Machiavelli And Socrates s Concept Of A Prince - 1811 Words

Leah Brennan Professor Brandon Ives 13 October 2017 GVPT241 (0105) Soulcraft vs. Statecraft Though Machiavelli and Socrates lived in distinct states, on the heels of the Peloponnesian War in Athens to the height of the Renaissance in Florence, respectively, a few common threads bind them together. They lived in periods of uncertainty, political fragmentation, and violence, and these experiences inform and shape their beliefs about how society and government as a whole should function. Socrates responds to his precarious surroundings with an approach that prioritizes soulcraft over statecraft, and acts as a gadfly by constantly examining society. Machiavelli takes the opposite approach, prioritizing statecraft without regard for soulcraft,†¦show more content†¦Machiavelli acknowledges this ideal, but calls on his knowledge of the other successful princes to disprove its feasibility and add in other factors, such as confusing others and taking advantage of loyalty, to achieve his means, rather than relying on Socrates’ moral simplicity. Socrates’ absolutism in this manner is fundamental to his line of questioning, and thus treats it as fact, meaning that if he were to come to blows with Machiavelli over the nature of such a prince that would disavow this basic principle, he would not support it. His commitment to moral righteousness is further displayed by his assertion that he owes a greater obedience to God than to the people, to the extent that â€Å"so long as [he] draw[s] breath and [has] his faculties, [he] shall never stop practicing philosophy and exhorting [them] and indicating the truth† (Plato, 55-56). Machiavelli’s pursuance of the concept of statecraft and the absence of soulcraft does not fall in line with Socrates’ view. He states that princes should â€Å"have no other aim or thought, nor take up any other thing for his study, but war and its organization and its discipline† (Machiavelli, XIV, 53), a focus that does not center on a moral condition, but a push for power. He also later argues that it is only necessary to seem to be full of mercy,Show MoreRelatedMorality Vs Machiavelli1161 Words   |  5 PagesSocrates, however, asserts the importance of morality and ethics in a ruler, and argues that soul craft is ideal for an effective leader. Socrates contends, â€Å"Wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and the state† (Apology, 30b). Indeed, in opposition to Machiavelli, Socrates asserts that following one’s intuition and making decisions based on â€Å"goodness† w ill never lead a ruler and his state astray. Additionally, Socrates emphasizesRead MoreSocrates And Machiavelli1681 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates, in his early works, maintained a steadfast distance from involvement in politics, making a comparison or evaluation of a political system in his persona technically impossible. To claim that Socrates would or would not be supportive of any political system might then seem irresponsible, a presumptuous analysis not fitting for an academic recognizing the false equivalence between Socrates’ philosophy and Machiavelli’s political ethics. The strategy to conduct any sort of liable and validRead MoreSocrates And Machiavelli2009 Words   |  9 PagesSocrates and Machiavelli are both very influential philosophers and two of the great minds of their time. However, both of these men had their own separate ideas that did not completely agree with one another. 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