Philosophical basis of governance

Governance is the exercise of economic, political, and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs at all levels. It comprises mechanisms, processes, and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations, and mediate their differences.

The challenge for all societies is to create a system of governance that promotes supports and sustains Human Development – especially for the poorest and most marginal. But the search for a clearly articulated concept of governance has just begun. Good Governance is, among other things, participatory, transparent and accountable. It is also effective and equitable. And it promotes the Rule of Law.

Good governance ensures that political, social and economic priorities are based on broad consensus in Society and that the voices of the poorest and the most vulnerable are heard in decision-making over the allocation of development Resources. Governance has three legs: economic, political and administrative. Economic governance includes decision-making processes that affect a country’s economic activities and its relationships with other economies. It clearly has major implications for Equity, POVERTY and Quality Of Life. Political governance is the process of decision-making to formulate policy. Administrative governance is the system of policy implementation.

Early on, humans living in jungles needed to herd together (like many vulnerable animals do even today) to protect against predatory animals. But within a herd, some humans meted violent oppression of others. Violence among humans threatened survival of all humans because even the strongest among them needed the support of the rest to survive the onslaught of the predatory animals. The intelligent humans then developed language for Communication and scripted ‘commonly acceptable beliefs for coexistence (CABE).’ Those who scripted such CABE were treated as ‘god’ or ‘reincarnation of god’ or ‘son of god’ or ‘prophet.’ The CABEs became religious scripts like Gita, Bible, Koran, etc. The transgressors of CABE were called sinners for punishment by ‘god.’ The CABE authors created administrators (kings with gendarmes) to mete punishment to the sinners.

Humans eventually reformed the CABE as modern rules of law. When some of the mighty administrators committed sins, while a warrior-philosopher like Krishna of the epic Mahabharat era did not exist to array the then warriors like Arjuna to punish and eliminate the sinners, humans made the most judicious among them the ‘Lords’ (like in Britain) to refine the CBAE into modern rules of law. The Lords interpreted the law to ensure conformity of human behavior with law and to prescribe due punishment to the transgressors. The idea of modern governance thus originated.

Subsequently, however, the mighty administrators transgressed the law, surreptitiously and discriminatingly, which even the Lords could not detect. For example, when Britain printed sterling pound in London to acquire sweat-filled merchandise and service from the American colonists and the British Lords did not do anything about it, the former united to revolt against usurpation and subjugation by the latter. After winning the war for their independence, the American founding fathers scripted the first modern constitution. Constitutional governance thus originated.

But even constitutional governments worldwide have adopted laws and procedures which are economically inefficient and unconstitutional. Furthermore, humans have bumped into intellectual conflicts between religion and science and about separation of religion from governance. The purpose of this paper is to offer a unified philosophy of governance which obviates such conflicts. This philosophy lays the foundation for moral hazard free first-best efficient governance.

The goal of the unifying philosophy is to awaken humans to think of the unifying philosophy in governance in order to attain their common longing for prosperity amid stability. We argue that the unifying philosophy of governance is the most potent nonviolent weapon against terrorism and financial moral hazard that hobble attainment of the common human longing. The unifying philosophy of governance should be urgently publicized to thwart terrorism and financial moral hazard nonviolently and to beget prosperity amid stability.

To safeguard against the threat from violent animals, humans organized themselves in societies. But living together required rules for coexistence. Formulation and administration of rules needed Leadership. When the societies grew large, leaders and their cronies schemed to exploit the society to beget for themselves free service and produce. Such scheming resulted in groups or societies based on religion, color, culture, caste, etc. The society served the leaders out of necessity. This created moral hazard because the leaders were empowered to formulate rules for coexistence. Over time, leaders formulated more and more sophisticated rules to usurp wealth and servitude from society as long as people could tolerate. To keep their society under control and to divert attention of people from exploitation via sophisticated rules, leaders often concocted enmity with neighboring societies and beyond. They painted superiority of their society over the rivals. The painted hubris united people within a society (nation) to war against other societies. Leaders justified wars by the usurpation of wealth and servitude of the vanquished. Then a sense of injustice brewed within societies or groups which could not win wars and faced threats for their survival. This led to insurrection and terrorism against the victors. To avert terrorism, it is necessary for humans to recognize the common threat to their survival as parochial leadership based on, for example, religion, nationalism, color, caste and even academic ordains.

