Authority: Hobbes and Machiavelli

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how two of the most studied political philosophers in history include Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes and how these innovative thinkers, possessed an ingenuity and insight displayed in their political writings that would revolutionize how people perceived politics unto this day. In particular, the paper looks at how Machiavelli acknowledges the need for a governing authority to maintain order and protect its people. The paper then compares how the idea of sovereignty is much more ambiguous in "The Prince " than in the writings of Hobbes.

From the Paper:

"The commonwealth is created in lieu of such circumstances. It is the embodiment of a common authority founded by the collective need for protection and prosperity. Hobbes states that civil obedience comes from the people's love of "ease and sensual delight", and their fear from fear of death or wounds. On the matter of maintaining such a state of order Machiavelli also emphasizes the importance of authority to create a sense of love and fear amongst its people. Specifically discussed in Machiavelli's writings are the various degrees to which violence must be employed by the authority, in order to create a more effective government through the fear of its people. "

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