Essay about Plato vs Machiavelli - 1052 Words

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 moral virtue and honor. He saw war as evil; and evil was merely the failure of justice. He believed that there should be a standing army to defend the republic but that war for the sole purpose of waging battles was highly unjust. His utopian†¦show more content†¦Not only was it imperative to have foresight and but the skilled standing army had to show loyalty to the Prince. So auxiliaries who might be hired to fight were strictly out of the question. They would have been there for themselves and were usually loyal to another crown. Machiavelli also considered it imperative to conquer other lands to expand a kingdom’s territory and wealth. He studied empires of the past to decipher why they succeeded or failed and decided on three essential rules for governing and holding conquered polities securely. The first was to devastate them, second was to liv e there in person, and third was to allow them to maintain their own laws. â€Å"If the inhabitants are not dispersed and scattered, they will forget neither that name nor those institutions; and at first opportunity they will at once have recourse to them.† (The Prince, 21) He regarded it essential for the Prince to be hands-on with his conquered polity because it was harder for people to go behind his back if he was present all the time. And by allowing them to maintain their own laws it created some sense of friendship between the prince and the people, or at least a sense of mutual respect. Machiavelli also described in painstaking detail the folly of becoming overlyShow MoreRelatedMachiavelli Vs Plato1614 Words   |  7 PagesRowan DeGasperis Brandon Ives GVPT241 Due: 10/13/17 Socrates’ View on Machiavelli’s Ideologies Niccolà ² Machiavelli and Socrates are two thinkers who are highly regarded, respected, and renowned by today’s scholars due to their roles in shaping their separate versions of an ideal political system during their respective times of uncertainty, political fragmentation, and violence. Although their opinions vary, the men laid the foundation for present day political establishments and opened up the doorRead MoreEssay about Plato vs. Machiavelli1695 Words   |  7 PagesPlato vs. Machiavelli A longstanding debate in human history is what to do with power and what is the best way to rule. 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