Transcript Famous Political Philosophers

Famous Political Philosophers
Quotations and Questions
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Niccolo
Machiavelli
Jean-Jacques
Rousseau
John Locke
The following quote is taken from The Prince
“From this arises a dispute: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or
the reverse. One may respond that one would wish to be both the one
and the other, but since it is difficult to mix these qualities together, it
is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two must be
lacking. … And men are less cautious about offending one who has
made himself loved, than one who has made himself feared; for love is
maintained by a chain of obligation which because of men’s
wickedness is broken on every occasion of their own utility; but fear is
maintained by a dread of punishment which never abandons you”
(Machiavelli, Chapter XVII, 101).
What do think? Was Machiavelli right or wrong about whether it is better
to be feared or loved? Why or why not?
The following quote is taken from The Second Discourse
“The bodies politic, thus remaining in the state of nature with
relation to each other, soon experienced the inconveniences that
had forced individuals to leave it; … Hence arose the national
wars, battles, murders, and reprisals which make nature tremble
and shock reason, and all those horrible prejudices which rank
the honor of shedding human blood among the virtues. The
most decent men learned to consider it one of their duties to
murder their felllow-men; at length men were seen to massacre
each other by the thousands without knowing why; more
murders were committed on a single day of fighting and more
horrors in the capture of a single city than were committed in the
state of nature during whole centuries over the entire face of the
earth (Rousseau, 161).”
Do you agree with Rousseau that civilization when it
commits warfare is more bloody and violent than the
state of nature could ever be in its totality?
The following quote is taken from The Second Treatise
•
“Thus, though looking back as far as Records give us any account of
Peopling the World, and the History of Nations, we commonly find the
Government to be in one hand, yet it destroys not that which I affirm,
(viz.) that the beginning of Politick Society depends upon the consent
of the Individuals, to joyn into and make one Society; who, when they
are thus incorporated, might set up what form of Government they
thought fit” (Locke, Chapter VIII, 381-2).
•
Do you agree with Locke that any society must have the consent of
the people it seeks to govern before it can become a true government?