Evolution of the Philosophy of Governance

Krishna composed Gita to communicate a philosophy of governance of human behavior needed to restore Justice and peace, even through war. Christ offered codes for human behavior scripted in the form of Bible. Swamy Vivekananda had once longed to have a common religion that could be acceptable to all humans. Our unifying philosophy of Universal Religion with the corresponding rendition of Universal God may fulfill that longing.

Two fundamental tenets of Prophet Mohammad that attracted Islam to one-fifth of humanity are:

Equality of all humans with no one like Christ as “Son of God” or Krishna as reincarnation of God and
riba-free economy in which no Money lender charges a positive interest rate. Saint Vashistha was the first to speak against usurious interest rates.

Philosophers like Aristotle and Plato have spoken against usurious interest rates. A rich merchant like Mohammad became famous when he lent his money without interest and enunciated equality of all humans. Mohammad was very confident of his message. His following was so strong that he could not visualize the importance of amendments to his Islamic philosophy of governance scripted in Koran, Sunnah and Sariat in 700 AD. Islam views deviations from these scripts as blasphemy and metes severe punishments to those who deviate from or speak on irrationality of its rigid scripts. Some Koranic verses, unfortunately, advocate violence towards those (infidels) who do not accept Islam. The Islamic philosophy of governance advocates extinguishing relics and culture of all older religions.

The constitutional rules of governance have thus evolved through wisdom cultivated since the ancient times. Contrast the two fundamental Islamic tenets with

the first Written Constitution (that of USA) of the world which admits equality and
the American monetary system that follows a zero real interest rate policy.

Americans do not prescribe decrees and fatwa. But they have rationally adopted the most important virtues of the Islamic philosophy through individual Liberty, freedom, equality of opportunities and competition. America may thus be the most Islamic nation on earth. Most “Islamic” nations – ruled by dictators, monarchs and mullahs who treat themselves as superior to all other Muslims they lord over – are UN-Islamic. Autocratic Muslim rulers are desecrating the principal tenet of Islam by treating themselves as superior to fellow Muslims. They are most un-Islamic. By accepting dictatorial rulers, most Muslims have disrespected their own Prophet’s message. This is the most sacrilegious act of most Muslims against their own Prophet. Most Islamic nations are truly un-Islamic, despite the rhetoric of selfserving, aggrandizing, entrenching mullahs, dictators, and monarchs.

The democratic system of governance too evolved through human perseverance. The constitutional system of democratic governance is thus a principal tenet of the unifying philosophy of Universal Religion. This subsumes the human wisdom of philosophers, prophets, scientists and other religious preceptors. The other principal tenet of Universal Religion is to amend the constitutional system of governance over time. The guiding tenet of Universal Religion is to ensure that the constitution reflects the latest human knowledge and wisdom for governance of society. This is an almost universal agreement among all humans irrespective of their current creed, religion and national origin. Such universal agreement is very profound. This universality in agreement makes Universal Religion universal. Universal Religion is necessary to enhance prosperity and stability of humanity.,

The philosophical basis of governance is a broad topic that encompasses a wide range of subtopics. Some of the most important subtopics include:

The nature of power and authority
The relationship between the individual and the state
The role of law and justice
The purpose of government
The ideal form of government

These subtopics are often debated and discussed by philosophers, political scientists, and other scholars. There is no single answer to any of these questions, and different people will have different opinions. However, the philosophical basis of governance is an important topic to consider, as it can have a significant impact on the way that governments are structured and operate.

Here is a more detailed list of subtopics:

The nature of power and authority: This subtopic explores the different ways in which power can be exercised and the different types of authority that can exist. It also considers the relationship between power and legitimacy.

