Q.1 Who is considered the 'Father of Political Science'?
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
Cicero
Explanation - Aristotle is known as the 'Father of Political Science' for systematically studying politics and governance in his work 'Politics'.
Correct answer is: Aristotle
Q.2 In Plato's 'Republic', what is the ideal form of government?
Democracy
Monarchy
Aristocracy
Timocracy
Explanation - Plato's ideal government is led by philosopher-kings, forming an aristocracy based on wisdom and virtue.
Correct answer is: Aristocracy
Q.3 Which thinker emphasized the 'social contract' as the basis of political authority?
Thomas Hobbes
Plato
Aristotle
Machiavelli
Explanation - Hobbes argued in 'Leviathan' that individuals consent to government authority to escape the anarchic 'state of nature'.
Correct answer is: Thomas Hobbes
Q.4 Who wrote 'The Prince', a seminal work on political power and realism?
Niccolò Machiavelli
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
John Locke
Plato
Explanation - 'The Prince' is Machiavelli's guide to political leadership, emphasizing pragmatism over morality.
Correct answer is: Niccolò Machiavelli
Q.5 Aristotle classified governments into three 'good' forms. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
Monarchy
Aristocracy
Polity
Oligarchy
Explanation - Aristotle's three good forms are monarchy, aristocracy, and polity; oligarchy is a deviant form of aristocracy.
Correct answer is: Oligarchy
Q.6 Which classical thinker introduced the concept of 'natural rights'?
John Locke
Thomas Hobbes
Plato
Aristotle
Explanation - Locke argued that individuals possess natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which governments must protect.
Correct answer is: John Locke
Q.7 Plato's allegory of the cave primarily illustrates:
Justice in the city
Human ignorance and enlightenment
The ideal government
Social contract
Explanation - The allegory shows how people are trapped in ignorance and can achieve knowledge through philosophical reasoning.
Correct answer is: Human ignorance and enlightenment
Q.8 Who emphasized the separation of powers in government?
Montesquieu
Hobbes
Machiavelli
Plato
Explanation - Montesquieu advocated dividing political power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny.
Correct answer is: Montesquieu
Q.9 Which thinker believed that humans are naturally selfish and need strong authority?
John Locke
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thomas Hobbes
Aristotle
Explanation - Hobbes argued that without a strong government, human life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short'.
Correct answer is: Thomas Hobbes
Q.10 Cicero's contribution to political thought mainly emphasizes:
Divine right of kings
Natural law and justice
Social contract theory
Republican pragmatism
Explanation - Cicero highlighted that law must align with reason and universal justice, forming the basis of Roman political philosophy.
Correct answer is: Natural law and justice
Q.11 Who argued that property rights are fundamental to civil society?
John Locke
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Hobbes
Machiavelli
Explanation - Locke emphasized that the protection of property is a core purpose of government.
Correct answer is: John Locke
Q.12 Plato believed that the guardians in his ideal state should:
Accumulate wealth
Serve the common good
Rule through fear
Own private property freely
Explanation - Plato's guardians are trained to rule selflessly, prioritizing the welfare of the whole society.
Correct answer is: Serve the common good
Q.13 Which thinker emphasized 'man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains'?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
John Locke
Machiavelli
Plato
Explanation - Rousseau highlighted how society and institutions constrain natural human freedom.
Correct answer is: Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Q.14 According to Aristotle, which form of government is the rule of the many for the common good?
Polity
Democracy
Oligarchy
Tyranny
Explanation - Aristotle defined 'polity' as a constitutional government where the majority rule in the interest of all citizens.
Correct answer is: Polity
Q.15 Machiavelli is often associated with which political principle?
Idealism
Realism
Utopianism
Contractualism
Explanation - Machiavelli focused on practical politics and the effective use of power, often disregarding morality.
Correct answer is: Realism
Q.16 Who believed that the state of nature is a state of war?
Hobbes
Locke
Rousseau
Aristotle
Explanation - Hobbes described the state of nature as chaotic, requiring a sovereign authority to maintain peace.
Correct answer is: Hobbes
Q.17 Plato's concept of 'philosopher-king' emphasizes:
Rule by wealth
Rule by knowledge and virtue
Rule by the military
Rule by democracy
Explanation - Plato argued that the wisest and most virtuous should govern for the good of society.
Correct answer is: Rule by knowledge and virtue
Q.18 Which thinker argued that government derives legitimacy from the consent of the governed?
John Locke
Thomas Hobbes
Aristotle
Cicero
Explanation - Locke's social contract theory emphasizes that legitimate government must have the people's consent.
Correct answer is: John Locke
Q.19 Cicero believed that law should be based on:
Popular opinion
Natural reason
Force
Divine decree only
Explanation - Cicero emphasized that law should be rational, just, and universal, reflecting natural principles.
Correct answer is: Natural reason
Q.20 Which classical thinker focused on the morality of political leaders?
Plato
Hobbes
Machiavelli
Locke
Explanation - Plato believed rulers should be virtuous and wise, ruling ethically for the benefit of society.
Correct answer is: Plato
Q.21 Rousseau's concept of 'general will' refers to:
The majority's preference
The ruler's decisions
The common interest of all citizens
Individual desires
Explanation - Rousseau emphasized that true freedom comes from aligning personal interests with the general will.
Correct answer is: The common interest of all citizens
Q.22 Aristotle's view on citizenship emphasizes:
Right to vote only
Participation in political life
Inheritance of status
Ownership of property
Explanation - Aristotle believed citizens must actively engage in public affairs for a healthy political community.
Correct answer is: Participation in political life
Q.23 Who argued that laws are useless without moral virtue?
Aristotle
Machiavelli
Hobbes
Locke
Explanation - Aristotle emphasized that laws alone cannot achieve justice; citizens must possess moral virtue.
Correct answer is: Aristotle
Q.24 Machiavelli advised rulers to:
Prioritize ethics over power
Maintain power by any means necessary
Follow religious law strictly
Delegate all authority
Explanation - Machiavelli advocated for pragmatic, sometimes ruthless strategies to secure political power.
Correct answer is: Maintain power by any means necessary
Q.25 Which thinker is associated with the idea that humans are inherently good but corrupted by society?
Rousseau
Hobbes
Machiavelli
Plato
Explanation - Rousseau argued that natural human goodness is distorted by social institutions and inequality.
Correct answer is: Rousseau