| If the purpose of this thesis is to offer new insight into the political thought of Reinhold Niebuhr, it will be seen that the analysis must proceed in three stages. Initially, the problem will be to establish in theory some scheme by which meaning can, in some degree, be brought to all political systems, and through which certain fundamental characteristics, found in some systems but not in others, may be permitted to emerge. This will involve the setting up of two extreme positions. The second problem will entail of course, clarifying exactly what Reinhold Niebuhr's political thought is. Coincident with, although logically distinguishable from, this, is the third problem---the task of applying the established scheme to that particular political thought.;But while dealing with what are admittedly two "ideal" types, it must be kept in mind that to demonstrate relevance in any particular case, is not to prove thereby that this scheme has the final word. Insofar as it is the purpose of this thesis to explain Niebuhr in these terms, it will be argued that to understand Niebuhr's thought is to be aware of the way in which be combines elements of both schools. But insofar as a proper perspective of the truth inhering in one's own cause must be maintained, it will be observed, even if it is only as an aside, that Niebuhr cannot ultimately be contained by the terms of this categorization.;The two extreme positions will be called Political Realism and Political Idealism, both of which are common terms in political parlance. Unfortunately however, it is the case that neither of these concepts is susceptible to clear and brief definition, and as such, neither has heretofore been capable of anything more than roughly indicating general predispositions, and at times, fitting the biases of the person that wields them. Accordingly, it will be necessary to ground both these labels in terms which neither equivocate nor beg the question. |
