...THE SUPERIOR FORM OF GOVERNANCE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE VIEWS OF NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI AND LAO TZU Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science College of Arts and Sciences San Sebastian College- Recoletos, Manila August 2013 Vincent Roland R. Managuelod Ray Joshua B. Valdez INTRODUCTION In Politics there are many schools of thought that form the basis for the policies used in the operation of the government. These schools of thought vary greatly in purpose and belief, with many of these schools actively opposing one another. Ultimately, whatever beliefs these schools of thought may hold, and whatever actions these beliefs may lead them and the state their purpose is to shape the state into what they believe is ideal and beneficial for all. Of the many ideologies which are followed by statesmen, varied they may be, the ultimate goal is to create a society according to their ideals. In this study we will be discussing two thinkers whose schools of thought have had a significant impact on political philosophy today. The first is Niccolo Machiavelli. A philosopher, politician, diplomat and historian whose works have made his name a by-word for pragmatism and ruthlessness not just in politics but in everyday life. His most famous work, the Prince, advocated the separation of personal morals to that of one’s political morals, and the emphasis not on ideology but on what would be the most beneficial...
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...The subject matter: new princedoms (chapters 1 and 2) The Prince starts by describing the subject matter it will handle. In the first sentence Machiavelli uses the word "state" (Italian stato which could also mean "status") in order to neutrally cover "all forms of organization of supreme political power, whether republican or princely". The way in which the word state came to acquire this modern type of meaning during the Renaissance has been the subject of many academic discussions, with this sentence and similar ones in the works of Machiavelli being considered particularly important. Machiavelli said that The Prince would be about princedoms, mentioning that he has written about republics elsewhere (possibly referring to the Discourses on Livy although this is debated), but in fact he mixes discussion of republics into this in many places, effectively treating republics as a type of princedom also, and one with many strengths. More importantly, and less traditionally, he distinguishes new princedoms from hereditary established princedoms. He deals with hereditary princedoms quickly in Chapter 2, saying that they are much easier to rule. For such a prince, "unless extraordinary vices cause him to be hated, it is reasonable to expect that his subjects will be naturally well disposed towards him". Gilbert (1938:19–23), comparing to traditional presentations of advice for princes, stated that the novelty in chapters 1 and 2 is the "deliberate purpose of dealing with a new ruler...
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...Essay 1 Muammar Gaddafi, President of Libya, has been praised and blamed for many of his actions throughout history. One incident in particular occurred on 15 February 2011 when peaceful protests began by the Libyan people for the removal of their longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. These protests were met by extreme brutal and lethal force from Gaddafi’s regime. In rage, protesters took to the streets in the thousands, eventually causing an uprising and civil war. In response to his people, Gaddafi claimed that the protesters were under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs and alcohol supplied by foreign countries who were trying to get ahold of the abundance of oil in Libya. He ordered his army to murder anyone who did not “love” him and urged civilian supporters to take to the streets and attack protesters. The Libyan government deployed planes, helicopters, artillery forces, and snipers to eliminate protesters further angering the people of Libya. As time wore on, members of Gaddafi’s government and army were also beginning to turn against the Dictator and his views realizing what he was ordering was unjust. Gaddafi, beginning to feel cornered, hired mercenaries to attempt to halt the protests by executing his own soldiers and people while taking control of hospitals to refuse treating the wounded who were protesting...
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...that it requires quick and appropriate responses to changing conditions. Planning works in a controlled environment, but in a changing environment, competing plans collide, creating unexpected situations. The book was translated into the French language in 1772 by French Jesuit Jean Joseph Marie Amiot, and into English by British officer Everard Ferguson Calthrop in 1905. It likely influenced Napoleon,[1] and leaders as diverse as Mao Zedong, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Baron Antoine-Henri Jomini, and General Douglas MacArthur have claimed to have drawn inspiration from the work. The Art of War has also been applied to business and managerial strategies.[2][3] Niccolò Machiavelli From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search "Machiavelli" redirects here. For other uses, see Machiavelli (disambiguation))_._ Niccolò *di* Bernardo...
