Philosophical Basis Of Governance (1)

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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.


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The philosophical basis of governance is a complex and multifaceted topic. It encompasses a wide range of issues, including the nature of power, the role of the state, the relationship between the individual and the collective, and the proper ends of government.

Some of the key subtopics within the philosophical basis of governance include:

  • Political philosophy: This is the study of the nature of government and the principles that should guide it. It encompasses a wide range of theories, from classical liberalism to Socialism to anarchism.
  • Ethics: This is the study of morality and the principles that should guide human conduct. It is relevant to governance because it can help us to determine what is right and wrong in the context of political decision-making.
  • Law: This is the body of rules that govern a society. It is relevant to governance because it provides the framework within which governments operate.
  • History: This is the study of the past. It can be helpful in understanding the development of political ideas and institutions.
  • Comparative government: This is the study of different political systems around the world. It can help us to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to governance.

These are just some of the key subtopics within the philosophical basis of governance. It is a vast and complex field, and there is much more that could be said about it. However, this should give you a basic overview of some of the key issues that are involved.

Political philosophy

Political philosophy is the study of the nature of government and the principles that should guide it. It encompasses a wide range of theories, from classical liberalism to socialism to anarchism.

Classical liberalism is a political philosophy that emphasizes the importance of individual liberty and limited government. It is based on the idea that individuals are free to do whatever they want, as long as they do not harm others. Classical liberals believe that the government should only interfere in people’s lives to protect their rights and to provide essential Services, such as law enforcement and national defense.

Socialism is a political and economic system that advocates for social ownership of the means of production and the distribution of wealth according to need. Socialists believe that the current system of capitalism is unfair and exploitative, and that it leads to inequality and poverty. They argue that the government should play a more active role in the economy, in order to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to succeed.

Anarchism is a political philosophy that rejects the idea of government altogether. Anarchists believe that people should be free to live their lives without interference from the state. They argue that government is inherently oppressive and that it is the root of all social problems.

Ethics

Ethics is the study of morality and the principles that should guide human conduct. It is relevant to governance because it can help us to determine what is right and wrong in the context of political decision-making.

There are many different ethical theories, but some of the most common include utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics.

Utilitarianism is a theory that holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Deontology is a theory that holds that the right action is the one that is in accordance with duty or obligation. Virtue ethics is a theory that holds that the right action is the one that is in accordance with the virtues of a good person.

Law

Law is the body of rules that govern a society. It is relevant to governance because it provides the framework within which governments operate.

Laws are created by governments and enforced by the police and the courts. They can be used to regulate a wide range of activities, from criminal behavior to economic transactions.

History

History is the study of the past. It can be helpful in understanding the development of political ideas and institutions.

The history of governance is long and complex. It can be traced back to the earliest civilizations, when people began to form governments in order to protect themselves and to manage their affairs. Over time, governments have evolved and changed, but they have always been concerned with the same basic issues: how to provide security, order, and justice for their citizens.

Comparative government

Comparative government is the study of different political systems around the world. It can help us to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to governance.

There are many different types of political systems, including democracies, republics, monarchies, and dictatorships. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. By studying different political systems, we can learn from the successes and failures of others.

Conclusion

The philosophical basis of governance is a complex and important topic. It is essential to understand the different theories and ideas that have been proposed, in order to make informed decisions about how to govern ourselves.

What is the philosophical basis of governance?

The philosophical basis of governance is the set of beliefs and values that underpin the way a society is organized and governed. These beliefs and values can vary widely from one society to another, but they often include a commitment to Democracy, Human Rights, and the rule of law.

What are the different types of governance?

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

  • Democracy: A System of Government in which the people hold power and make decisions through elected representatives.
  • Republic: A system of government in which the people hold power, but decisions are made by elected representatives rather than directly by the people.
  • Monarchy: A system of government in which one person, the monarch, holds all or most of the power.
  • Dictatorship: A system of government in which one person or a small group of people holds all of the power, usually without any checks or balances.
  • Theocracy: A system of government in which religious leaders hold power and make decisions based on religious beliefs.

