Political science is the study of the state, government, and politics. It deals with analyzing political systems and political behavior. There is debate around whether political science is a science or an art. While some argue it lacks the certainty and predictability of natural sciences, others argue it uses the scientific method of formulating generalizations based on observed facts. Overall, political science can be considered both a science, in that it systematically studies political phenomena, and an art, in that its knowledge can be applied practically.

2. Md. Sajib Chowdhury
ID: 16411069; Section: A
Batch: BIR-2016
First Year, First Semester
Department of International Relations
Faculty of Security &Strategic Studies
Bangladesh University of
Professionals

3. • What is political science?
• Political Science according to Scholars.
• Nature Of Political Science
• Approaches
• Scope / subject matter of Political science
• Is Political science a science?
• To what extend political science is science
• Conclusion.

5. The word Politics has its origins in
Ancient Greece.
It comes from 3 Greek words:
Polis- City State
Polity- Government
Politeia- Constitution

6. Political science is the field of the social
sciences concerning the theory and
practice of politics and the description and
analysis of political systems and political
behaviour.

7. Political Science is a social science
discipline concerned with the study of the
state, government, and politics.
Aristotle defined it as the study of the state.
It deals extensively with the theory and
practice of politics, and the analysis of
political systems and political behavior.
Political Science is the social science
concerned chiefly with the description and
analysis of political and governmental
institutions and processes.
Definitions

8. Definition of Political thinkers
Paul Janet - “Political science is that part of science which
treats of the foundations of state and the principles of
government”.
H.J Laski- “The study of politics concerns itself with the life
of man in relation to organized states”.
Lasswell- “political science is the study of shaping and
sharing of power”.
David Easton-“Political science is the study of the
authoritative allocation of values for a society”.
Garner - “Political Science begins and ends with the state"
Leacock - “Political Science deals with government only”
Aristotle – “Science of polis”
Gettle – “Science of state”

9. Political Science is also known by:
Politics
Science of State
 Science of Government
Science of Politics etc.

10. FATHER OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

11. DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Aristotle
wrote “Politics”, the first systematic work on political
affairs.
Father of Political Science
Niccolo Machiavelli
wrote “The Prince”, a handbook for rulers in the art of
government.
Father of Modern Political Science
Prof. Francis Lieber
wrote “Manual of Political Ethics”; the first systematic
treatise in political science

12. The State is the central theme of
political science.
It is the systemic study of the state, it’s
origin, it’s nature, it’s structure,
government, power, authority and so on.

13. In sum, the study of political
science focuses on:

14. FIVE PHASES
OF DEVELOPMENT

15. Approaches are used to explore & explain
political situation or political event

16. Political science is still growing and
developing subject
So there is no uniformity
amongpolitical thinkers regarding the
nature of political science
Aristotle, the father of political science,
considered it as the master science
Some other political scientists reject
the scientific nature of political science.
Nature Of Political Science

17. Subject matter or Scope:

18. Continue…….

19.  To discover the principles that should be
adhered to in public affairs and to study the
operations of the government.
 Its findings can be used in seeking resolutions
to immediate situations.
 To be able to deal with social and economic
problems and other matters of public and
private concerns.
Functions and Importance

20. Education for citizenship
Essential part of liberal education
Knowledge and understanding of
government
Necessity of the Study

21. Is Political Science a
Science?

22. There is a great deal of controversy among
scholars about whether Political Science is
a Science or an Art.
Aristotle considered it as the 'master
science'.
Other modern writers like Godwin,
Hobbes, Vico, Hume, Frederick Pollock,
John Seely, and Lord Bryce consider it a
science.
On the other hand, scholar like Mosca,
Burke, Buckle, Comte, Maitland question
its claim as a science since it has failed to
act up to the standard of science.

23. Science
 “A body of systematized knowledge”
 A systematically organized body of
knowledge on a particular subject.
 The intellectual and practical activity
encompassing the systematic study of the
structure and behavior of the physical and
natural world through observation and
experiment.