Power is the ability to influence or control others. Authority is the right to exercise power. Power can be exercised in a variety of ways, including through coercion, Persuasion, and reward. Authority can be based on tradition, law, or charisma.

The relationship between power and legitimacy is complex. Power can be legitimate or illegitimate. Legitimate power is power that is accepted by the people as being rightful. Illegitimate power is power that is not accepted by the people as being rightful.

The relationship between the individual and the state: This subtopic examines the different ways in which the individual and the state can interact. It also considers the rights and responsibilities of both the individual and the state.

The individual and the state are in a constant state of tension. The individual wants to be free from the control of the state, while the state wants to control the individual for the good of society. The rights and responsibilities of both the individual and the state are constantly being debated and negotiated.

The role of law and justice: This subtopic explores the purpose of law and the different ways in which it can be used to achieve justice. It also considers the relationship between law and morality.

The law is a system of rules that are enforced by the state. The purpose of law is to protect the rights of individuals and to promote order and justice in society. Law can be used to achieve justice in a variety of ways, including through punishment, rehabilitation, and restitution.

The relationship between law and morality is complex. Some people believe that law should be based on morality, while others believe that law should be based on social utility. There is no easy answer to this question, and it is one that has been debated for centuries.

The purpose of government: This subtopic examines the different purposes that government can serve. It also considers the ideal form of government and the different ways in which government can be organized.

The purpose of government is to provide for the common good. The common good is the good of all the people in a society. Government can serve a variety of purposes, including providing security, promoting order, and protecting rights.

There is no ideal form of government. Different forms of government have different strengths and weaknesses. The best form of government for a particular society will depend on the specific circumstances of that society.

The ideal form of government: This subtopic explores the different ideal forms of government that have been proposed throughout history. It also considers the strengths and weaknesses of each form of government.

There are many different ideal forms of government that have been proposed throughout history. Some of the most common include Democracy, republic, Monarchy, and Dictatorship. Each form of government has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Democracy is a form of government in which the people have a say in how they are governed. The people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Democracy is often seen as the best form of government because it gives the people a voice. However, democracy can be slow and inefficient.

Republic is a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. However, the representatives are not directly accountable to the people. Republics are often seen as more efficient than democracies, but they can be less responsive to the needs of the people.

Monarchy is a form of government in which one person, the monarch, has absolute power. Monarchies are often seen as stable and efficient, but they can be oppressive and undemocratic.

Dictatorship is a form of government in which one person, the dictator, has absolute power. Dictatorships are often seen as unstable and inefficient, but they can be very effective at controlling the Population.

The philosophical basis of governance is a complex and important topic. There is no single answer to any of the questions that are raised in this topic. However, by understanding the different subtopics of this topic, we can better understand the different ways in which governments can be structured and operate.

What is the philosophical basis of governance?

The philosophical basis of governance is the study of the principles and values that underlie the way governments are organized and operate. It is a complex and multifaceted topic that has been debated by philosophers and political theorists for centuries.

There are many different philosophical approaches to governance, but some of the most common include:

Social contract theory: This theory holds that governments are created by the Consent of the governed, and that they derive their legitimacy from the people they govern.
Natural law theory: This theory holds that there are certain universal principles of justice that all governments must respect.
Utilitarianism: This theory holds that the best government is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Republicanism: This theory holds that governments should be limited in their power and that the people should have a say in how they are run.

The philosophical basis of governance is important because it helps to shape the way governments are designed and operate. It also provides a framework for evaluating the performance of governments and for holding them accountable to the people they serve.

What are the different Types of government?

