Essays on Philosophers

514

Interpretations of Plato’s Allegory of The Cave in Erasmus’ Praise of Folly

5 pages / 2253 words

In the Praise of Folly, Erasmus creates a character critical of, yet indebted to, philosophical wisdom. Through Folly, Erasmus weaves his own ideas into her message, confusing readers unable to distinguish between the two voices. In Praise of Folly, Folly refers to Plato's "Allegory of...

Allegory of The Cave Plato The Republic

515

Christianity and Machiavelli's Codes of Ethics in The Prince

2 pages / 1015 words

In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli, the author, generally lays forth a system of ethics for rulers. Given the strength of Christianity at the time that he wrote this work, Machiavelli’s instructions to aspiring rulers are surprising. His definition of “goodness,” or “virtue,” seems to stray...

Machiavelli The Prince

516

Limitations in Machiavelli's Work The Prince

3 pages / 1303 words

Machiavelli’s The Prince is an ambitious attempt to outline the steps necessary to ensuring success in leadership. The work dissects the elements of power; it identifies the sources from which it springs and the tactics required for its maintenance. His position rests on the claim...

Machiavelli The Prince

517

The Concept of Virtu in Machiavelli's The Prince

6 pages / 2947 words

The concept of virtu is central to Machiavellian political theory in The Prince. The problematic nature of this term makes a concise definition difficult to formulate. Varying definitions often lead to different interpretations of Machiavelli. In order to understand the implications of Machiavelli’s writing it...

Machiavelli The Prince

518

Comparison of Political Thoughts of Aquinas and Machiavelli

3 pages / 1682 words

Ernst Cassirer states in his book The Myth of the State that “The Prince is neither a moral nor an immoral book: it is simply a technical book. In a technical book we do not seek for rules of ethical conduct, of good and evil....

Machiavelli The Prince

519

Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince and The Negative Connotation of 'Machiavellian'

3 pages / 1553 words

In 1532, a divisive pamphlet was published which established the foundation of modern political science while merging classical pagan philosophy with Renaissance humanism. (Fry) The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, was condemned immediately after publication by Pope Clement VIII (Lin) to due Machiavelli’s disdain for...

Machiavelli The Prince

520

The Modern Conception of Rule in Machiavelli's The Prince

3 pages / 1603 words

The ideal of a complex nation state, one that possesses a central power and does not operate in a feudal manner or under the control of the Church, came into being during a rather turbulent period of political transition. The political realities of this era...

Machiavelli The Prince

521

Niccolo Machiavelli's Views on Autocratic Form of Government

2 pages / 1168 words

At first thought, this question seems simple enough. After all, Nicolo Machiavelli did more or less write an “autocrat’s handbook” when he authored The Prince. In this text, Machiavelli explains how an autocrat rises to power, when an autocrat can best rise to power, and...

Machiavelli The Prince

522

Nicollo Machiavelli as an Ethical Polititian

7 pages / 3113 words

In the Oxford English Dictionary there exists an irony: a definition of a term, which originated from the Italian politician Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, implies the exact opposite of what its originator argued. This irony is simultaneously a cause and a result of the...

Machiavelli The Prince

523

Machiavelli Vs Aristotle: a Comparison of The Philosophies

5 pages / 2460 words

Introduction: The debate over political philosophy has long been centered around the conflict between the ideal and the reality. One of the most interesting debates is between Machiavelli and Aristotle. While both philosophers aim to achieve an ideal state, they differ in their approaches. Background:...

Aristotle Machiavelli The Prince

524

Inside Out: How The Price is Subjected to The Social Identity Method by Christopher Columbus and Machiavelli

3 pages / 1560 words

In social psychology, there is a well-known theory that explains why individuals show hatred for those of different races, religions, sexualities, sports teams, political parties, and other groupings. This is called the “social identity theory”. Those who share a common category, the ingroup, are more...

Machiavelli The Prince

525

Shakespeare's Use of Machiavellian Politics in Hamlet

4 pages / 1902 words

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is not simply a morality play surrounding a grief-mad prince; it is a complex study of political maneuvers as described by Machiavelli. “The rules of this politics, Machiavelli’s political science, then, are the choreographed moves, countermoves, and tricks that bring to life the...

Hamlet Machiavelli The Prince

526

The Young Politicians: Machiavellian Belief

3 pages / 1263 words

Niccolo Machiavelli opens The Prince in full compliance with the behavioral laws he sets forth in following chapters; fitting with his brazen separation of ethics from politics, he meekly addresses Lorenzo de Medici with such words as “I hope it will not be thought presumptuous...

Machiavelli The Prince

527

Analysing Henry Iv Part 1 as Described in The Machiavellian Analysis

3 pages / 1324 words

It can be difficult for the modern reader to appreciate the power struggle underlying HENRY IV, Part 1 (1H4). As causes of the War of the Roses and the struggles of the House of Lancaster recede from memory, it is useful to have a lens...

Machiavelli The Prince

528

The Concept of Piety in The Odyssey and The Oresteia

3 pages / 1504 words

Piety was an important concept in ancient Greek civilization, as it shaped the culture and actions of Greek citizens. What exactly piety means has varied over time, and the definition differs throughout Greek literature. Characters such as Odysseus from The Odyssey and Orestes from The...

Socrates The Odyssey

529

Comparison of Lao Tzu's and Machiavelli's Philosophical View on Government and Power

4 pages / 1711 words

Philosophers have waxed long and eloquent on the ideal government and therefore the ideal sovereign; this short essay will serve to compare two works on the subject, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching and Machiavelli’s The Prince. This paper will analyze three main points of contention...

Machiavelli Tao Te Ching

530

Representation of Enlightenment in Paradise Lost and Don Quixote

2 pages / 1195 words

As proposed by Immanual Kant, the Enlightenment consisted of having “the courage to use your own understanding,” and John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Descartes’ Meditations, and Cervantes’ Don Quixote collectively provide instances that both affirm and subvert Kant’s proposition. Paradise Lost’s Lucifer embodies Kant’s idea of...

Don Quixote Paradise Lost Rene Descartes

531

Comparative Study on Golding's an Nietzsche's Works and Ideas

3 pages / 1549 words

Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher, and William Golding, an English author, lived and died in two seemingly separate worlds. They came from different time periods, places of origin, and had perceptions of humanity that draw no mass comparison. Golding, best known for his novel entitled...

Friedrich Nietzsche Lord of The Flies William Golding

532

A Comparative Study of Hobbes' and Locke's Political Theories

1 page / 717 words

The focus of this essay is to examine the political theories of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke as presented in their books, Leviathan and The Second Treatise of Government, through the analyses of their definitions and uses of the terms: natural equality, natural right, natural...

John Locke Leviathan Thomas Hobbes