Causes for the decline of political theory as given by David Easton

1. The decline of political theory
Presented by-
Rima Doot

2. • Political Theories help to control the social and political life of an
individual.
• According to David Easton, political theory was on a decline. He
writes- “Political theory today is interested primarily in the history of
ideas”.
• This was the exact character of political theory. Also it was
inextricably associated with notions of value and general principles.
• Easton could not accept this position of political theory. He thought
that value, principles and history cannot be the sole determiners of
political theory.
• The classical and modern traditional political scientists did not pay
any attention to the development of the theoretical analysis with the
help of data.
• Easton wanted it to be seen as part of empirical science and to reject
explicitly. The emerging tendency to identify the term with both
metaphysical speculation and the history of political thought”.

3. Causes For The Decline of Political Theory
As Given By David Easton
Historicism
Moral Relativism
Hyper Factualism
Positivism

4. HISTORICISM
 The thinkers were too much influenced with History and past events that they
didn’t analyse what was happening and how to reconstruct the damages.
 Values and ideas need to be redefined for reconstruction of society.
 Theorists didn’t have a positive outlook nor did they have creative outlook.
 Both, values and facts are must for the formation of a just and good political
theory.
 Thinkers under Historicism were divided into four categories by Easton-
i) Institutionalists
- Made no efforts to find how ideas influenced contemporary values
ii) Interactionalists
- Focused on creating new theories and ideas on the basis of reactions to past events
iii) Materialist
- Emphasised on discovering historical and cultural conditions
iv) Believers of Contemporary Values
- Took in account only values and not facts; focused only on history and not on its
influence on values

5. moral RELATIVISM
 The indifferent and ignorant attitude of political scientists led to the
decline in political theory.
 No attempt was made to find the absolute truth.
 Whatever was equally valid for all, it was accepted.
 No antithesis was given, whatever was prevailing since time was accepted
as it is.
 Political values were detached from empirical research
 Relativists were driven by the force of mere motivation but according to
Easton , values, facts, rationality, reason, in depth knowledge was needed
for developing new political theory.
 Political thinkers should meet up with sociologists and psychologists to
make effective development in formation of political theory.

6. Hyper factualism
 Theories were formed relying too much on facts.
 Only those problems were researched that were easily researchable.
 Political scientists didn’t know the limits of research. They were preoccupied with
facts gathering.
 They had no theoretical inclination and hence had no sound base to rely upon.
 They didn’t see beyond certain perspectives and lacked purpose.
 Political Theorists didn’t have a scientific approach.
 General Public Opinion is necessary for theory formation but making it as a base
of research and new theory formation was wrong.
 They blamed Machinery, Bureaucracy and Military Organisation for the decline
in political theory but in actual internal issues were to be blamed for.

7. Positivism
 New political ideologies started taking form of theories in 19th-20th century.
 Lack of open-mindedness and ideological reduction according to Germino were
causes for decline in political theory.
 August stated education and knowledge were essential for change in society. Laws
governing human nature are to be discovered and man has to use his logic and
reasoning for setting up new goals and striving to achieve them.
He also gave three stages –
i) Theological Stage (Destiny governs all)
ii) Metaphysical Stage (Sense of Criticism, Realisation)
iii) Positive/Scientific Age ( Replacing superstition with knowledge)
 According to Arnold, positivism led to intellectual movement and values and facts
were to be separated from each other. He categorises positivist as –
i) Relatively Open Minded and un-dogmatic
ii) Hyberistic ( Extremely Behaviourist)
iii) Hyper Factualists ( Behaviourists)
iv) Exological Positivists ( Who couldn’t separate values and facts)

8. Thank
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