The Concept of Power

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that there are many similarities between Legalism's idea of power and the art of using power and later Machiavellian concepts of power and its use in society. The author points out that the advocates of Legalist and Machiavellian types of governing considered it much more effective to assert power and control the populace through negative coercive means than by appealing to the positive aspects of human nature such as loyalty, duty or religious faith. The paper relates that both Machiavelli's political philosophy and Legalism did not seek to address higher questions pertaining to the nature and purpose of existence.

From the Paper:

"In comparing Legalism's idea of "power" and the art of using power with later Machiavellian concepts of power and its use in society, it is evident that there are many similarities. Advocates of Legalist and Machiavellian types of governing considered it much more effective to assert power and control the populace through negative coercive means than by appealing to the positive aspects of human nature such as loyalty, duty, or religious faith. Like Machiavelli's political philosophy, Legalism did not seek to address higher questions pertaining to the nature and purpose of existence."

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