An examination of the concept of socio-political deviation

Zijiang Ding, Purdue University

Abstract

Philosophical examination of deviation has been of sustained interest to both political philosophers and social scientists. From the time of Aristotle forward, some of the principal discussions of social or political philosophy have been what might be called "fundamental" discussions about socio-political deviation. What is socio-political deviation? What are its features, attributes, structures, functions and process? What is its necessity and positivity? What are its ontological, epistemological, methodological or moral foundations? What is its theoretical and practical significance in social development? Questions like these may yield important philosophical insights, and lead us to understand, and perhaps to reconstruct or reformulate, the very rationale for developing a contemporary theory of deviation. The four chapters in this dissertation cover the spectrum from the historical to the theoretical, practical and methodological. In the first chapter, we devote our attention to Aristotle's theory of constitutional deviation. I try to discuss, critically and analytically, the ten key points of the extensive definition of constitutional deviation implied in Aristotle's book Politics. I also deal with Aristotle's explanations about the reasons why constitutional deviation occurs, and approaches as to how constitutional deviation can be prevented. In the second chapter, I attempt to disclose the distinctions between Aristotle and Durkheim's theory of deviation. I also want to confirm Durkheim's contribution to the development of the theory of deviation, as well as criticize the deficiencies, limits and fallacies in his framework. In the third chapter, I have a fourfold purpose--to demystify and reconstruct socio-political deviation through conceptual, critical, explanatory, and practical analyses. By those reconstructions, I try to clarify many discussions and controversies which exist at the present time concerning the theory of deviation. In the last chapter, I propose to adopt a multiple methodology--a static, dynamic, and rational approach upon which to model socio-political deviation. These methodological models can be useful to effectively understand the nature, characteristics, causes, relations and roles of socio-political deviation.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

McBride, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Philosophy

COinS