The Contributions of Nicolo Machiavelli and John Locke to Political Thought

1755 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Machiavelli the prince principles

The Contributions of Nicolo Machiavelli and John Locke to Political Thought In political thought, there have been many people that have progressed political theory. Nicolo Machiavelli and John Locke are two of those famous individuals. The research here will be focused on them. Each Machiavelli and John Locke support a different political theory. At first, the background and relevant contexts will be discussed. Each person has written something that has influenced modern political thought. Nicolo Machiavelli’s The Prince and John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government. Liberalism contained in Locke’s work will be explored in addition to the realism contained in The Prince. These two writings were chosen because they are opposite of each other. Locke’s Second Treatise of Government helped influence and set the foundations for liberalism, and Machiavelli’s The Prince did the same for classical realism. Kenneth Waltz and Neo-realism will be the framework in which the two documents will be analyzed. The objectives are to analyze the authors’ contributions to political theory: liberalism and realism. The connections to modern political theory and Neo-realism will be discussed. John Locke’s work can almost be seen as a response to Machiavelli’s Prince and previously established political thought. Machiavelli came before John Locke, missing John Locke by almost 125 years. Neo-realism begun only in the past thirty years, it was developed by Waltz in a book titled The Theory on International Politics. Kenneth Waltz was born in 1924, died in 2013 (Art, 2013). Waltz a pioneer in field of international politics, and also a political scientist. Waltz believed that classical realism needed progression. He fe... ... middle of paper ... ...t Neo-Realism draws more from Machiavellian ideals, considering that the writings of Locke were written in critical response to the autocratic rule suffered by many at the time. Both Locke and Machiavelli were two pioneers of political thought, and their influence can still be noted in modern political theory. Bibliography Art, R. (2013). Kenneth Waltz and His Legacy. Foreign Affairs . Caponi, N. (2010). An Unlikely Prince: The Life and Times of Machiavelli. Da Capo Press. Hurley, P. (2006). Does Consequentialism Make Too Many Demands? Ethics . Locke, J. (1690). The Second Treatise of Civil Government. Machiavelli, N. (1532). The Prince. Milton, J. (2008). John Locke. In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Thayer, W. (1892). Machiavelli's Prince. International Journal of Ethics , 476-492. Waltz, K. (1979). Theory of International Politics.

Show More
Related

  • Machiavelli's Reputation in the Modern World

    2975 Words  | 6 Pages

    Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince from The Portable Machiavelli. Ed. & Trans. Peter Bondanella & Mark Musa. New York: Penguin, 1979.

    Read More

  • John Locke And Niccolo Machiavelli Research Paper

    1350 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...e created equal and will act as a civil society with a limited government that will allow order. Marx who believes that people are consciously good and will do the right thing to make society equal for everyone and will abolish social classes in order to prevent exploitation to the working classes around the world. Lastly, Machiavelli believes in the opposite and that people are selfish and will act in accordance to their best interest, and as a result reaches the conclusion that men are better off ruled by a prince who inflicts fear in them rather than love since he believes too much trust cannot be put into the people. As for each individual, for every example given as a piece of evidence, it is clear that Locke represents a form of civil government, Marx suggests the formation of communism, and Machiavelli believes one sole ruler will keep order in his society.

    Read More

  • Locke And Machiavelli Research Paper

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    Locke and Marx put their trust in human reason while Machiavelli does not. These authors’ assumptions and different conceptions of human nature determine and lead to each of their conclusions regarding human nature. This paper will argue that Locke views human nature in a positive manner where humans are rational and reasonable. This paper will also argue that Marx denies the existence of human nature and instead concludes that social relations and society ultimately defines humans. Finally, this paper will argue that Machiavelli, unlike the other authors, has a negative understanding of humans as he thinks that man is selfish and that an individual should not be given too much power as they only act upon their own self-interest.

    Read More

  • Nicolas Maduro's Machiavellian Struggle

    1502 Words  | 4 Pages

    First, Machiavelli’s method attempts to discard discussion of the “imaginary” political world and instead focuses on “real life” (Machiavelli 48). His end goal is to construct rubric for leaders to follow either to rule and unite (in this case Italy) in the Prince or create a powerful republic in the Discourses. His method is derived from comparing contemporary and historical events to illustrate and substantiate his argument. He is critical of how people interpret history (Machiavelli 83). He still believes that his ability to interpret and compare history is superior. Arguing that his methodological approach doesn’t just “chew” on history but actually “tastes” it (Machiavelli 83). Therefore we can understand that he justifies his method approach as not being akin to most because he possesses a much deeper understanding of history. Throughout his two books using ...

    Read More

  • Machiavelli and Rousseau's Views on Human Nature and Government

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    Machiavelli and Rousseau, both significant philosophers, had distinctive views on human nature and the relationship between the government and the governed. Their ideas were radical at the time and remain influential in government today. Their views on human nature and government had some common points and some ideas that differed.

    Read More

  • Human Nature Essay

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    While Machiavelli may not agree with Marx and Locke regarding human nature, their ideas evolved from their surrounding environments and economies. Marx and Locke advocated that human nature is enveloped in a thriving society. This provided us with valuable insight on the rights of man in pre-Capitalist societies, because equality is the main pillar supporting weight of human reason. Machiavelli argued that men are selfish and do not seek to help those in need, and would rather collect the propriety from a deceased father than mourn his passing. His satire suggests that human nature is not possible.

