiliation, to all citizens equally.
Moreover, the rule of law should be in common practice in a state, and only in this way, a state could attain its highest ends or goals, which are the protection, peace, and happiness of its inhabitants.
On the other hand, the state should educate its masses as every citizen has a right to attain knowledge and resort to ethics. Reckoning the status of education, it, through episteme of knowledge and practical work, builds the character of people, making them tolerant, honest, dutiful, civilized, skillful, intellectual, and resilient. In consequence, ethics would prevail in a state to fulfill the ends diligently. Thus, the concept of state and its purpose, along with essentialism, demonstrate Aristotle’s realism.
- ✓ Realism in the systematic study of governmental structure
Another reason that Aristotle is a realist is Aristotle’s opinion of the ends and the study of systematic study of governmental structure. Aristotle, in his ideal state discussion, in Politics, described a profound understanding of the role of monarchs. According to Aristotle, an ideal monarch’s existence is practically impossible, thus, a monarch along with a parliamentary setup could fulfill the Ends.
Additionally, being a realist, Aristotle advocated for three basic institutes in a governmental model: a popular assembly, a parliament, composed of all citizens, an institute of magistracy, a judiciary to impart justice, and an administrative department.
Moreover, the role of the middle class in the political structure is extremely important, Aristotle supplements his stance through explanation. He argued that the middle class is both family-oriented and has a balanced understanding of the political system of the state, thus, its presence is necessary in making rules and policies and in decision-making, which equally benefit all classes of the state.
Additionally, “Politics” states the crucial need for a constitution. By evaluating the importance of the constitution, it could be used to nullify the regimes of tyranny, oligarchy, and extreme democracy, and, at the same time, it promotes the rule of law, peace, and tranquillity in the state. Thus, the governmental model prescribed by Aristotle, defining the mix of monarchy, constitutionalism, and popular sovereignty, could be easily adopted in real life.
- ✓ Pragmatism regardless of imagination
Aristotle’s systemic approach in studying the types and functions of the state dismissed the philosophy of forms, which means the essence or the spirit of a material thing is truth while the material world is just a delusion. Instead, Aristotle argued that everything around could be measured and sensed in the sense of quality, quantity, substance, time, space, and relation. The material world, in reality, disregards any forms or spirit.
In addition, one could assume the example of pragmatism by understanding revolution and the strategies to reverse it. As Aristotle argued, regardless of forms and imagination, the real world exists, the developments in the governmental structure are real, and the ends if not fulfilled could bring revolution. For instance, Aristotle prescribed numerous methods, such as public participation, equality, meritocracy, the widespread distribution of rewards, like jobs, accolades, and services, by government, checks on public departments, and public scrutiny could bring peace and diffuse the tension of revolution. Thus, the experimental understanding of governmental structure and scientific approach of Aristotle made him a realist philosopher.
Critical analysis
Critically analyzing the discussion, Aristotle is a realist. He, from the Theory of Ends to the Theory of State, encompassed the rule of a monarch, constitution, and popular assembly. Aristotle meticulously understood the material world and disregarded the connection between imagination and the real world. However, he apprehended that imagination is involved in setting goals, the purpose of the material world, and attaining the highest objective of any phenomenon, which he called “Ends”. Moreover, he observed the scientific phenomenon of a governmental structure while employing a realist approach to perceive the actual character of political changes, accordingly establishing the foundation of the Western political ideology.
Ending Statement
Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, believed that this real-world exists and could be known through the sense of perception. He used a scientific approach, using observation, collected data, arranged data in sequence, and made experiment-based theory to explain the real world. The theory of ends, though provides certain ambiguous ideas about the relationship between imagination and the real world, the objectives or imagination of the real world directly linked to the existing political, constitutional, and governmental structure. Moreover, Aristotle could also be proven realist by observing his theory of state, the functions of the state, and the theory of the Ends by describing popular sovereignty, apprehending the state’s obligation, functioning of the middle class, unfolding a judicial system, and pondering over the tenets of justice and education as the duty of the state in his literary work, Politics.
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