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... All soldiers have to be brave to be in a war but what these soldiers did was so much more. They had to trust that this simple act of friendship was not a attack strategy. In the end they realized they were all sons and fathers away from their family wishing they could be home. Bravery is shown through out this story but especially when that german soldier came to the opposing side with a christmas tree and a flag, a truce flag. This soldier had to trust that they wouldn’t shoot him or hold him hostage. Not only did that solider have to be brave to go to the other trench but the other side had to be brave to trust a simple act of kindness not to be a attach strategy. Not only did they have you have to trust that german soldier not to attack. But they had to trust each other hoping the soldiers on their side weren’t german spies they had to trust other soldiers they didn't even know but all they knew was that they were fighting for the same country but what if they were there pretending to be fighting with them but instead fighting them? When they all came together they realized they were all very similar fighting for their country, when they would all rather be at home with their family singing carols and drinking hot cocoa.They all came together despite their differences and shared photos and letters and played music and games. In the end there are many themes throughout this book bravery just to be in war. You have to trust your fellow...
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...Machiavelli’s The Prince and God’s Word both give advice on how to rule. Two main similarities between the two manuscripts are that a leader must be kind and that he should not abuse his power. In Machiavelli’s time, Italy was not a united country but was divided into multiple city-states. Attempting to help Italian rulers, he wrote his magnum opus The Prince. Machiavelli wrote that a leader needed to have a balance between clemency, or kindness, and cruelty. He knew that a ruler needed to be kind to earn the respect and love of his people, but not kind to the extent of becoming weak. He also knew that cruelty brought a respectful fear and obedience. Machiavelli’s ideal ruler should strive to be merciful and kind, Machiavelli taught...
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...Italian author, Niccolò Machiavelli introduced his way of thinking by writing The Prince, which is often interpreted as a way to rule, or not to rule. He uses humanism to back up his views on how governing should be handled. Of course, the book was rejected by the Catholic Church, which believed in divine authority. In The Prince, Machiavelli expresses that people are actually responsible for their own actions rather than supernatural forces. This form of humanism was the beginning of the breaking away from the dogma of the Catholic Church. According to (Hunt, Martin and Rosenwein 459), Humanism originated during The Renaissance in Italy amongst highly educated individuals attached to the personal households of prominent rulers. It is defined as “a system of...
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...Lao-tzu VS. Machiavelli What is considered to be a good idea about a government and a leader? In the book A World of Ideas, two different government point of views by two celebrated authors is presented. The first author was Lao-tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher from the sixth century B.C.E, who was asked to write down his thought before leaving his job; thus, he wrote “Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching”. It is a philosophical work about good government as well as about moral behavior: the way of life. Another author is Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian political philosopher who was an author of “the Qualities of the Prince”—a well-known work written in Italy in 1513. Machiavelli provided advice about the qualities of a ruler in his writing. In my opinion, although both authors care about leadership and government, their idea towards the government and leadership are very different....
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...be directly aimed at describing the things a prince needs to do, it is also in a way describing the way that all humans should conduct themselves. The book may be influencing the princes, or it may be shaping the morals of those looking to gain power. If the normal men who are looking to gain power follow some of the guidelines that are laid out inside The Prince, they will have a better chance than those who continue to live life just as they have. Machiavelli paints a picture of a man, specifically a prince that is willing to do what is necessary to help the cause, even if it does not make them the most popular choice. In human nature, the question is often asked if one should have good character...
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...Science: Machiavelli was a man of action who drew his beliefs and conclusions from real life behaviors rather than hypothetical scenarios. He went out and observed how and why certain people acted the way that they did. He was a humanistic empiricist; he collected observations on people on their own terms. People have the ability to be good willed in nature, but he is only good willed when it is in his self nature to do so. Because of this, most men become evil. Hobbes was a scholar and looked at politics through a scientific sense. He analysed politics through a scientific lense. He presented some of these ideas in de Corpore, where he talked about the philosophical method, mathematics, physics and human nature. He analyses politics on different levels. He reduced everything down to nature. This is called “resolutive-compositive”, and this means dividing it into parts and then composing...
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...Different between knowledge and opinion according to plato –…According to Plato "Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance." ……It is amazing to me that some people can sense the scale of knowledge so easiliy and to them it is second nature. Yet there are others who may actually be a majority who insist on defending opinions with their last breath while remaining closed to this scale of knowledge………"Opinion is between the knowing of the true idea and the ignorance of the unreal"(Plato -Republic). ………Plato's perspective is beyond the senses, thus the question of 'can sense' is not applicable. Re Plato's Forms, the best one can do is to speculate them as pseudo-rational concepts via pure reason (not via the empirical senses)………In order to make sense and turn what is speculated to knowledge, i.e. as matter of facts, empirical sensual proofs are needed. One good example of this knowledge is a proven scientific hypothesis……….The idea of a soul that survives physical death is one that is speculated and has no empirical basis. According to Kant, they are transcendental illusions based on fallacious thinking, but nevertheless useful in some sense (psychological)…….2. Rousseau examine link between ‘force’ and ‘right’ –…….According to Rousseau, force cannot be the foundation for legitimate political authority. People obey those stronger than themselves out of necessity, not by choice. Thus, the right of the strongest cannot create the sense of a duty that is necessary to establishing...