    Read More

  • The ‘90s: Ending the Cold War

    1246 Words  | 3 Pages

    Classical realism focuses on the balance of power whereas the neorealist’s theory examines the balance of power as it relates to the structure of an overall system. Realists examine “human nature at the individual level, aggressive states at the domestic level, leaders pursuing domestic and international power at the foreign policy level, and the balance of power at the systemic level” (Nau, 2012, p. 10); and, further argues that polarity between powers...

    Read More

  • Changing Interpretations of The Prince and Niccolo Machiavelli

    2647 Words  | 6 Pages

    In recent history, the last fifty years or so, modern businessmen and politicians have given Machiavelli a Renaissance of his own. Professional politicians have written novels they claim to be on the same philosophical level of Machiavelli’s The Prince. Gary Hart, in his book The Patriot: An Exhortation to Liberate America From the Barbarians attempts to update Niccolo to the modern age with his own political philosophies, and attempts to credit Machiavelli by quoting him frequently. “Hart makes an effort to mimic the form, if not the spirit, of the most famous work by his Florentine ‘mentor.’…There is a dedicatory le...

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast John Locke And Machiavelli

    1447 Words  | 3 Pages

    Machiavelli focused more on the country 's political power, whereas John Locke focused more on the rights of the people. Is that true? I said they both had the same goal which was to look out for the best of the state, but Locke was a lot less extreme and focused more on his people rights. Despite their contradictions on "sovereignty", John Locke and Niccolo Machiavelli shared one conspicuous concern, and that is their concern for the betterment of society. It is plain to see that both philosophers did have common ways of thinking regarding what a ruler should and should not do. It is 'how ' a ruler should behave in order to win sovereignty of his state that led to a divergence in their opinions. Machiavelli and Locke both considered the nature of government and man 's individual interests as they relate to governmental structures. Machievelli 's idea of fortune and Locke 's 'state of nature ' concept both shaped the theorists arguments about the purpose of political life. It has been posited that for Machiavelli, politics is an unpredictable arena in which ambition, deception and violence render the idea of the common good meaningless, while Locke would argue that political or civil society exists only to preserve the rights of the individual. It can be argued that for both Machiavelli and Lock, political activity, then, becomes merely a means of satisfying selfish

    Read More

  • Neorealism In The Italian Film

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    The neorealism is also known to be quite larger than just film it’s a movement that is in politics and in socialism and is clearly seen as a movement made by the Italian people to provide reality to their people and to the world and they used that concept through their cinema.

    Read More

  • When the Ends Justify the Means in Machiavelli´s The Prince

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Machiavelli, N., 1988, The Prince, Q. Skinner and R. Price (eds.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Thomas Hobbes And Jean-Jacques Rousseau And Realism

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    Firstly, classical realism emerged out of the destruction of the First World War. Hans Morgenthau popularized the school and laid down its fundamental principles. He believed that human nature is unchanging and based on universal laws cultivate within us a desire to dominate others. From

    Read More

  • Comparing Thomas Hobbes and Niccolo Machiavelli

    2258 Words  | 5 Pages

    Two of the greatest philosophers of all time are Thomas Hobbes and Niccolo Machiavelli. Hobbes was born in 1588 in England, when absolutism was taking hold in Europe. His most famous work was 'Leviathan', written in 1651. Hobbes discussed the ideal state and innate laws of man and nature, among other things. Machiavelli was born in Italy in 1469, a time when his home country was ruled mostly by foreign powers. His hometown, Florence, was still independent. Machiavelli's most famous work, 'The Prince', tells of his ideal state and ideal ruler. Machiavelli goes on to describe the perfect prince, a picture of cruelty and cunning. Though both genius philosophers, their views differ greatly. Hobbes believed in a minimalist government where the state only interfered with the lives of the citizens when it had to. The ideal kingdom was the kingdom of God, in Hobbes' mind. In Machiavelli's 'The Prince', he describes his ideal government with a strong monarch, and fearful subjects. In Hobbes' system, a close relationship was kept with God, while in Machiavelli's reason was the only rule. The most important and most dealt-with area of dialogue is the 'ideal' government.

    Read More

  • Machiavelli?s View Of Human Nature

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    Machiavelli has long been required reading for everyone intrested in politics and power. In The Prince Niccolo M

    Read More

  • Six Day War Analysis

    1553 Words  | 4 Pages

    Created by Gideon Rose in the late 1990s, Neoclassical Realism combines the Classical Realist and Neorealist theories, specifically Defensive Realism. This new form of Realism is an addition to Waltz’s model of Neorealism, which fails to explain foreign policy. Rose describes the theory in his 1998 article titled Neoclassical Realism and Theories of Foreign Policy: “It explicitly incorporates both external and internal variables… The scope and ambition of a country's foreign policy is driven first and foremost by its place in the international system and specifically by its relative material power capabilities. This is why it is realist. The impact of such power capabilities on foreign policy is indirect and complex, because systemic pressures must be translated through intervening variables at the unit level. This is why [it] is neoclassical” (Rose

    Read More

More about The Contributions of Nicolo Machiavelli and John Locke to Political Thought

Open Document