Teachings of Machiavelli: Political Virtu or Economic Supremacy In his famous text The Prince‚ Machiavelli introduces his thoughts on virtu to the political arena. Many today see Machiavelli as evil and sinister because he goes against certain Christian virtues by asserting that ruling with an iron fist is most effective. I contend that Machiavelli’s teachings are sound and legitimate‚ but not in the political sense. Rather‚ I would argue the ideals taught in The Prince are more effective from
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impact on a great many lives‚ but few to the extent of Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527). As a leading political thinker Machiavelli personally dealt with the Medici‚ and as a writer their influence was all the weightier‚ exemplified especially in The Prince and The History of Florence (Hereafter Istorie); both works in which Machiavelli paid considerable attention to the way the Medici would envisage his work. The relationship between Machiavelli and the Medici is particularly queer‚ for the Medici were
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Despite his rejection of philosophy‚ Jean-Jaques Rousseau was a pivotal new thinker during the period of Enlightenment. He strayed from the extreme positive and negative views of Hobbes and Locke‚ introducing a new perspective on the concept of the state of nature. The philosophy of how humans act in their most natural state was a common topic‚ but Rousseau’s take‚ theorizing that humans are born evil but corrupted by society‚ offered what seemed to be the most realistic belief. His opinions on
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should always give and protect our rights. However‚ the Enlightenment thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau‚ feels we protect our own rights by working together. In class we discussed how his belief is similar to the phrase: If we all have superpowers the no one has superpowers. We considered this phrase because if everyone were to have superpowers‚ then we wouldn’t wish to have them anymore since everyone has them. Rousseau also stated we must use reason to give the individual rights of life‚ liberty‚ and property
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safety and protection for citizens. Over time‚ this soon evolved into providing physical & emmotional saftey and the protection for citizens. That sounds pretty good to me‚ isn’t that the kind of government you would want. In the words of Jean Jacques Rousseau "man is born free‚ but he is everywhere in chains.” We are born free and will live free‚ except a few rules placed by the government that keeps us safe. So‚ the social contract protects our rights by giving us a say on our everyday
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used the ideals from John Locke and Rousseau to ensure equality‚ popular sovereignty‚ and freedom‚ which had so often been denied
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I agree with Rousseau’s statement. Rousseau’s statement suggests that humans are not born selfish and he believed that democracy was merely a reflection of our basic sense of fairness and equality. I mainly disagree with Hobbes’ statement because there is a discrepancy in what he is saying. He suggests that all people are born selfish‚ yet we are enforced by a supreme ruler to avoid chaos. Using his logic‚ wouldn’t a supreme leader be born equally selfish? Why would we expect him to teach us obedience
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philosopher and novelist Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). The work of Rousseau has influenced a generation and beyond and it is argued that the main ideals of the French and American revolutions arose from his works‚ for example The Discourse on Equality. The main concept of Rousseau’s thought is that of ’liberty’‚ and his belief that modern society forced humans to give up their independence‚ making everyday life corrupt and unfree. One of the central problems Rousseau confronted is best summed up in
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The main arguments between Thomas Hobbes natural state of man and Jean Rousseau’s natural state of man‚ where there is no society or government over us‚ is whether man in naturally selfish and out for his/her own personal gain and protection or if we would naturally come together for the betterment of all persons and cooperation. I will first be talking about Hobbes’ view point of the state of nature of man and then Rousseau’s objection to Hobbes and his differing thoughts about the state of nature
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social‚ it can be argued that this state can only exist in a theoretical context; David Hume states‚ "’Tis utterly impossible for men to remain any considerable time in that savage condition‚ which precedes society...” (Wikipedia‚ “State of Nature”). Rousseau postulates: The State of Nature was a peaceful and quixotic time. People lived solitary‚ uncomplicated lives. Their few needs were easily satisfied by nature...As time passed‚ however‚ humanity faced certain changes. As the overall population
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