A History of Hindu Political Theories from the Earliest Times to the End of the First Quarter of the Seventeenth Century A.D. c9.2

c9.2

Kauṭilya’s work involves a virtual reconstruction of the Arthaśāstra, but confines itself exclusively to the Art of Government and kindred topics—Theories of Professors H. Jacobi and D. R. Bhandarkar considered—Kauṭilya’s rehabilitation of the four traditional sciences is based upon a just appreciation of the ends and purposes of each science in relation to the needs of human existence—His view of the end of Politics (Arthaśāstra), and the extent of its application—Doctrine of the king’s headship of the seven constituent elements of sovereignty (prakritis)—Kauṭilya’s theory of kingship combines in furtherance of the principle of authority the idea of the king’s divine nature and the theory of his elective origin—G. B. Bottazzi’s view considered—Kauṭilya on the preservation of dominion—His rules on the acquisition of dominion—His attitude towards morality and religion—Kauṭilya and Machiavelli—Kauṭilya’s influence upon the subsequent development of political theory.