The Illusion of Influence: How Political Practice Prevails Over Philosophy

The paper approaches the problem of interaction between philosophy and political practice in light of recent developments in realist theory. My claim is that instead of looking for how philosophy can guide politics the focus should be on how politics feeds on philosophy. The paper, first, outlines a reversed logic of influence by focusing on how politics should be understood as an active interpreter instead of as a passive recipient. By drawing on realist explanations on the topic, especially by John Horton and insights from reception theory, it will be argued that advising politics is much more about what politics does than what is done to it. Second, the broader logic of “giving” advice will be considered as exemplifying a border crossing between philosophy (or any specific area and content aiming at influencing political action) and politics. From a realist point of view, border crossing does not amount to a negotiation or a discussion between two parties, but it is about an asymmetric relation where the logic of the political prevails over the source logic of the advice. Third, as an illustrative case study, the reception of Carl Schmitt’s political theory in post-transition Hungary will be analysed to show how a fundamental theory of politics was adopted and applied to political practice.