The illiberal founding of modern political science and its implications for the contemporary study of politics

Abstract

What philosopher should be conferred the prestigious title of the founder of modern political science? This article claims that Thomas Hobbes most deserves to be called the founding father of the modern scientific discipline tasked with the study of politics, state and government. Disapproving of its ancient founder, Aristotle, the discipline begins anew with a combination of arguments from Machiavelli and Hobbes. More precisely, modern political science is founded on the Hobbesian correction of Machiavelli as Hobbes not only focuses on the separation of morals and science, by relying on an illiberal conception of human nature, but also radically redefines science as such. This paradigmatic shift has in turn subverted the discipline. The legacies of Hobbesian scientific revolution have provided contemporary political science with a justification for its fascination with order and metrics. Denying the intrinsic value of the normative nature of political realities, a coherent conception of politics and, consequently, a coherent conception of the purpose of the study of politics remain incomplete and illiberal.