25. Social Science
The social sciences are academic
disciplines concerned with the study
of the social life of human groups and
individuals including anthropology,
economics, geography, history,
political science,
psychology, social studies, and

26. Relationship between Pure Science &
Social Science
1.Natural Science and social science are two types
of science that deal with the same scientific model
and constituents of their own respective general
laws.
2.Science is more concerned in studying nature
while social science is concerned with human
behavior and societies.
3.Pure science is characterized by control,
exactness, rationality, controlled variables, and
predictability while social science is the opposite –
it is spontaneous, unpredictable or uncontrollable
varieties, and deals with human emotions and

27. Continue……….
4.The basis of natural science is experimental data
while social sciences rely on experiential data.
5.The usual method of science (with respect to
experimental data) is doing repetitive and
conventional experiments in a laboratory while
social science (in lieu of experiential data) usually
involves alternative methods of observation and
interaction with people within a community.
6.Natural or physical science work within a closed
system while social sciences work within an open
system.

28. Branches of Social Science
Political Science is a branch of Social Science

29. Not A Science
Lack of Consensus on Nature of Political
Science
No Certainty and Universality in the Laws of
Political Science
No Predictability
No Law of Cause and Effect
Not Possible to Conduct Experiments in any
Laboratory
No Neutrality and Objectivity
The following arguments are advanced against
the claim of Political Science as a science.

30. Political Science is a Science
Political Science can legitimately claim to be a science in so
far as it shares with the natural sciences the use of the
scientific method.
The essential features of this method are; (a) It takes
nothing for granted; (b) It insists that all generalisations
made be based on observed facts; (c) It will not accept any
generalisation as final and irrevocable; (d) Besides a
scientist, so far as humanly possible, is not swayed by his
personal preferences or subjective bias in the formulation of
his findings.
Lord Bryce compared Political Science to a relatively
underdeveloped and inexact natural science like
meteorology
Frederick Pollock maintained that "there is a Political
Science in the same sense that there is a science of morals."

31. Continue………
Thus, when one examines the principles of
political science, one finds that these
principles have been formulated after a
systematic study of political phenomena.
Now, if by science one means a body
systematised knowledge, then political
science is, no doubt, a science.
It is much more scientific today than it was
in the past.

32. Political Science is an Art
An art is defined as the practical application of
knowledge for the achievement of a particular end.
Political Science is a body of systematized knowledge
which can be applied in drafting a constitution, in day
to day administration, in legislation, in foreign policy
and above all in bringing about all round development
of the state.
Thus the knowledge of Political Science is made use of
by statesmen, diplomats, administrators, social
reformers and activists to achieve their objectives.
The knowledge of Political Science is not merely of
theoretical value, but it has practical utility.
Political Science is both a science and an art.

33. Both Science and Art:
Aristotle was the first thinker who viewed political
science as a science. Bodin, Hobbes, Rousseau,
Bryce, Bluntschli, Garner, Leacock, etc. all accept
this claim.
Majority of the writers call it both a science and an
art.
It is an art in the sense that knows ledge of
political science is not of theoretical significance
only.
On the other hand, knowledge of Political Science
has practical value.
Hence, Political Science can be called both as a

34. What is exactly
Political Science is not a "pure"
science like physics or chemistry, but it
is a science nonetheless
 Political science focuses on all types of
political activity for analysis, including
behaviour. Therefore, it is neither a
pure science nor a behavioural science,
but a mix of the two.
Political Science is a combination of
art and science.

35. Conclusion>>>>>>>
Aristotle regarded Political Science as “the supreme
science” or “the masters of all science”
The study of Political Science has special importance
in all countries.
 Its study helps us to understand the mechanism and
constitutional systems of modern government. The
principles of government, the domestic and foreign
policies of the nation. the legislature, executive and
judiciary of different countries, etc. are studied in
Political Science.
As a matter of fact the scope of Political Science is so
wide that it will not suffice to choose any one of the
methods mentioned above. In order to cover the wide
scope of Political Science, we have to seek the
assistance of almost all the methods.