Modern Political Theory Rousseau and Machiavelli Essay

Machiavelli and Rousseau, both influential philosophers, were innovators of their time. They represented different ideas on what the state of nature and government should consist of, having both similarities and differences. Their viewpoints evolved from different time periods, which make them unique. Machiavelli, the sixteenth century Italian diplomat expressed, that a Prince should be unethical in achieving power. He argued that to be successful in politics certain qualities were of importance and ethics could not stand in the way. Machiavelli stated that a Prince’s power should be maintained in being feared and loved, and possessing control over the people. Rousseau on the other hand was an eighteen century philosopher and writer.†¦show more content†¦He says as their Prince people would do anything to protect him but when he is in danger they turn away. He understood that most people act for self interest and not for the interest of others. He saw that political success would not depend on chance or luck but through the eyes of fear. Machiavelli says, â€Å"The Prince must none the less make himself feared in such a way that, if he is not loved, at least he escapes being hated.† (10). [Burton Dworkin] He perceives that social order is continuous and impossible solve. Not everyone will be happy with the decisions he makes but as long as the majority agrees with him, he shouldn’t have a problem. Machiavelli knew that a Prince must secure his power and must be powerful enough to keep it. The idea that doing anything to get this power, whether it was moral or not was the most important aspect. â€Å"A prince should not worry if he incurs reproach for his cruelty so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal.† (Machiavelli 9). [Burton Dworkin] He did not see all men as equal. He perceived that some men existed to become rulers and others did not. In my opinion I think this is true in almost any government. He also believes that honesty could not always be a standard because some times you had to lie to get what you needed. In a sense saying, men who want to have more power are willing to be unethical to claim it. Machiavelli expresses very dark perspectives in the Prince which makes it easier for me to relate toShow MoreRelatedHobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Machiavelli Essay1855 Words   |  8 PagesHobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Machiavelli The thirteenth through the eighteenth century brought profound changes in the political realm of Western civilization. Beginning with the Scientific Revolution and only advancing during the Renaissance, secularization and skepticism lead to changes in not only the intellectual life of Westerners, but also to their politics. At the forefront of the political debate were well-versed men such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. The influencesRead MorePolitical Philosophy Is Not Just Applied Moral Philosophy Essay2560 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction: Political philosophy is the study of basic questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice etc. political philosophy is concerned with the concepts and arguments involves in political opinion. It is ethics applied to a group of people, discusses about societies set up.In political philosophy it is important to know what ought to be a person’s relationship in a society. This seeks application of ethical concepts to social sphere. It is a standard which help to analyzeRead MorePlato And Aristotle s Views On Political Philosophy Essay3649 Words   |  15 PagesIntroduction: The term â€Å"Political Philosophy† is a normative study of state, government, relationships between individual and communities, laws, rights and justice. It depends on the philosophers that can be entangled with ethics, economics and also metaphysics. Political thinkers are the pioneers of â€Å"Modern Politics† in the world. The first serious political thinkers emerged in Greece. Plato and Aristotle are two great philosophers of ancient Greece. Plato in his book â€Å"The Republic† delivers theRead MoreWhat Have Theorists Meant by Liberty? Essay example1589 Words   |  7 Pagesdescribed has having considerably more liberty when compared with many of the less developed Arab nations. Theorists have studied the concept of liberty for centuries and there have been a number of different definitions, from people like Machiavelli to more modern theorists like Mill. It is the fundamental value that allows people to make decisions for themselves in civilised societ y. Without liberty, people would live in a situation where every last detail of their lives is dictated to them byRead MorePolitical Science And Political Philosophy Essay3559 Words   |  15 PagesIntroduction Political science is a an academic discipline. It is a part of social science which discuss about government and politics. It generally analyses the methods and policies of government. It is the systematic and analytical study of political and government institutions. The procedure and process of governmental policies is explained in political science. In order to define and analyze political science many political thinkers have given different theories. They practiced political scienceRead MoreRousseau s Views On Private Property2452 Words   |  10 PagesExam 11.6.2015 PART A 1. The quote was made by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) in his creation â€Å"On Social Contract (1762)† (Rousseau, Social Contract, 4). Rousseau’s discourse on private property can be understood as a response to John Locke’s theories regarding property – and especially to Locke’s labor theory and the government’s role in it (assumption based on the similarity of their discourse). According to Locke’s labor theory, a man’s labor defines his right to own something (Locke, SecondRead More Order vs. Freedom in Political Systems 1963 Words   |  8 PagesOrder vs. Freedom in Political Systems Order and freedom are both necessary and beneficial towards the citizens and society with the aim to promote harmony, yet they both contradict each other. This contradiction has existed throughout many years and it is still hard to decide which one is ideal for the society. This essay will discuss and analyze if order or freedom is more important for political systems. Many believe that order should be applied by the government; though it should be allowedRead MoreMain Theories Of Major Political Thinkers Essay3882 Words   |  16 PagesIntroduction: Major political thinkers provide so many theories about forms of state and government, qualities of citizens and qualities of rulers as well as about social and economic development of a state. They also provide anticipation about how the political situation of the world may be changed with the change of decades. Their intention behind the giving of these theories was to give an idea about a refined form of state and government. But all theories of major political thinkers cannot beRead MorePolitical Philosophy, By Steven Cahn1197 Words   |  5 PagesIn Steven Cahn s book, Political Philosophy, The Essential Texts, philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau created the circumstances to enable the fundamental principals of philosophy and politics. These knowledgeable, astute and significant men have helped to achieve the structure of our past and present democracy as well as a plan of action for the rights and values that we as citizens can all relat e to today. They are grounded in their thinking and tied togetherRead MoreEssay on Differentiating Marx and Rousseau2189 Words   |  9 PagesPolitical philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Karl Marx dreamt up and developed unique theories of total revolution. Although similar in their intention to dissolve dividing institutions such as religion and class structure, as well as their shared reluctance to accept the rather less hopeful conclusions of government and man that had been drawn by their predecessors Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, the blueprints Rousseau and Marx had printed were cited to two very different sources. Rousseau approached