POLITICAL THEORY I
Midterm Reviewer - Short Notes
POLITICAL THEORY
What is THEORY?
- Well-reasoned explanation or framework that helps us understand, predict, or analyze a particular
phenomenon. It’s based on evidence, observations, and logical reasoning.
- Not just a ‘guess’ — developed thru research, testing, and debate. However, theories can evolve
or be revised as new evidence emerges.
- Greek origin and it belongs to a short vocabulary of words:
1. Thea
- Something that is seen. It’s an event, phenomenon, or a spectacle. Anything
unusual or interesting that catches your attention. (ex: A political protest)
2. Theorein
- To ‘observe’ what is happening. The act of looking at something and paying
attention to what’s happening (you’re watching & paying attention, but not
necessarily analyzing deeply). (ex: You just don’t watch the protest; you start
asking why people are protesting).
What is Political Theory
★ Theory of Politics
★ Subfield of political science that deals with fundamental questions about government, justice,
rights, freedom, and power. It examines how political ideas have evolved over time and how they
shape societies.
★ Generalization of political events and it involves an attempt to explain, describe, and prescribe the
political phenomenon
○ Thinking and observing abt your surroundings are the basic components of building a
political theory as it also depends upon your methodology
★ There is no consensus among political theorists as to what, exactly, constitutes the discipline
○ The areas of enquiry that political theorists explore are constantly changing, and with
this, our understanding of what qualifies as political theory
★ BROADLY: Political theory denotes a systematic study of state, government, and power
○ Political theorists discusses and reflects on good society and lays down certain
standards for political establishment to follow, aims at highest realization of political
values, tells us how should we live a good life and how should we live together
○ Political theory is thus a normative discipline
■ Concerned with how things ought to be as opposed to how things actually are
★ The political scientist asks: How is a particular political system
What is Political Science?
★ Study of politics, government, and how power works in society.
THE GREAT POLITICAL SCIENCE (P13 - P23)
❖ Politics is almost the oldest profession in the world.
❖ Political Philosophies is a reflection on political phenomena, the attempt to understand them and
the discussion of their significance.
Midterm Reviewer - Short Notes
POLITICAL THEORY
What is THEORY?
- Well-reasoned explanation or framework that helps us understand, predict, or analyze a particular
phenomenon. It’s based on evidence, observations, and logical reasoning.
- Not just a ‘guess’ — developed thru research, testing, and debate. However, theories can evolve
or be revised as new evidence emerges.
- Greek origin and it belongs to a short vocabulary of words:
1. Thea
- Something that is seen. It’s an event, phenomenon, or a spectacle. Anything
unusual or interesting that catches your attention. (ex: A political protest)
2. Theorein
- To ‘observe’ what is happening. The act of looking at something and paying
attention to what’s happening (you’re watching & paying attention, but not
necessarily analyzing deeply). (ex: You just don’t watch the protest; you start
asking why people are protesting).
What is Political Theory
★ Theory of Politics
★ Subfield of political science that deals with fundamental questions about government, justice,
rights, freedom, and power. It examines how political ideas have evolved over time and how they
shape societies.
★ Generalization of political events and it involves an attempt to explain, describe, and prescribe the
political phenomenon
○ Thinking and observing abt your surroundings are the basic components of building a
political theory as it also depends upon your methodology
★ There is no consensus among political theorists as to what, exactly, constitutes the discipline
○ The areas of enquiry that political theorists explore are constantly changing, and with
this, our understanding of what qualifies as political theory
★ BROADLY: Political theory denotes a systematic study of state, government, and power
○ Political theorists discusses and reflects on good society and lays down certain
standards for political establishment to follow, aims at highest realization of political
values, tells us how should we live a good life and how should we live together
○ Political theory is thus a normative discipline
■ Concerned with how things ought to be as opposed to how things actually are
★ The political scientist asks: How is a particular political system
What is Political Science?
★ Study of politics, government, and how power works in society.
THE GREAT POLITICAL SCIENCE (P13 - P23)
❖ Politics is almost the oldest profession in the world.
❖ Political Philosophies is a reflection on political phenomena, the attempt to understand them and
the discussion of their significance.
