Sahabat dalam bisu

Sahabat dalam bisu

          

             Lama tak bicara bukan berarti saya lupa. Saya tahu kamu ada, kamu tahu saya ada. Saya dan kamu begitu dekat namun, terhalang benteng yang kokoh dan kaku. Terlalu kuat untuk saya Mae-geri. Terlalu angkuh untuk diruntuhkan. Belum ada celah untuk satu elektronpun menembusnya. Rapat.

            Setiap pertemuan memberi harapan untuk kembali. Kembali ke masa sebelum benteng itu ada. Andai kamu tahu. Dalam hati, saya berteriak, "WOYY..AKU DISINI!". Sayangnya bibir ini terlalu beku. Saat itu juga harapan itu tenggelam bebarengan dengan kamu yang lari dari jarak pandang kacamata. Inilah hasil hibrida dari usaha-usaha saya yang gagal; phobia bicara.

            Kamu pasti berpikir sayalah yang menyebabkan benteng itu ada. Kamu benar. Benteng itu adalah manifestasi dari kesalahan-kesalahan saya yang memfosil karena naluri kebinatangan saya. Kamu berhak marah, sudah seharusnya. Saya benar khilaf.

            Andai kamu tahu. Saya ingin membombardir benteng itu dan memperbaiki kesalahan saya namun, bagaimanapun juga saya tidak bisa melakukannya sendirian. Saya perlu bantuan kamu untuk membuat bom atomnya. Saya harap kamu bisa bantu.  Beri tahu saya kapanpun kamu siap. Malam ini, besok, lusa, minggu depan, bulan depan, tahun depan, lima tahun lagi, sepuluh, dua lima, tiga puluh tahun, atau lima puluh tahun lagi. Saya akan tetap menunggu.

Untuk kamu, saya ada.

Sahabat, kita satu.

Is Politics A Science?

 

          In today’s world, almost every single thing happens in society could be influenced by Politics, even when you buy a cup of coffee; the price you pay is also influenced, whether it is directly or indirectly. But, when we talk about political science, there are many uncertainties and skeptics about the classification of this field. Some argument stated that political science could not be classified as a science, instead as an art of government[1]. However, most political scholars believe that political science is actually a science, specifically branch of social science.

                In comprehending this issue, first we must understand the meaning of science which is simply defined as knowledge[2]. However, this definition is inadequate to explain why Political Science should be or not to be classified as a science. Therefore  in 1950, UNESCO made a project to formulate the universal view on Political Science and had agreed to define science as a sum-coordinated knowledge relative to a determinate subject[3]. In addition, there are some criteria that must be fulfilled; ontological, epistomological, and axiological phenomena.[4].

               

Meanwhile politics is derived from Greek word Polis, literally means city-state as ancient Greek society was divided into a collection of independent city-state, each of which possessed its own system of government.[5] In the 16th century until the early 20th century "politics" is defined more narrowly than the definition that is understood by Greekk .[6] Politics characterized by shrewdness in managing, contriving, and dealing.[7]In another hand, Prof Miriam Budiarjo defined politics as an effort to create a better life. She also believed that politics is related to power, decision making, and allocation or distribution in a state.[8] Leftwich stated that the aim of politics is to explain power thereby it is both systematic and a science.[9]

However, chancellor like Bismarck argued that Politics is an art rather than a science. Perhaps He looked up at the classical definition of the politics and science and he preferred to have in mind that it is an art of government, the exercise of control within society through the making and enforcement of collective decisions.[10]Specifically this argument does not have enough substantial evidence and is fragile.

Referring to the definition and criteria above, we may have some enlightenment upon the definition of Political Science, as it is fulfilling the required criteria of science. Political science has three bases of the science’s criteria. Ontologically, political science has phenomenon that wanted to be known, which is human political life. Epistemologically, political science has working procedures to seek knowledge by using a device called a methodology. Meanwhile, antologically, political science also seeks the benefits of the knowledge gained. Besides, practically, political scholars must have a proper concept, free of bias, then supported by empirical evidence in their writings.[11]

In conclusion, political science is generally a way of studying as a whole from the special point of view of the human political life and definitely included as a science rather than an art of government.[12] In addition, political science has scientific methodology even though cannot be in the equal status as the exact sciences.[13] This also prevents political science to have such causal theory.

           

           

           

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[1]Andrew Heywood (2007), Politics, 3^rd ed, palgrave Macmillan, New York, p. 5

[2] F.Isjwara (1999), Pengantar Ilmu Politik, Putra A badrin, Bandung, p. 20

[3] UNESCO (1950), Contemporary Political Science, Paris viewed 13 Sept 2013, unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000725/072539eo.pdf

[4]Yanuardi, Politik Sebagai Science , viewed 11 Sept 2013 http://staff.uny.ac.id/sites/default/files/pendidikan/Yanuardi,%20S.IP.,%20M.Si./politik%20%20sebagai%20science.pdf

[5]Andrew Heywood, op.cit, p. 5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

[6] Rodee,Carlton Clymer,et all (1988), Pengantar Ilmu Politik, Rajawali Pers, Jakarta.

[7]Merriam-Webster 11^th Collegiate Dictionary, viewed 15 Sept 2013 Merriam-Webster reference online dictionary

[8]Budiarjo, Prof. Miriam, Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Politik, revised. ed,Gramedia, Jakarta, p. 14

[9] Adrian Leftwich (2004), What is Politics, 2nd ed, John wiley, York

[10]UNC (2010), Political Science, viewed 11th Sept 2013 http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/political-science/

[11]UNC, College of Arts & Sciences, Political Science, viewed 11 Sept 2013, writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/political-science/

[12]UNESCO, op.cit, p. 50

[13] Arvind Kumar, wheather political science is a science or not, viewed 11th Sept 2013 http://www.preservearticles.com/2011100414559/essay-on-whether-political-science-is-a-science-or-an-art.html