Philosophical Schools of Thought Term Paper

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International Relations

Philosophical Views: International Relations

International Relations: Philosophical Views

In studying International Relations, there are four philosophical schools of thought used to analyze such studies. Liberalism, realism, radical, and constructivist views have contributed to analyzing this field of study from ancient times to the contemporary era. In its simplest terms, philosophy means the quest for knowledge and truth. It is the quest for wisdom or universal knowledge of the whole. Hence, the quest would not be necessary if such knowledge were immediately available. Such venture for knowledge gave birth to different philosophical views in Athens, circa Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Insomuch, many philosophical theories have been used as a framework to understand political theories, such as International Relations.

International Relations

International Relations studies relationships between countries, including the roles of the various forms of governments, academic arena, and public policy fields. Hence, it is often characterized as a branch of political science that is inclusive of such diverse fields as economics, history, international law, philosophy, social work, sociology, psychology, gender studies, and cultural studies. With such a vast array of subject matter that brings inherent political controversies, a theoretical approach, such as realism philosophical school of thought, is deemed appropriate in analyzing such issues.

Realism Philosophy

One of the most significant developments in international relations theory in the past decade has been the reconciliation of radical post-positivist theorists to realism (Hall, 2011). While advances in the history of international thought have prompted substantive re-evaluations of the work of past realist thinkers, including that of Carl Schmitt and Hans J. Morgenthau, the reconciliation of radicalism and realism has occurred because of the radicals' realization of their common anti-liberalism.

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State security and power is the center for realism philosophy. Its premise is based on states that are self-interested and power-seeking moguls seeking to maximize its security and chances of survival. Such a theory clearly represents the survival of the fittest: a true Darwinian theory.

Since the beginning of time, the world has engaged in some form of war, thus requiring the strong to overcome the weak. Hence, many countries and even states created synergistic efforts as a way to maximize each individual's security. Utilitarianism was clearly not the focus, which is more of an idealistic theoretical approach.

Advantages

For centuries, realism has been the predominant approach to understanding and making sense of international politics. Its basic premise is based on a set of assumptions of a rather pessimistic nature. Hence, such assumptions are grounded in a profound pessimistic view of the human condition and the prospects for change in human behavior. All realists, regardless of the paradigm in which they adhere to, have in common the conviction that the world is to be understood as it is, and not as it should be. Only then, one can truly understanding aspects….....

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