Political Power - 1656 Words

Political PowerÂ… Many political philosophers would argue that political science is nothing more than the study of political decision-making and how it affects the daily lives of the populous. Politically, having the ability to influence others is a very strong power that beckons responsibility. In order to obtain this, one must be able to convince others that what is being requested or instructed is being done in the best interest of the person and populous, in the name of the common good. Political power creates a foundation in our lives, through persuasion, manipulation, and our own morality, by which we are instructed about what we ought to do. Political power exercises the art of persuasion. In the play Gorgias, written by Plato,†¦show more content†¦Aristotles discussion of slavery is important for an understanding of Aristotles idea of freedom and its relation to political power. A slave is a possession of the animate sort, meaning that he is a tool of action, and belongs completely to the master. Aristotle does not support slavery by todays standards; he only supports cases where the slaves are actually slaves by nature. A natural slave is one who does not have the full use of reason. According to Aristotle, he perceives reason, but does not have it. Legal slavery, however, is unjust because not all the conquered humans are slaves by nature. If someone who is not a natural slave is unrightfully enslaved, the situation is uneven for both the master and the slave. With this, is it our nature to rule one another? To rule over men is better than to rule over wild beasts; Aristotle wrote, for the work is better whi ch is executed by better workmen, and where one man rules and another is ruled, they may be said to have a work. Manipulation is a strong branch of political power. This branch aims to convince people to become followers under an unproven and underdeveloped theory of politics, and the leaders idea of the common good. If politics aims at focusing in on the common good, which persons definition of common good are we all to follow? The political community, namely senators and various board members, often manipulate our ideas of what is good. ParentsShow MoreRelatedPolitical Machines And Political Power1086 Words   |  5 Pages Political Machines Political Machine is a term given to an unofficial organization designed to keep a certain political party or political group in power. Although Political Machines were originally designed for positive actions, a group of political leaders turned this positive intention into devastating corruption. As power was put into the wrong hands, large cities of the United States were put in jeopardy. Political Machines caused corruption in the larger cities and states of the UnitedRead MoreThe Rule Of Law And Political Power1100 Words   |  5 Pagesfactor in determining state viability is the organization of the regime and allocation of political power, a concept known as institutional design. How political power is allocated among rival factions determines whether polarization and conflict results in compromise, gridlock, or, in extreme cases, the collapse of the state. In democratic regimes, there have historically been two formats under which political power has been designed: preside ntialism and parliamentarism. However, both have been unreliableRead MorePower As A General Political Science827 Words   |  4 PagesPower in politics is a central concept, yet a contested one for a multitude of reasons. Chief among them is its contested nature and disagreement among political scientists over the concept itself as well as its operationalization. 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He explores on how the affluence of politicians influences the political setting of the country. According to the author, political equality is considered as the philosophy of democracy. Due to the inequalities that exist among the citizens regarding information, social and political affairs, it would be impractical to anticipate equal influence over policy making. Nature and the degreeRead MoreAcquiring Political Power under a Principality Essay1170 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Prince, Machiavelli writes his analysis of how to acquire and sustain political power under a principality. It is his understanding of human nature and the ability to maintain control over people that make up the base for all of the other theories he puts forth. Machiavelli is able to recognize what it takes to balance the citizens somewhere between happy and scared, so to keep them from revolting while appearing united and strong discouraging others form invading. 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