Machiavelli and Socrates
Everyone has their own philosophies to deal with life as it is thrown at them. Machiavelli and Socrates offer guidance to societies so they may succeed, as noble rulers. Machiavelli gives his go get them attitude to help maintain power, which I agree with, and Socrates lays out his ideas of enlightenment to rule. Michiavelli gives great advice for someone living in America in the year 2000, so that they my gain and maintain power. As a whole Americans need to embraces the ideas of Socrates to be wise and just leaders. I support Machiavelli's way of dealing with the way people really behave, and how the world is. It makes more sense, to deal with people and situations of the world in their natural state. Attempting to change people that are set in their ways is much more difficult, than just handling people in a way that they are accustom to. Humans feel safer when they follow actions that have already been proven successful, outsiders should work with them by what that group knows. Machiavelli says, "since men almost always tread the paths made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, although they are not completely able to stay on the path of others
A leader should always try to make their people happy, without seeming soft, but at the same time be forceful to show their authority. Machiavelli teaches people how to look good, but be dirty on the inside, and that is why Machiavelli wrote, "So it is wiser to live with the reputation of a miser, which produces reproach without hatred, than to be forced to incur the reputation of rapacity, which pro!duces reproach along with hatred, because you want o be considered generous" (Machiavelli, 55). Leaders that are loved and respected have loyal followers, which strengthen the leaders position in that community. Having these two characteristics will get you ahead, but they cannot be obvious to the people. Situations tend to go wrong when the leader is hated, because the people are angry and it is directed towards the leader who is trying to order them. The leader needs to establish fear to maintain high levels of work, but they need not create hatred amongst the citizens. I neither know nor think that I know" (Apology, 23). When a person attains a high position of authority, it is truly better for them to be feared than loved by their subjects. If the workers fear the leader, they would be less likely to rise up in a rebellion against the leader. For the leader to maintain their position they need to be authoritative and strong. The subjects know that a loving leader will most likely not punish them, when they do wrong, and this is what Machiavelli is explaining when he says "A prince must nevertheless make himself fear in such a manner that he will avoid hatred, even if he does not acquire love" (Machiavelli, 56). If the workers hate! the leader, they will want to try and make a way to improve their lives and that means getting rid of the problem, which is the leader. All leaders must find the balance and control with their citizens between love and fear. Socrates wants to believe that people of the world can examine themselves, and the world and even change it for the better, if they so desire. Machiavelli distributes his forceful ruling methods, while Socrates provides his all mental tactics for controlling.
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