Faculty Workshop – Keith Hankins (Chapman University)

Dr. Keith Hankins will present a paper titled “Four Dimensions of Realism in Normative Political Theory”

Abstract: It has become common for political theorists to distinguish between two broad approaches to theorizing about politics, realism and idealism. Debates about the merits of realism and idealism have been confused, however, by a tendency to conflate several distinct methodological commitments. This paper introduces four ways of characterizing these commitments – the independence thesis, the Madisonian principle, the contingency thesis, and the practicality thesis – and considers how these distinctions help us compare the methodological approaches and core commitments of several canonical figures in the history of political thought. Briefly, the independence thesis is the claim that political theorizing can and should be done free from prior normative constraints, and that normative political principles cannot be derived from prior principles of moral theory. The Madisonian principle is the claim that political theory should concern itself with the analysis of political actors as they actually are and should be cautious in abstracting away from the features of the world that make social and political institutions necessary, or which determine how they are likely to operate. The contingency thesis is the idea that principles for evaluating political order tend to become less useful as they become more idealized, abstract, or timeless. And the practicality thesis is the belief that the primary aim of political theory is to identify an achievable standard for how social and political institutions should be organized or assessed given realistic expectations about how political actors are likely to behave.

This event will be held in the Hariri building, room 310. Visitors are welcome. Please email the director of the institute, Michael Douma at if you plan to attend.