Why Political Science is the master of all Sciences ?
Answers
Answer:
I have read about this. Two things here: political science and master science (not master of science). Calling the field political science is a statement of aspiration — be as scientific as possible as this can greatly advance the field — while recognizing there are limits to both applicability and achievement. As for calling political science (the study of politics) the ‘master science’, that is widely attributed to Aristotle. I do not know whether Aristotle provided reasons for his view, but the best rationale I have come across for regarding the study of politics as the master science is as follows.
The rationale rests on the overriding importance of politics to human life and progress. The major problem of politics, namely political disorder, must be sufficiently overcome for life to be secure and for progress in all other arts and sciences. This view forms the premise of most early political thinkers and philosophers, not just Hobbes and Western philosophers but also other thinkers long before them. For example, the great philosophers of ancient China 2 to 3 thousand years ago all regarded overcoming political disorder as the foremost problem worthy of great minds. Interestingly, preoccupation with this problem by China’s best minds has been adduced as a major reason for the lack of progress in the physical sciences throughout most of China’s long history. Today, we are only or mostly reminded of the primacy of politics when politics break down or fail to maintain order in society.
Does the primacy of politics provide sufficient justification for regarding the study of politics, now widely called political science, as the master science? In any case, that claim is seldom openly made or asserted by political scientists nowadays.
Answer:
I have read about this. Two things here: political science and master science (not master of science). Calling the field political science is a statement of aspiration — be as scientific as possible as this can greatly advance the field — while recognizing there are limits to both applicability and achievement. As for calling political science (the study of politics) the ‘master science’, that is widely attributed to Aristotle. I do not know whether Aristotle provided reasons for his view, but the best rationale I have come across for regarding the study of politics as the master science is as follows.