Philosophy is often too put apart from politics. It looks that this field is often marginalized and not taken into account seriously enough. Politicians are often seen as ‘men of action’ compared to teachers or journalists in philosophy who are seen as ‘marginal’ and ‘failures’ in our society. However philosophy has always been useful to contest a system, to put into question and to make things advance this way : for instance Hume was one of the first thinkers of liberalism during the period of monarchy. It this time is was a revolution. The same way Marx invented a new way to see reality that inspired generations of politicians. Often in a stable system philosophy can be seen as more ‘useless’. However, in a period with the emergence of new technologies, such as AI, many fields of philosophy, like philosophy of science or political philosophy, can make things advance.
This article will focus on political philosophy. As the proverb says ‘ideas lead the world’. Thinkers like Thomas de Aquinas, Luther, Descartes or Spinoza contributed to bring a lot of things this way. For instance Thomas de Aquinas was a great philosopher and theologian, and he engaged as well a great deal to educate the population. To this extend he contributed to the Renaissance of the Western world. He rehabilitated Aristotle in a larger framework than was allowed at his time, where theology was the only field that was really taught. Descartes contributed as well to the emancipation of science to theology. To the same extend Spinoza contributed to dissociate philosophy to theology, using a very deepened knowledge of the Jewish religion and the advances of Cartesianism. To this extend these philosophers contributed to the rise of Europe in modern capitalism, scientific progress, and the progress of democracy as well. The English Revolution and later the French Revolution were partly made thanks to these intellectuals that put into question the existing order.
The modern political confrontations were also partly made from ideological and philosophical ideas. For instance Marxism reshaped a great deal the political life. If socialist movements led by thinkers as Saint Simon or Fourier put into question the emerging capitalism of today, which was a lot more the ‘jungle’ than today (for instance with the lack of protections, civil unions, social security…), Marx created a new way to see reality, built around the fight between classes, that gave a new vision of reality. In my opinion Marx is reducing too much people to their social background, which is a very important reality but individual cases were not considered enough ; it contributed to the great defeat of Marxism against the bourgeoisie that succeeded to put itself into question and adapt without betraying itself. The XXIst century, which is more and more and Asian century, is not taking into account anymore the Marxist vision of reality, or a marginal way. But this ideology shows that philosophy, which is partly founding the Marxist system, can contribute to shake and established system.
These elements show that marginazing political philosophy is not relevant and historically not sounded. Marginalizing fields like philosophy look to be an incitation to maintain a status quo and limit the ability to contest realities that could lead to advancements. In my opinion a more educated population is more able to be free, to succeed and able to bring progress to a system. Fields like philosophy can contribute to this idea. It is the reason why political philosophy should be more considered to build political programs or contribute to debates.
The observer 