Similarities Between Machiavelli And Hobbes - 1205 Words

J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings Trilogy Revolved around the story of a ring that contained immeasurable power. While this ring was desirable, it was equally dangerous; wearing it led to corruption and insanity. (Tolkien) While The Lord of the Rings was simply a fantasy, it conveyed a real message about the danger produced when a man is given power. For centuries, men have pondered over ideas similar to this; how much power is too much power? And how much power should a man employ to hold an ideal government? This governmental â€Å"ideal† is what Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince strived to achieve and how Tomas Hobbes’ governmental steps in The Leviathan resulted. During the dramatic changes of the Italian Renaissance, The Prince was†¦show more content†¦The reason Machiavelli was so concerned about a good reputation was because absolute power only comes once the people have given up their rights. Thomas Hobbes concluded that to keep pe ace, â€Å"Men must renounce their right to use whatever they consider necessary for self-preservation, on the condition that other men agree to do likewise† (qtd. In Smith ch.11). This submission sets the government up so that the sovereign is left with â€Å"complete discretion in deciding what to do† (qtd. In Smith ch.11). Once power is achieved and sovereignty remains only in the hands of the authority, focus must shift to the principles of leadership. Machiavelli, specifically, had an idea in mind of how a leader should conduct himself and what morals he should value. Straightforwardly, he explained that he considered it unnecessary for a prince to have moral qualities; a prince should instead only â€Å"seem† to have them. Thus, it is â€Å"useful to seem compassionate, faithful, humane, [and] honest†; however, if one possesses these attributes, it can be destructive (Machiavelli 95). This is since a prince â€Å"is often required to act again st faith, against charity, against humaneness, and against religion† to maintain his position (Machiavelli 95). Regarding reputation, Machiavelli clarifies whether it is better to be feared or loved by the people. Both are important, but when they are in conflict, â€Å"itShow MoreRelatedThe Political Theories Of Machiavelli, Niccolo Machiavelli And Thomas Hobbes1456 Words   |  6 Pagesprominent political theorists were Aristotle, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes. Aristotle viewed humans as natural â€Å"political animals† that have both rational and irrational sides to them, allowing for a government that provided overall goodness for the people. Machiavelli took a more grim view of human nature that shows humans as being naturally selfish and ambitious, so the government should be about greatness and maintaining power. 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