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Why political science matters?

The meaning of political science is often restricted to the state, government, and everyday politics. However, it goes beyond that. We as humans share various relationships. What do we do when conflicts arise in these relationships? How do we resolve them? The Socratic dialectical method or Habermas’ idea of deliberation provides a solution. It says conflicts are better resolved through dialogue rather than domination. Hence, it tells us how to talk in a dialectical manner. It is the process of reasoning together. For instance, when your father asks you to aim for a government job, but you want to become a content creator, you do not totally oppose each other. Instead, you engage rationally: Why is a government job important? Maybe because it provides security and financial stability. But being a content creator might give you creative freedom. So you decide to take a government job but also start your creator journey simultaneously — maybe by vlogging your day as a government employee...
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Positivism and Post-positivism: Between Numbers and Meaning

 Suppose you want to understand why a child does not do her homework. There can be many reasons for it. For example, she spends three hours daily watching Instagram reels, sleeps for ten hours, doesn’t have a pen or notebook, and studies for only one hour. These reasons are objective – they are the same for you and me, and they can be measured. Screen time can be tracked using a digital activity app, and study hours can also be recorded. From this, we may conclude that she doesn’t study because she lacks discipline or is careless. This is called positivism. Auguste Comte is known as the father of positivism. Positivism stands for the objective analysis of things that can be empirically proven - that is, supported by evidence and perceived through our senses. It is similar to the idea of pratyaksham kim pramanam (what is seen is the proof).


But the reasons discussed above might not be the only ones. Maybe she doesn’t like studying, doesn’t enjoy the subject, or fears scoring low or even failing. These reasons can’t be measured; they are subjective, linked to emotions and motivation. So, the context behind the facts also matters. Maybe she spends more time online or avoids buying a pen because she has lost interest in studies. Therefore, truth is multidimensional, and knowledge is never absolute. We must always stay open to other possibilities. This is known as post-positivism. It recognizes the role of values, faith, belief, biases, etc, and recognizes the limitations of reality, unlike positivism. Hence, it doesn't reject the objective reality altogether but accepts its limitations. Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn are post-positivists.

So next time you look at numbers or facts, remember – they might be incomplete or meaningful only in a particular context. Reality often goes beyond rationality and numbers.
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