There are many different types of government, but some of the most common include:

Democracy: A democracy is a form of government in which the people hold power. This can be done through Direct Democracy, in which the people vote on laws and policies directly, or through representative democracy, in which the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Republic: A republic is a form of government in which the people hold power, but the power is exercised by elected representatives. This is in contrast to a democracy, in which the people may vote on laws and policies directly.
Monarchy: A monarchy is a form of government in which one person, the monarch, holds all or most of the power. The monarch may be hereditary, meaning that the title is passed down from one generation to the next, or it may be elective, meaning that the monarch is chosen by the people or by a group of nobles.
Dictatorship: A dictatorship is a form of government in which one person or a small group of people holds all of the power. Dictators typically come to power through force or fraud, and they often rule with an iron fist, suppressing dissent and controlling all aspects of life in their country.
Oligarchy: An oligarchy is a form of government in which a small group of people holds all or most of the power. The oligarchs may be wealthy individuals, members of a particular social class, or members of a particular political party.
Theocracy: A theocracy is a form of government in which religious leaders hold all or most of the power. The religious leaders may be priests, ministers, or other religious officials.

What are the functions of government?

The functions of government can be divided into three main categories:

Legislative: The legislative branch of government is responsible for making laws.
Executive: The executive branch of government is responsible for enforcing laws.
Judicial: The judicial branch of government is responsible for interpreting laws.

In addition to these three main branches, there are also a number of other government agencies and departments that are responsible for carrying out specific functions, such as Education, healthcare, and transportation.

What are the benefits of good governance?

Good governance has many benefits, including:

Economic Growth: Good governance can help to promote economic growth by providing a stable and predictable Environment for businesses to operate in.
Reduced poverty: Good governance can help to reduce poverty by providing access to basic Services, such as education, healthcare, and sanitation.
Improved security: Good governance can help to improve security by reducing crime and Corruption.
Increased social cohesion: Good governance can help to increase social cohesion by promoting Tolerance and understanding among different groups in society.

What are the challenges of good governance?

There are a number of challenges to good governance, including:

Corruption: Corruption is a major problem in many countries, and it can undermine the effectiveness of government.
Poverty: Poverty can make it difficult for people to participate in government and to hold their leaders accountable.
Lack of education: Lack of education can make it difficult for people to understand their rights and to participate in government.
Gender inequality: Gender inequality can prevent Women from participating in government and from having a voice in decision-making.

Despite these challenges, good governance is essential for promoting peace, prosperity, and development.

Which of the following is not a type of government?
(A) Democracy
(B) Republic
(C) Monarchy
(D) Theocracy
Which of the following is the most common type of government in the world?
(A) Democracy
(B) Republic
(C) Monarchy
(D) Theocracy
In a democracy, the people have the power to make decisions about how their country is run. This is done through Elections.
(A) True
(B) False
In a republic, the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
(A) True
(B) False
In a monarchy, one person has all the power. This person is usually a king or queen.
(A) True
(B) False
In a theocracy, religious leaders have all the power.
(A) True
(B) False
Which of the following is a benefit of democracy?
(A) It gives people a say in how their country is run.
(B) It can lead to more peaceful societies.
(C) It can lead to more economic prosperity.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a challenge of democracy?
(A) It can be difficult to get everyone to agree on decisions.
(B) It can be slow to make decisions.
(C) It can be vulnerable to corruption.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a benefit of a republic?
(A) It can be more efficient than a democracy.
(B) It can be more stable than a democracy.
(C) It can be more effective at protecting individual rights.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a challenge of a republic?
(A) It can be less responsive to the needs of the people.
(B) It can be more easily corrupted.
(C) It can be more difficult to hold leaders accountable.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a benefit of a monarchy?
(A) It can provide stability and order.
(B) It can provide a strong leader.
(C) It can promote national unity.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a challenge of a monarchy?
(A) It can be hereditary, which means that the position of monarch is passed down from generation to generation.
(B) It can be absolute, which means that the monarch has all the power.
(C) It can be vulnerable to corruption.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a benefit of a theocracy?
(A) It can provide a strong sense of community and purpose.
(B) It can promote moral values.
(C) It can provide stability and order.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a challenge of a theocracy?
(A) It can be intolerant of other religions.
(B) It can be oppressive.
(C) It can be vulnerable to corruption.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is the best type of government?
(A) There is no one best type of government. The best type of government depends on the specific circumstances of a country.
(B) Democracy is the best type of government.
(C) Republic is the best type of government.
(D) Monarchy is the best type of government.
(E) Theocracy is the best type of government.