Lao-tzu vs. Machiavelli Government is the essential authority of a country or state‚ which directly affects society because it provides key securities. How directly involved should the government be in the personal lives of society? To answer this I will look to the ideas of Lao-tzu (sixth century B.C.)‚ believed to be author of the Tao-te Ching‚ and Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)‚ author of The Prince There are few ways in which they are similar‚ but have very opposite views and ideas of government
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Anne Marie Dutkovic World Religions 212 Strayer University Beliefs and Description of Confucius of China Confucianism is known as the practice of virtue that emphasizes moral order‚ correctness of social relationships‚ justice‚ and humanity. The founder of Confucianism was Kong Fuzi or “Master Kong”. He is better known by the Western version of his name Confucius. He was an ancient Chinese scholar and philosopher born around 551 BCE. Confucius’s philosophies were not
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leading at times to outright banning of his book. This is because Mencius developed a very early form of what was to be called in modern times the “social contract.” Mencius‚ like Confucius‚ believed that rulers were divinely placed in order to guarantee peace and order among the people they rule. Unlike Confucius‚ Mencius believed that if a ruler failed to bring peace and order about‚ then the people could be absolved of all loyalty to that ruler and could if they felt strongly enough about the
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MM2711 Introduction to marketing Individual report 2013 Ng Ka Chun‚ Hadyn Student no.: 13114431D The controversy between business practices and ethical responsibilities of companies has long been existed in the modern society‚ and yet‚ nobody could draw an explicit line on this field that agreed by majority. When products and promotions are introduced into the market‚ the corporations are facing to numerous moral problems and rarely can they fulfil all the needs. In fact‚ the “rulers” that to measure
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Ching and The Qualities of the Prince‚ Lao-tzu and Machiavelli have sought to convey a more complete and concrete understanding of their respective definitions and duties of a ruler (leadership). The theme of political leaders and their intricate relationship with society indeed validate itself within both texts. However‚ both Lao-tzu and Machiavelli approach this issue from almost entirely opposite positions‚ though sharing minute similarities. Lao-tzu appears to focus the majority of his attention
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Let go of fixed plans and concepts and the world will govern itself.” These words were spoken by Lao-Tzu‚ a philosopher credited for writing the “Tao-te Ching” and the presumed founder of Taoism. In the Tao-te Ching‚ Lao-Tzu describes the qualities a political leader should acquire in order to become great leaders. Although some people imagine a great leader as being die-hard and commanding‚ Lao-Tzu believes that a great leader is actually one who doesn’t use force unless it is absolutely necessary
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Taoism originated in China around 500 b.c Taoist thought is based on the writings of Lao-Tzu in the poetic stanzas of the Tao Te Ching. Lau Tzu translates as the ’Old Man ’ or the ’Old Teacher ’. It is 5‚000 characters in length and comprises of two books. The Tao Te Ching is the second most printed book in the world next to the Bible. The Tao Te Ching represents Philosophical Taoism at its purest as it was to develop through the centuries into a more institutionalised religion and into branches
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Professor Mack Comparative Government (POLS 1220.32) 13 December 2011 The Art of Self-Interest: Sun-Tzu and Thucydides “Being fond of the truth‚ I am an admirer of antiquity‚” writes Confucius. (Kaplan‚ 40) The past contains lessons that apply to the future‚ because while time‚ place‚ individuals and creed change‚ people as a whole do not. The motivations are always the same. “Thus‚ as Aron notes‚ while our ideals have usually been peaceful‚ history has often been violent. Though this should
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Reading the works of Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu in succession highlight how truly at opposition the messages are. Though both pieces express the desired way to govern a people‚ the “Tao-te Ching” speaks of peace‚ simplicity‚ and letting the universe work its will‚ while “The Qualities of the Prince” emphasizes the necessity for war‚ and the natural wickedness of men. There are no particular reasons that these two ways of thought should be in harmony‚ one written in the 6th century‚ and the other the
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Confucius and Socrates both have a very definite perspective of an person and how he/she should live their life. However these perspectives do differ in specific areas and that is what brings me to compare and contrast on both philosophers. "He acts before he speaks‚ and afterwards speaks according to his actions" (Confucius 2-13). Confucius says that we shouldn’t speak about what we don’t know‚ just as Socrates is known for saying "I am wise because I know nothing." Both of them seem to imply
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