Machiavelli

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Machiavelli's notions of a good leader, which are based on his strength, cunning and intelligence -- and not on his notions of justice or commitment to kindness. The paper contrasts these ideas, which are codified in Machiavelli's book "The Prince", with those of Plato and Thomas More, which were upbeat and idealistic.

From the Paper:

"To Machiavelli, a stark realist, Plato and Thomas More's upbeat idealism is a misguided attempt to credit the human race with more than they could ever achieve. The reality of it is, and Machiavelli saw this, that while Plato's writings may affect some people, and may change the thinking of small groups, it will never affect the masses so much as to cause change. Even in the time of Plato or Machiavelli there were just too many people set in their ways to hope to create a just society free of the corruption of at least one man. Machiavelli got it right when he said, "For he who wants to be a good man all the time will be ruined among so many who are not good" (Thompson 281). Based on how we live, and how we have lived for so long, anyone attempting to implement an idealistic society is doomed to fail at the hands of those who do not share his ideals."

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