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...provide examples of assumptions which underpin Machiavellian & Platonic philosophies. In this paper I will discuss the assumptions which underpin Machiavellian & Platonic philosophies in reference to The Republic and The Prince. My position is that both Machiavallian and Plantonic philosophies make assumptions in exemplifying their notions. Machiavelli’s is intentional while Plato’s is unintentional. Also both philosophies through their assumptions sometimes contradict each other. Well expressed In discussing his notion above it is important to understand the basic theory and ideas of Machiavelli and Plato. Both Machiavelli and Plato produce arguments for order in the state but they have different notions of how to go about order. Plato obsesses with certainty and has an ideal form of order, while order with Machiavelli is learning to live with uncertainty. Machiavelli believes we need to be able to work with insecurity and not try and produce certainty. He believes we embrace uncertainty by developing our own armour. Knowledge is the basis of leadership for Plato while Power is the basis of leadership for Machievelli. In the Republic the Allegory of the Cave represents Plato's views on philosophy. Basically, we are all in the cave and Philosophy is what brings us out of the cave. Plato believes that Philosophy is the highest form of inquiry, just because it alone involves no presuppositions. I do not believe this to be true because The Allegory presents, in brief...
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...self-interest. This inseparability forms the foundation of classical realism, a prominent international relations theory that attests that human nature is self-serving, sinful and wicked. Such traits ultimately help to explain why all actors endeavour to satisfy their individual intentions (Sens 14). While principles of self-interest are central to the classical realist theory, it is the importance of power that has become widely synonymous with the realist perspective. Defined as the ability to make other actors do what they would not otherwise do, the pursuit of power is an instinctive desire of all individuals (Singer 81). One individual in particular, Niccolo Machiavelli, had arguably the most profound understanding in history of the importance of power (Kuper 1). In his acclaimed treatise The Prince, Machiavelli, a 15th century Florentine diplomat, advised state leaders – or princes – on effective approaches to statecraft. As an extension of classical realism, Machiavellian views have proven to be timeless and universal, as they have been identified in many geopolitical contexts of the modern era. This essay will argue that African state leaders’ decisions from 1970 to 1985 were justified by Machiavellian realist principles, by examining the importance of preserving power, maintaining the national interest and the appropriate use of cruelty. Machiavelli’s beliefs are best described as an extension of classical realism,...
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...The first word that came into mind when reading The Prince for the first time was: pragmatic. Machiavelli drafted this book as a pragmatic guide to princes, unlike many of his contemporaries who else focused on telling princes to be nice, courteous, and good to the eyes of their people and God. What interested me the most was researching the book online after reading the first few chapters; what came up were multiple articles on how, at the time of its initial publication, the book gained a notoriety as being a guide on cruelty and manipulative intent. The Prince, being such an influential work by Machiavelli it’s considered his defining piece that brought forth the foundations of the label, “Machiavellian,” with it being associated to evil deeds and the immoral use of power as a means of political gain. Yet after all this research, evil was never a word that came to mind when I read the book. Pragmatic, that’s what it plainly is. What The Prince states is outside of morality, outside of being good or bad. Morality is put aside, it’s an ideal that has little effect to Machiavelli’s point. The main point is practicality, what princes must do in specific situations to maintain their power; and this practicality may come off as extreme or devoid of good morals, but when it comes to princedoms a prince’s main goal is to stay a prince, and The Prince provides a realistic, practical, pragmatic guide to do as such. Below are the five lines that I have chosen and how they reflect what...
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...Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was a nobleman with an unstable fortune that ultimately learnt to support himself through his writing career. His most acclaimed work, “The Prince”, is a basic dissertation on the qualities a prince or a leader must have in order to retain his power and authority. Similarly, the “Tao-te Ching” is a philosophical document that is known to be written by Lao-tzu. The document provides a foundation for the religion of Taoism and speaks about good leadership and moral behavior. While Machiavelli believes in practical, dominant and severe methods, Lao-tzu approaches the theme of leadership with detachment, patience and equanimity. Therefore, as both Lao-tzu and Machiavelli seem to have two extremely contrasting philosophies...
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