The Root of All: Political Philosophy as the Foundation of Existence

Introduction: Beyond Politics - The Cosmic Role of Political Philosophy

Political philosophy is not merely the study of governance or justice; it is the profound enquiry into the very fabric of existence. From the laws governing celestial bodies to the complexities of statehood and conflict, political philosophy stands as the primordial discipline—out of which all other knowledge systems emerge. Earth, ocean, gravity, soul, biology, war, borders, human nature—none of these can be understood in isolation from political thought. Indeed, political philosophy is not just an academic field; it is the guiding spirit of civilisation itself.

I. Philosophy as the Source: All Disciplines Are Its Offspring

Every academic subject, whether in the natural sciences, social sciences, or humanities, is ultimately rooted in philosophy. This is especially true for political philosophy, which governs the very principles of how we organise, understand, and justify existence.

We often consume disciplines such as geography, economics, biology, or history through educational systems designed by the state—systems developed after particular wars, revolutions, or nationalist agendas. Each nation, knowingly or unknowingly, builds its syllabi to reflect its political victories or traumas. Thus, the learning we acquire is not neutral—it is deeply political. And at the core of this lies political philosophy, defining how we should interpret knowledge, morality, space, identity, and power.

II. The Universe Is Political: From Gravity to Governance

From the macrocosmic to the microcosmic, everything is governed by law—natural, social, or spiritual. Gravity is not just a physical force; it is a political metaphor for order, cohesion, and invisible power. Just as gravity holds planets in orbit, unwritten social contracts hold societies together. Political philosophy interrogates such structures, both natural and artificial.

The ocean’s currents, tectonic plates, and atmospheric shifts are often interpreted as natural phenomena. Yet, they determine geopolitical realities. The melting of Arctic ice, for instance, is not only an environmental crisis but a political reconfiguration—opening new trade routes and reshaping military ambitions. Philosophy gives us the tools to see beyond surface events and recognise the patterns of deeper existential governance.

III. Earthly Conflicts as Cosmic Reflections: Case Studies

Ukraine–Russia: War as a Clash of Political Worlds

The Russia–Ukraine war is often framed as a territorial dispute or Cold War residue. However, from a philosophical lens, it represents a struggle between opposing worldviews: authoritarian imperialism versus democratic self-determination. This war is not simply geopolitical—it is metaphysical. It reflects conflicting ontologies: What is a nation? Who defines it? What does sovereignty mean when empire still casts a shadow?

Israel–Palestine: History, Justice, and the Human Condition

Here, philosophy confronts tragedy. The conflict is not merely about land or identity—it is an ongoing ethical dilemma shaped by memory, displacement, and theological-political narratives. Questions about justice, historical accountability, and human suffering are not theoretical—they are lived realities. This is political philosophy in its rawest, most painful form.

India–Pakistan & the Indian Ocean: A Theatre of Future Philosophy

The partition of India, the Kashmir conflict, and rising Indo-Pakistani tensions all stem from divergent conceptions of belonging, religious identity, and political legitimacy. Now, as the Indian Ocean becomes a geopolitical chessboard—courted by China, the USA, and regional powers—the philosophy of maritime sovereignty becomes urgent. What rights do nations have over oceans? Who owns movement? Who governs space?

The Final Contest: South China Sea & the South Sea Axis

The South China Sea is not just a contested waterway—it is the epicentre of a future philosophical war. Here lies the confrontation between rule-based order and assertive might. The rising tension in this region signals not just military escalation but a deeper civilisational question: Which philosophy will govern the world? Coexistence or dominance?

IV. The Soul and the Animal: Expanding the Political Realm

 

Political philosophy must also embrace what has been neglected: the soul, the animal, the non-human. What is the moral status of animals within our systems? What are our duties to the voiceless? How do we understand consciousness, both human and non-human, within political frameworks? These are not marginal queries—they are foundational.

Similarly, the question of the soul is indispensable. Who governs the inner world of humans? What is the relationship between spiritual life and public life? Classical philosophy—from Plato to Nāgārjuna—has always integrated the inner and outer realms. Today’s technocratic politics fails because it ignores the soul. True political philosophy must bring it back.

V. The Educational System: Structured Forgetting or Philosophical Awakening?

The curriculums we study today, across nations, are often the by-products of war, colonisation, or state engineering. Rarely are they grounded in genuine philosophical vision. This is why generations grow up without understanding the first principles of their own lives. They know formulas but not meanings. They know maps but not ethics. They learn politics as power, not as moral imagination.

We unknowingly follow educational legacies built on the ruins of empires—British, Soviet, American, Chinese. The challenge now is to re-philosophise our systems: to teach the young that philosophy is not optional—it is origin. And political philosophy is the mother tongue of civilisation.

Conclusion: From Soil to Soul—All Is Political

To truly understand war, peace, nature, or identity, one must begin with political philosophy. It is the language of the Earth and the stars, the grammar of statecraft and the logic of the spirit. Whether it is the tilt of a planet, the rise of a dictator, or the suffering of a displaced people—each must be read through the lens of political thought.

Political philosophy is not a subject. It is the subject. Every other discipline is its child. Without it, we are blind to the deeper truths. With it, we begin to see not only how the world works—but why it exists at all.

Copyright © Balananthini Balasubramaniam (Nila Bala) @SmallDrops

All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or distributed without express permission from the author.

(Disclaimer: Images are AI generated and are used for representational purposes only)

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