Methodological dilemmas and traps of the concept “political” Cover Image

Metodologiczne dylematy i pułapki pojęcia polityczności
Methodological dilemmas and traps of the concept “political”

Author(s): Mirosław Karwat
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: KSIĘGARNIA AKADEMICKA Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: politics; political; methodological dilemmas; methodological traps; conceptual separation; naturalism; essentialism; formalism; conceptual reduction; syndromic quality; politicality

Summary/Abstract: A theorist defining the concept “political” needs to decide many methodological dilemmas and evade some disasters and traps, especially elementary mistakes, errors or simplifications. The distinction between the concept of “politics” and the concept of “the political” may be stereotypical, even completely popular, colloquial. However, the terminological similarity and grammatical connection between the noun and adjective or adverb result in definition difficulties. The contrary solution of the variety problem consists in the separate meaning of both concepts. Among the typical temptations for a theorist one could find the following: ontological naturalism, formalism, simple essentialism, reduction of both concepts, illusion of self‑contained political being, ignoring the historical context, syndromatic nature and relativity of the “politicality”.

  • Issue Year: 12/2015
  • Issue No: 36
  • Page Range: 133-153
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish