Matching Philosophers with Political Schools of Thought

The question asks to match the philosophers listed in List - I with their corresponding schools of thought or approaches to political science listed in List - II.

Analysis of the Matches:

• Hegel: Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher foundational to dialectical idealism. His philosophy of the state is deeply rooted in a metaphysical framework, viewing the state as the realization of the "ethical idea" or the "Divine Idea on earth." This aligns with the Metaphysical school.
• Austin: John Austin was an English legal philosopher who significantly influenced analytical jurisprudence and legal positivism. He viewed law as a command issued by a sovereign, backed by sanctions. His approach is primarily concerned with the legal structure and form of the state, fitting the Juridical school.
• MacIver: Robert Morrison MacIver was a Scottish-American sociologist and political scientist. His work, particularly "The Modern State," emphasizes the state as a social institution arising from social needs and interactions. His perspective is strongly aligned with the Sociological school.
• Garner: James Wilford Garner was an American political scientist known for his systematic study of political institutions and state functions. His approach was often descriptive, focusing on analyzing and describing existing political structures and processes. This corresponds to the Descriptive approach.

Establishing the Correct Pairing:

• Hegel - Metaphysical
• Austin - Juridical
• MacIver - Sociological
• Garner - Descriptive

Mapping to List - I and List - II:

List - I:

1. Hegel
2. Austin
3. MacIver
4. Garner

List - II:

1. Juridical
2. Sociological
3. Descriptive
4. Metaphysical

• a. Hegel maps to iv. Metaphysical
• b. Austin maps to i. Juridical
• c. MacIver maps to ii. Sociological
• d. Garner maps to iii. Descriptive

Comparing with the Options:

• Option 1: a - i, b - ii, c - iii, d - iv (Incorrect)
• Option 2: a - iv, b - i, c - ii, d - iii (Matches our sequence)
• Option 3: a - iv, b - iii, c - ii, d - i (Incorrect)
• Option 4: a - iv, b - i, c - iii, d - ii (Incorrect)

Therefore, the correct answer is found by matching these pairs: a is matched with iv, b with i, c with ii, and d with iii.

Revision Table: Philosophers and Schools

Additional Information: Political Thought Schools

Understanding different schools of thought helps in classifying the approaches of various political philosophers and theorists. Here are brief descriptions of the schools mentioned:

• Metaphysical Approach: This approach views the state and political phenomena through philosophical concepts about ultimate reality, essence, and purpose, often linking the state to higher ethical or spiritual ideas. Hegel is a prime example.
• Juridical Approach: Focuses on the legal aspects of the state, analyzing its structure, functions, and relationship with law. It deals with rights, duties, sovereignty, and constitutional law. John Austin's legal positivism is a key contribution to this area.
• Sociological Approach: Studies the state as a social institution, examining its origin, development, functions, and relationship with other social groups and structures. It looks at the social forces that shape political life. Thinkers like MacIver use this perspective.
• Descriptive Approach: This approach aims to describe political reality as it is, focusing on empirical observation and analysis of political institutions, behavior, and processes without necessarily evaluating them against normative standards. Garner's work often falls into this category.

These different approaches offer various lenses through which to understand the complex nature of the state and politics.