What are the benefits of good governance?

Good governance can provide a number of benefits, including:

  • Increased economic prosperity: Good governance can help to create a more stable and predictable Environment for businesses, which can lead to increased Investment and economic Growth.
  • Improved social welfare: Good governance can help to ensure that all members of society have access to basic services such as Education, healthcare, and security.
  • Reduced Corruption: Good governance can help to reduce corruption, which can free up resources that can be used to improve the lives of citizens.
  • Increased Transparency and Accountability: Good governance can help to increase transparency and accountability in government, which can help to build trust between citizens and their government.

What are the challenges of good governance?

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

  • Corruption: Corruption is a major challenge to good governance. It can take many forms, such as bribery, extortion, and Nepotism. Corruption can undermine the rule of law and lead to a loss of public trust in government.
  • Poverty: Poverty is another major challenge to good governance. People who are living in poverty are often more vulnerable to corruption and abuse of power. They may also have less access to education and healthcare, which can make it more difficult for them to participate in society and hold their government accountable.
  • Lack of education: Lack of education is another challenge to good governance. People who are not educated may be less likely to understand their rights and how to participate in government. They may also be more easily manipulated by corrupt officials.
  • Weak institutions: Weak institutions are another challenge to good governance. Institutions such as the judiciary, the police, and the media are essential for holding government accountable. If these institutions are weak, it can be difficult to prevent corruption and abuse of power.

What can be done to improve governance?

There are a number of things that can be done to improve governance, including:

  • Promoting transparency and accountability: Governments should be transparent in their decision-making and accountable to their citizens. This can be done by publishing information about government activities, holding public consultations, and allowing citizens to participate in decision-making.
  • Fighting corruption: Corruption should be fought through a combination of legal and non-legal measures. Legal measures include strengthening anti-corruption laws and institutions. Non-legal measures include raising awareness of corruption and building public support for anti-corruption efforts.
  • Investing in education and development: Education and development can help to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives. This can make it more difficult for corrupt officials to exploit people and can help to build a more informed and engaged citizenry.
  • Strengthening institutions: Institutions such as the judiciary, the police, and the media are essential for holding government accountable. Governments should invest in strengthening these institutions and ensuring that they are independent and impartial.
  1. Which of the following is not a type of government?
    (A) Democracy
    (B) Republic
    (C) Monarchy
    (D) Theocracy

  2. Which of the following is the most common type of government in the world?
    (A) Democracy
    (B) Republic
    (C) Monarchy
    (D) Theocracy

  3. 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

  4. In a republic, the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  5. In a monarchy, one person has all the power. This person is usually a king or queen.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  6. In a theocracy, religious leaders have all the power.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  7. 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.

  8. Which of the following is a challenge of democracy?
    (A) It can be difficult to get everyone to agree on what is best for the country.
    (B) It can be slow to make decisions.
    (C) It can be vulnerable to corruption.
    (D) All of the above.

  9. 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 representative of the people than a democracy.
    (D) All of the above.

  10. Which of the following is a challenge of a republic?
    (A) It can be less responsive to the needs of the people than a democracy.
    (B) It can be more easily controlled by a small group of people than a democracy.
    (C) It can be less accountable to the people than a democracy.
    (D) All of the above.

  11. Which of the following is a benefit of a monarchy?
    (A) It can provide stability and order.
    (B) It can provide a sense of national identity.
    (C) It can be a symbol of national unity.
    (D) All of the above.

  12. 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 one generation to the next.
    (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.

  13. Which of the following is a benefit of a theocracy?
    (A) It can provide a strong sense of moral and ethical guidance.
    (B) It can provide a sense of community and belonging.
    (C) It can provide a sense of stability and order.
    (D) All of the above.

  14. 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.

  15. 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 each 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.

Index