Nicolo Machiavelli And Thomas Hobbes Concept Of Ideal Government

1314 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hobbes views of human nature and the state

Anna Laskowski Student id:141826220 BF190- Midterm Writing Assignment Dr. Charles Wells Due: October 1, 2014 1 Nicolo Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes’ Concept of Ideal Government An effective leader is one that understands that a society must evolve and revolutionize, in order to meet the needs of the state that are of immediate concern. As a society we are able to build off prior knowledge of once existing methods of living, and adjust them to meet current demands. Both Thomas Hobbes, and Nicolo Machiavelli’s concept, and perception of an ideal sovereign remains present in current forms of government. Machiavelli’s ideas in The Prince indicate that it is simple for any civilian to gain, and maintain power …show more content…

He states that, “Every one with every one...Shall be given by the major part, the right to present the person of them all” (Hobbes [1651] 2013). Thus, a democratic form of governance is beginning to emerge, and the responsibility of the sovereign is to form laws that avoid returning to a state of nature. Essentially, Hobbes presents a way of government that appears optimal, and capable of lasting a long term. The elected sovereign is not to be overthrown because through the unanimous decision of members of the state the sovereign was chosen, and maintain authority through deliverance of suitable laws (Hobbes [1651] 2013). Thus, citizens are more likely to comply with this form of government because they maintain the impression that their sovereign only looks out for their best interests, as well as recognizes what is best for them because he was chosen to be in …show more content…

However, I believe the concepts Hobbes maintains are of a more ideal, and proper functioning society. First, he indicates that having a higher power in place eliminates the threat of violence amongst society, and enhances peace amongst people (Hobbes [1651] 2013). Through the achievement of a sovereign, society will avoid reverting back to a state of chaos. Secondly, he presents the idea of a democratic government, in which members of the state make a unified decision on who represents them(Hobbes [1651] 2013). This method of government is still present, and highly effective to this day. It allows individuals who are in power

Show More
Related

  • The Influence of Locke and Hobbes on Government

    1741 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...y will consent to this, and bring in a sovereign that will also operate under the law. Also, that sovereign will have to operate with checks and balances, under a government with divided powers. The difference with Hobbes is that if any powerful invader that takes over the land that you reside with the intent to be the sovereign is not allowed. As mentioned, such an action permits the people to declare war with this presumed authority. That also extends to the situation in which those citizens were unsatisfied with the government that they had initially consented to.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Machiavelli And Hobbes

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hobbes, on the other hand, was concerned about how humans can live together in peace and avoid the danger and fear of civil conflict. Hobbes presents two choices: we should give our obedience to an unaccountable sovereign or what awaits us is a "state of nature" that closely resembles civil war – a situation of universal insecurity, where human cooperation is almost impossible. All three philosophers provide valid arguments on the role of government, but for Hobbes there shouldn’t be a “state of nature” because there would be anarchy in the streets. Also, Plato’s ideal utopian society seems very unrealistic, no society has been able to follow any ideal model, communism failed when the Soviets tried to accomplish it. Machiavelli’s idea of a prudent ruler is bad too, he states that a prudent leader cannot and must not honor his words. Overall, the ideal role of government is a mix of all three philosophers but with their imperfect ideas

    Read More

  • Thomas Hobbes Social Contract Analysis

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Hobbes is now broadly viewed as one of a smaller group of truly extraordinary political thinkers, whose major work was the Leviathan rivals in meaning the political writings of Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls. Hobbes is most known for his for his early and elaborate development of what has come to be known as “social contract theory”, the method of justifying political principles or arrangements by appeal to the agreement that would be made among suitably situated rational, free, and equal persons. He is most famous for using his theory on the social contract to submit that human beings should submit to an absolute—undivided and unlimited—sovereign power (Lloyd, 2014) Hobbes wanted to ascertain the clear values for the construction of a civil organization that would not be subject to destruction from within. Hobbes maintains the ideology that people should look at their government as having absolute authority, while arguing that the government has absolute power he reserves the idea that we have the liberty of disobeying some of our government's instructions. He argues that subjects retain a

    Read More

  • Natural Condition In Leviathan By Thomas Hobbes

    1672 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hobbes explains that if human beings do not accept government, they will not live a peaceful life and their lives will be short due to constant war and the lack of justice. He also adds that government offers human beings a better life due to the advantages it gives them. Without government, “there is no place for industry, …no culture of the earth, no navigation, nor use of commodities that can be imported by sea, no commodious building, …no society, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” (Leviathan, 76). Hobbes’ statement shows that he argues for civilization and sees it as important to humanity. He also implies that human beings are better off being governed than by governing themselves and they should therefore give up their natural power of governing themselves to a common power to govern them. This is evident when he says, “that a man be willing, when others are too, as far fourth as for peace and defense of himself, he shall think it necessary, to lay down his right to all things, and be contented with so much liberty against other men as he will allow other men against himself” (Leviathan, 80). In other words, for human beings to live peacefully, they have to give up some of their rights as it is impossible to meet the individual rights of all of

    Read More

  • Hobbes and Locke

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hobbes, on the other hand attested to a role of government akin to monarchy or dictatorship. His definition of the role of the state is a direct inversion of Locke’s. He states society is a creation of the state and therefore the governed surrender their rights so the state can fulfill its main func...

    Read More

  • Religious and Political Turmoil in 17th Century England and France

    1505 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hobbes argues for this form of government as a solution to the crises of all men being equal and them having the right to get justice when laws or rules are broken. He says that there should be a social contract putting trust into one person to take care of all the good and bad that people do. It is not a right that puts someone into power, but a contract with the people so that they can change who is in charge if they feel that, that person is not getting the justice that is needed and allowing bad stuff to continue to happen. Hobbes also argues that this form of government was needed to overcome the defects of human nature, his case was made by referring to science rather than religion to support this form of

    Read More

  • Absolute Power: A State of War Against Its People

    1132 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hobbes’s government is impossible, firstly, because people have no arbitrary power to transfer. Secondly, a government that is not bound by laws is no government at all since it remains in a state of nature with its citizens. Lastly, the Hobbesian sovereign’s right to take away his subjects’ property makes the establishment of this form of government incongruous because the purpose of the government is the protection of property. Absolute arbitrary government comes about only when the government exceeds its authority and is not something that should be strived for. Therefore, the government, which Hobbes proposes to exit the state of war, would, for Locke, directly introduce or set the stage for civil war. In Locke’s Treatise, the social contract binds citizens to a government, which is responsible to its citizenry. If the government fails to represent the interest of its citizens, its citizens have the right and obligation to overthrow it. By contrast, in Hobbes’s Leviathan, there is no reciprocal relationship between the ruler and the ruled. Absolute arbitrary government invests all rights in the sovereign and the citizens forfeit their rights. It is because of these different views on the purpose and origin of government that one can say Locke’s “Second Treatise of Government” is a successful confutation of Hobbes’s

    Read More

  • Machiavelli's The Prince: Still Relevant after All These Years

    2155 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... to the times of kings and princess, however it must be noted that the underlying human emotions and their motivations can only be dealt with decisiveness and deep plotting. The concepts discussed are applicable to all leaders and politicians holding offices. Bottom line is, some things never changes. Even though a lot has changed, principles of Machiavelli’s Prince are adapted and used widely yet secretly in a complex world of growth and prosperity with a greater demography and geography.

    Read More

  • Two Sided Coin: Thomas Hobbes vs. John Locke

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Before looking at what type of Government is best, it’s important to know about human nature because gives us an idea of the type of people, who would have the power in Government. Human nature deals with the distinguishing characteristics, including ways of thinking, feeling and act, which humans tend to have naturally, without any influence from the culture around them. Between both of them, Hobbes was the one that had a negative view of human nature. He believed that people were born to be bad and cruel and would act on behalf of their own best interests, like “Every man for himself” and that society could not exist exce...

    Read More

  • Thomas Hobbes And John Locke: Contribution To Communal Structure

    1309 Words  | 3 Pages

    Locke’s belief in “consent” by the people creates a democratic structure of community. In this way, the community is merely created to protect the rights and the property of the people. His idealistic government would have the power controlled by those who are being ruled, the people. Locke explains that we must “make one body politic, wherein the majority have a right to act and conclude the rest” (Locke 101).The government is a reflection of the “majority” of the community, and will represent the wishes of the people. The power is held by those who are being ruled, and they have equal rights in deciding their political outcomes. Locke explains that “wherever law ends, tyranny begins”, so once the rights of the people are suppressed this injustice begins (Locke 102). Locke also explains that if a government was to act unjust, not with the best interest of the majority, then it is the right and the responsibility of the people to overthrow “tyranny” (Locke 102). The people, who have the power, should always defend their human rights, especially from unlawful rulers. This view of government shifts with Hobbes’ perspective. Hobbes believes that one man should rule the community, and therefore the government should have power in the ruler rather than the people being ruled. This single ruler will be educated about the corrupt nature of mankind and the bad nature of

    Read More

  • Thomas Hobbes' Idea of the State and Its Relation with the Citizen

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    When looking at Hobbes’ idea of the state and its relation with the citizen, it is strikingly shocking how supportive of the authoritarian and absolutist form of monarchical government he is. His ideas are extreme for today’s democratic world however, he is seen as the founder of great liberal political thoughts such as the natural contract. Furthermore he gives great emphasis to the study of the individual in the first book of his work. Although, obviously monarchical, Hobbes also argues in favor of democracy and aristocracy: two less authoritarian forms of government. Hobbes has a historical reputation for validating absolute monarchy, and his work is often dismissed as dictatorial. But it must be remembered that, for Hobbes, sovereignty does not only reside in a king but also in sovereign congresses and sovereign democracies and ultimately the people enable any of these three forms of government to rule, according to what best suits the community.

    Read More

  • Comparing Thomas Hobbes And Locke's Theory Of Government

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hobbes and Locke’s Ideas of government reflects subjects that have been put in place, rejected many times, or are still in consideration. The idea to allow the government to have access to our text messages, our emails, and our phone calls to prevent crime and terrorism would be an example of Hobbes idea of government as having an absolute ruler with unlimited power would do whatever is necessary to prevent chaos. But in todays society Locke’s idea of government has been favored as the government would only be able to do that with a warrant and reason for the warrant, to protect our natural rights. Locke’s idea of government reflects our police department regulations also; to protect our natural rights police have limited power, as they cannot do whatever they feel necessary to prevent crime. But if the police department was reflected by Hobbes idea of government the police could do whatever they felt necessary, which in today’s society could actually cause more chaos, then prevent

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Thomas Hobbes The Collapse Of The Omnipotent Sovereign

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    From Hobbes’ ideas of human nature and the laws of nature, he is able to theoretically develop a political regime that is formed though the covenants of the people, people who choose to relinquish their rights to a leader or assembly of leaders and assume that their authority will benefit them on their behalf. Due to humans’ violent nature Hobbes feels that a king can best keep the peace. The majority of his argument holds true, but does not take into account human weakness.

    Read More

  • Thomas Hobbes: Moral And Political Philosophy

    800 Words  | 2 Pages

    To an extent government is in place to protect the people. In reality, the government are people with the same self-centered body with unlimited powers. The government can also be influenced by its own selfishness. The United States is a fine example that democracy is effective. Also, Hobbes work in Leviathan doesn’t offer a state of physiology and phycology during his time period. All of Hobbes’ views are limited and biased based on his own perspective. His works are centered on solving the problems of political

    Read More

  • Hobbes' View of Human Nature and his Vision of Government

    446 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hobbes view of human nature lead him to develop his vision of an ideal government.  He believed that a common power was required to keep men united.  This power would work to maintain the artificial harmony among the people as well as protect them from foreign enemies.

    Read More

More about Nicolo Machiavelli And Thomas Hobbes Concept Of Ideal Government

Open Document