Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3‚ 1469 in Florence‚ Italy. The young Machiavelli became a diplomat after the temporary fall of Florence’s ruling Medici family in 1494. He served for 14 years during Medici family exile. After his involvement in an unsuccessful attempt to organize a Florence militia against Medici return in 1512. Machiavelli was jailed and banished with any role in political life. As an exile Machiavelli turned to farming and writing. His major efforts‚ however‚ were of a literary
Premium Political philosophy Florence The Prince
Thomas Hobbes were two of the most influential philosophers of all time. Aristotle was a Greek Philosopher who was a student of Plato in the 300 B.C. Thomas Hobbes was an English Philosopher in the 16th century who focused mostly on morality and politics. While both of these philosophers studied many other areas of education‚ they are both famous for their own theories of virtue. Aristotle’s beliefs of virtue revolve around “teleology”‚ the highest good and how one achieves that. Hobbes believes
Premium Social contract Thomas Hobbes Political philosophy
Your friend insists that Machiavelli believed that gaining power was the ultimate goal‚ regardless of human morality. Analyze the following passage from The Prince and use this passage to help your friend understand Machiavelli in a different light: “ Yet it cannot be called prowess to kill fellow citizens‚ to betray friends‚ to be treacherous‚ pitiless‚ irreligious. These ways can win a prince power but not glory” (The Prince‚ 29). While you must base your rebuttal to your friend’s position
Premium Florence The Prince Cesare Borgia
distinctive views regarding human nature. Once this is assessed the picture that each man paints of their ideal ruler or founder becomes much clearer. Plato promotes the concept of philosopher-kings who rule over his imagined Utopian society‚ while Machiavelli endorses a ruthless and at times amoral prince whose primary objective is the preservation of the state. Plato’s view of human nature can be seen when considering his view of the soul‚ which‚ according to him‚ is comprised of three distinct
Premium Good and evil Virtue Political philosophy
should not let the nation to go under disorder and chaos because at the end the leaders are the one who decide. Also‚ Machiavelli believed that it’s the prince’s responsibility to lead his state into order and give the stability to his people. The characteristics of an excellent prince are being respected and feared‚ good virtues‚ and intelligent. Discussion As Machiavelli believed‚ a prince or a leader ought to be feared and respected because it is not his responsibility to be loved or
Premium Political philosophy Political philosophy Mercenary
“God created man and we were‚ in effect‚ God’s property.” John Locke believes that a government should be some form of a social contract‚ were the people who were being ruled‚ had some say in the laws. According to him‚ men are born with the three freedoms of life‚ liberty‚ and property. A government is there to protect those rights and improve the state of nature for each individual. An illegitimate government is one who fails to protect these rights‚ is ruled by a supreme ruler‚ and does not listen
Premium Political philosophy Law Social contract
to you to advise you about the way your politics are working. In my ninth grade World History course we have been studying the ways and politics of Machiavelli. As an assignment in the class‚ we are required to advise you about your troubles of not being the president that you want to be. I have been informed to advise you in the ways of Machiavelli and explain to you how you should take into consideration the way that you run your military‚ the values of fear from the people over love of the people
Premium Political philosophy President of the United States United States
Thomas Hobbes begins Leviathan with Book 1: Of Man‚ in which he builds‚ layer by layer‚ a foundation for his eventual argument that the "natural condition" of man‚ or one without sovereign control‚ is one of continuous war‚ violence‚ death‚ and fear. Hobbes’s depiction of this state is the most famous passage in Leviathan: [D]uring the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe‚ they are in a condition which is called Warre; and such a warre‚ as is of every man‚ against every
Premium Leviathan Political philosophy Social contract
philosopher and social contract theorists of all time‚ John Locke and Thomas Hobbes both used ‘The State of Nature’ as a medium in order to understand the basic human nature and natural human rights in their writings. Both‚ then used their own understanding of the human nature in order to determine and justify the ideal form of government‚ its role and its powers. However‚ Locke and Hobbes reach markedly different conclusions. Hobbes argues that every man should concede all of his natural rights to the
Premium Political philosophy Thomas Hobbes State of nature
Of the many disparities between Plato and Machiavelli‚ the distinction of virtue versus virtu sticks out like a sore thumb. Virtue was the political bases for Plato: All men should behave virtuously at all times. Whereas Machiavelli believed virtu was the basis for political prowess. What was best for the state as a whole was the main concern‚ and the ends always justified the means. Plato’s object was the creation of a utopian society--a civilization that abhorred war and centered itself upon
Premium Virtue Political philosophy