The belief that politics can be scientific must inevitably…
“The belief that politics can be scientific must inevitably produce tyrannies. Politics cannot be a science, because in politics theory and practice cannot be separated, and the sciences depend upon their separation. Empirical politics must be kept in bounds by democratic institutions, which leave it up to the subjects of the experiment to say whether it shall be tried, and to stop it if they dislike it, because, in politics, there is a distinction, unknown to science, between Truth and Justice.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Attempting to treat politics as a science leads to tyranny; politics requires democratic limits and a distinction between truth and justice.
In simple terms: Politics can't be purely scientific; it needs democracy.
Key Takeaway
Guard politics with democratic checks.
Themes
politics
science
democracy
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political.
When to use this quote
- policy making
- academic research
- public debate
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance evidence with values?
- What safeguards prevent tyranny?
A Different Perspective
It may underestimate the role of empirical data.