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
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a good citizen‚ there are certain expectations a person must follow to achieve this goal. While many people have their own ideas of what makes a good citizen‚ there is little consensus to exactly what this would be. Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau‚ in their books The Leviathan and The Social Contract‚ create a system of political governing where the citizen plays a certain role and has certain expectations to carry out this role for the governmental system to work properly. In this paper‚
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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
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education will create unequal differences between the sexes. If women become educated‚ would the social order of perhaps housewives still exist? According to Rousseau‚ education should be given to all men so the government does not overpower the individual. He also believed that women should not be educated. ““Educate one like men.” Says Rousseau‚ “and the more they resemble our sex the less power will they have over us.””(Wollstonecraft‚ 191-194). Although it is not guaranteed‚ if women become educated
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In "The Qualities of the Prince‚" Niccolo Machiavelli describes how he believes a prince should rule. He had "studied the way people lived and aimed to inform leaders" of his research (par.10). He viewed "misery as one of the vices that enables a prince to rule‚" using techniques like deceiving and manipulating in order to accomplish a certain task (par.12). Machiavelli focuses on qualities such as Military skills‚ generosity and miserly and whether a prince should be loved or feared in order to
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that justice was best defined as that which is done to benefit the stronger‚ meaning that in a democracy democratic laws are just and in tyranny‚ tyrannical laws are just‚ and this applies to all other forms of government. Both Thrasymachus and Machiavelli have overlapping points in them views of justice and virtu. In Thrasymachus’s definition of justice and Machiavelli’s definition of virtu some of the concepts that overlap are the willingness to do whatever necessary for the good
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important for becoming an effective leader. Machiavelli discourages the idea of selfless virtue by supporting the notion that the ends justify the means. Brutus‚ a character from Shakespeare’s‚ Julius Caesar‚ acts virtuously in defeating Caesar‚ as it was preformed in the hopes of benefiting the state. The quality of virtue contained in a ruler is a focus that both Machiavelli and Shakespeare acknowledge
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and existence. Its context of the norms of society and the reasons behind these norms are studied by philosophers whom include Thomas Hobbes and Nicolas Machiavelli. These two recognized philosophical minds have delved into the concept of a ruling government body‚ including governments and royalty. Hobbes penned the famous Leviathan while Machiavelli wrote the controversial The Prince. Both of these books include a deep look into powerful people and their ways of keeping peace and functionality in their
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Ideas on the same topic always seem to differ from person to person. This holds true to the ideas of Machiavelli and Castiglione. The Prince‚ written by Machiavelli‚ and The Courtier‚ written by Castiglione‚ are both somewhat how-to guides for nobility‚ royalty‚ and princes. However‚ there are many distinct differences among the ideas of Castiglione and Machiavelli. Castiglione’s philosophy leads down the path of a well-rounded person; a more peaceful manner. Machiavelli’s philosophy is more straightforward
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In the Prince Machiavelli describes how a leader should act in order maintain a kingdom or power (CITATION). Machiavelli indicates that it is more beneficial for a ruler or leader not to be generous or merciful‚ and how one should break promises if it goes against one’s own interests (MACHIAVELLI). Essentially‚ Machiavelli indicates that a leader should be self centered in order to maintain a leading role (CIATION).
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