Hobbes, Machiavelli and the Ancient Greeks

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the potential link between the philosophies of Hobbes, Machiavelli and the Ancient Greeks. It looks at how the form of "democracy" we ascribe to the ancient Greeks was no more a democracy than we have anywhere in the world today. It evaluates how in the eras separating Plato from Hobbes, human nature has not really changed a great detail in the hope of finding a better destiny and how man is still reaching for a form of equality especially in politics. In particular, it analyzes the political beliefs of Hobbes and Machiavelli.

From the Paper:

"Hobbes, for some reason, feels that there is more equality among men, both physically and intellectually. He sees "infallible rules, called Science. . .as being not a native faculty, born with us. . .I find yet a greater equality amongst men, than that of strength" (Hobbes, 1985, p. 183). It is interesting that in the middle of the Seventeenth century, Hobbes would find that there seems to be more equality in terms of reason or intellect than in strength. But, what he seems to be really getting at is that there is an equality of ability, not necessarily of fulfilling that intellectual ability."

More papers on Hobbes, Machiavelli and the Ancient Greeks:

• Comparison Essay # 102630 : "Hobbes, Machiavelli and Political Failure"
• Analytical Essay # 87019 : "Sacred Geography of the Ancient Greeks"
• Analytical Essay # 119452 : "The Mythology of the Ancient Greeks and their Gods"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: