Machiavelli

Machiavelli’s view on human nature actually seems to not be in line at all with humanist views. He believed that morality was not necessary in order to promote an effectively governed state. His view is that ultimately man possess both good and bad qualities but that man will ultimately lean more toward his own self interest and thus man is a “fickle creature”. These views influence his political theories: Machiavelli’s view of human nature do in fact greatly influences his view of government. Machiavelli writes, “that man has qualities that will bring him either praise or blame” and because a prince is a man; therefore, he will also exhibit these qualities. A prince should put his good qualities on public display and be clever enough to hide his immoral failings from his subjects; but, if these vices are necessary to maintain his state, he should embrace them; because this appearance of a strong state by his subjects gives them a false sense of security.”

As far as implementing some of his views into our current Democracy I am not so sure about. The wonderful thing about our current set up is that it is based on a system whose goal is equality. Although the reality is that this is not always the case having the established goal for this does more for our success as a country than would one in which everyone is focused primarily on themselves and their own wellbeing. In our current politics there is not much sense of morality however there is at least at some extent a sense that morality is required.

Machiavelli for the most part cast aside any moral obligation for governtments. That it is more important for the government to be feared than liked. This seems to be the thinking of some great politicians such as Hitler, Mussalini and the list could go on. There is a moral obligation to governments and there must be in order for their to be as much peace as possible. When you cast aside moral obligation there are no longer bounds to what the government can and cannot do.