Machiavelli differs from the many political theorists who offer conceptions of a “natural state‚” a presocial condition arising solely from human instinct and character. But while Machiavelli never puts forth a vision of what society would be like without civil government‚ he nonetheless presents a coherent‚ although not particularly comprehensive‚ vision of human nature. Machiavelli mentions explicitly a number of traits innate among humans. People are generally self-interested‚ although their
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Plato and Machiavelli‚ both take into account in their writings the power of the people in society‚ however‚ both have different ways of dealing with this unchecked power. Plato wants to establish a society‚ based upon his concept of logos that there is some forms of eternal common good‚ that need to be followed‚ so he wants to set up a Philosopher King‚ instead of a democracy. Machiavelli points out that regardless of the system in place the individual in charge needs to pay attention to the opinions
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Unlike the idealistic ancient philosophers such as Plato‚ who discusses politics in “the context of things above politics” (Machiavelli vii)‚ the modern philosophers‚ Niccolò Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes‚ take a realistic approach in explaining political actions and outcomes. Considered to be among the first social scientists‚ they both try to delve deep into the nature of mankind and its relationship to politics. In the course of doing so‚ both authors seem to believe that virtue and morality‚
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prince or multiple rulers like philosophy kings. Machiavelli intended for a society/principality to be ruled a strong ruler whether he be just or unjust‚ moral or immoral; whereas Plato believed for a society to work a just ruler such as the philosopher kings along with its other social counterparts was the perfect society. This paper intends to show how a just ruler was not something Machiavelli saw as pertinent to a society’s survival whereas Plato deemed it to be at necessary for order and efficiency
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1 Towards the beginning of this passage‚ Socrates gets Laches to agree to a new definition of courage. What is it? (5 marks) In the beginning of the passage Socrates gets Laches to agree that wise endurance is the definition of courage “Socrates: so according to your account‚ wise endurance will be courage. Laches: so it seems”. 2 What conclusion do Socrates and Laches reach at the end of the passage? Why might Laches be surprised by this conclusion? (5 marks) By the end of the passage
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Plato and Niccolo Machiavelli magnificent ideologies for leaders of the world. First Plato’s dialogue Allegory of the Cave described what would happen if prisoners were chained to a wall and could only see the shadows before them. The shadows were visuals on the wall from the fire blazing behind them. Plato stated a quote about what would happen if those prisoners were to be released out of the cave? His reasoning for this was to produce what the human natures method is of gaining knowledge. Then
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under a single political structure‚ good governance is necessary. Nicholas Machiavelli contrasts Plato’s utopia attending a central problem of politics by practising power over individuals to achieve wellbeing to the state. This essay explores how philosophers approach the concept of power through the virtues shown in their respective works The Republic and The Prince. Both philosophers‚ Plato in the polis and Machiavelli in the principality‚ argue that virtues are necessary and serve the ultimate
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These qualities include‚ military matters‚ praise-worthy qualities‚ qualities to be blamed‚ generosity‚ miserliness‚ cruelty and mercy‚ keeping of promises‚ and avoiding being hated. The first quality introduced by Machiavelli is the duty of prince on preparing military. This quality is important because if the prince is not willing to prepare a troop to protect himself and his country‚ he is showing the people that he does not care for his or his country’s safety‚ which
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Shortcomings of the Prince For the course of nearly five hundred years‚ the name “Machiavelli” has come to be synonymous with duplicity and underhanded political maneuvering. Known best in modern times for his political work‚ The Prince‚ Niccolo Machiavelli was born in 1469 in Florence‚ Italy during a time when a handful of city states and monarchies in Europe wrestled violently for control of the Italian peninsula. Machiavelli grew to become a diplomat for the Italian city state of Florence‚ later being
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will be discussing how an important work of Niccolo Machiavelli
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