Human Nature, History And Conflicts

Classical Realism took a very important position in history of International Relations Theory, but there were also lots of controversies and misunderstandings around it, we hope can clarify some of them by reconsidering the core thought of Classical Realism. Specifically, we will compare thoughts of four most prestigious scholars (E. H. Carr, Raymond Aron, Reinhold Niebuhr and Hans Morgenthau) in the Classical Realism tradition. The ultimate question of this enquiry is:What is realism? Does it have a coherent and united philosophical foundation?Classical reslist realied the lust for power was deeply ingrained in human nature, it won’t disappear with the development of history, but this didn’t mean that our society will full of conflicts, Security Dilemma remind states not to expand power. Classical realist also found the limit of rationality.Classical realist found the objectivity of historical facts and historical law were limited, the problem of objectivity can’t be solved rationaly, they also insisted that we can’t know the totality of history due to the limit of rationality. There was no historical trend that was undisputable; men always have the freedom of choice which makes history full of possibility.Classical realist thought that distribution of power was the most important variable to affect interstate relations. Great powers respected each other’s sphere of influence was the foundation of peace, spheres of influence should be based on distribution of power, and adjusted according to the changing distribution of power. Rising power should get more share of interest and take more international responsibility, for the declining power, appeasement was a rational choice. Great Powers which weren’t restrained are reckless, balance of power was a reliable approach to prevent great power from abusing power and threating peace.Classical realist didn’t deny morality, they just insisted that moral judgment can’t be made easily, they are all moral skeptics. They realized moral choice was essentially a commitment, and it’s also arbitrary, so it required statesmen have both the determination and the spirit of doubt, sense of superiority should be restrained, and finally they insisted that moral judgment should based on result, not goals or intention of the agents.Classical realist got their inspiration from anti-liberalism thoughts in20th century, those anti-liberalist shared the view that liberalist used to think rationally and abstractly, they neglected the complexity of reality, so be a realist means face the reality, make sure the reality should not be twisted by emotion and wishes. All the anti-liberalist didn’t have the some assumption about reality, Marxist assumed that reality is a rational process, even though men can’t understand reality completely now, finally they will, and they will make peace with it. Anti-Rationalist and Realpolitik hold an opposite assumption, they assumed that reality is irrational, Man can’t understand reality completely. Conservatives were moderate, they thought we can understand the outside world, but the understanding was limited, Conservatism was the exclusive philosophical root of Classical Realism, so being a realist also means one should never give up trying to understand the world, at the same time he must aware he is not omnipotent.