Why Do we Study Politics?Why Do we Study Politics?

what's this all about?what's this all about?

To build a body of knowledgeTo build a body of knowledge

What does it mean to Know Something?What does it mean to Know Something? Explain, Describe, Predict and ControlExplain, Describe, Predict and Control What are the sources of knowledge?What are the sources of knowledge?

direct observationdirect observation reasonreason authorityauthority

direct observationsdirect observations

observe a sequence of events and see if it observe a sequence of events and see if it recurs in more than one instance.recurs in more than one instance.

law of gravity explains a lot, we have seen law of gravity explains a lot, we have seen it happen oftenit happen often

Replicated eventsReplicated events

ReasonReason

Even if we haven’t seen a particular thing Even if we haven’t seen a particular thing happen before (observation) it is logical that happen before (observation) it is logical that things will happen in a certain waythings will happen in a certain way

AuthorityAuthority

How do we know that Madison and the boys How do we know that Madison and the boys did their thing in 1787?did their thing in 1787?

How do you know that we landed on the How do you know that we landed on the moon in 1968?moon in 1968?

Which are the most reliable?Which are the most reliable?

observationobservation reasonreason authorityauthority

what does this mean?what does this mean?

What is this?What is this?

Read This:Read This:

What is this?What is this?

How do we know that the sun rises each morning?How do we know that the sun rises each morning?

Why do we study politicsWhy do we study politics

build body of knoweldge about the poltical worldbuild body of knoweldge about the poltical world explain, describe, predict, controlexplain, describe, predict, control

explainexplain

describedescribe

predictpredict

controlcontrol

Why do we study politics?Why do we study politics?

explainexplain describedescribe

predictpredict controlcontrol