Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the political ideologies of Aristotle and Machiavelli. The paper focuses on the concept of human rights of both philosophers, and how they were influenced by the politics of their eras. The essay also compares their theories to our modern American political philosophies.

From the Paper
"There are, perhaps, no two more disparate political philosophies than those of Aristotle and Machiavelli. In these two systematic views we see a total separation between Aristotle's idealistic politics in which people and the state cooperate for the good of the whole, and Machievelli's visceral "survival of the fittest" acquirement of power. The argument that presents itself is that although both political theories contain some elements of validity, neither of them are not realistic in light of the kind of politics as we know them in the 1990s."

Tags:darwinism, nature, Plato, Italy, Athens

Abstract
This paper details the different attitudes of these scholars' views on God and religion. St. Thomas Aquinas and Machiavelli represent the two extremes of the understanding of reason and faith. Machiavelli exhibits the influence of the Renaissance on his conception of God and faith in God. The existence of God is unquestionable and need not be proven. Aquinas also believes that the existence is self-evident, but as a Christian scholar Aquinas is obligated to develop a proof for the existence of God.

From the Paper
"Machiavelli mentions God in various passages of his writing, but God never represents the central theme of any of his writings. Typical of Machiavelli he manages to incorporate the gods of pagan religions into his writing and his theories. God's focus was justice and mercy. As a Christian, Machiavelli naturally mentions the importance of Jesus Christ. As with other people of the time, Machiavelli prayed to God when difficulties arose with the possibility that his prayers would be answered."

Tags:religion, philosophy, god, politics, realism, The, Prince, faith, Christian

From the Paper
"This study will compare the views of both political and private virtue expressed by Thomas More in Utopia and Niccolo Machiavelli in The Prince. The study will argue that More presents virtue as a largely ideal set of behaviors for both the public and the private man, based on conventional and religious standards, with socialistic elements included with respect to the abolishment of private property as a requisite for the social order needed for the practice of such virtue. More's views on virtue reflect a generally positive view of human nature, although he is worldly enough to know that human beings are likely not perfectible in this world. For the practice of the virtue he advocates, he must believe that human beings, while flawed, are capable of virtuous behavior if social conditions are favorable. Machiavelli, on the other hand, in both public and.."

Abstract
This paper discusses Niccolo Machiavelli's work, "The Prince," and portrays George Bush according to Machiavelli's ideas. The paper contends that George Bush and Niccolo Machiavelli are two very influential political figures that share similar ideals. The paper outlines several of Bush's proposals, explaining them against Machiavelli's theory, which states that, in the conquest for power, the ends justify the means.

From the Paper
"George Bush and Niccolo Machiavelli are two very influential political figures that share some similar ideals. Machiavelli's work was never intended to be applied to republics, or a democratic government. The advice written in The Prince would have likely been applied in the time of absolute government, when countries were ruled by one leader. It is a work which, as Machiavelli himself says that his philosophy is only applied to principalities, or what we call dictatorships in modern times. Elected from the state of Texas, George Bush is a strictly right-winged conservative. When he was governor, Bush showed no clemency for the death row inmates which resulted in the highest number of executions. He severely restricted women's rights in Texas by legislating strict guidelines for abortion, making it very difficult for women to exercise their first amendment right."

Tags:power, ethics, government

Abstract
This paper looks at the similarities between Shakespeare's "Henry V" and Machiavelli's "The Prince", and the concept of the perfect king. The two plays are discussed, and the concept that either Shakespeare is drawing his inspiration for his dramatization from Machiavelli or that both Machiavelli and Shakespeare have similar ideas of what the ideal ruler would be.

From the Paper
"In Henry V, Shakespeare presents Henry as the ultimate ideal of kingship. The only question is where does this idea of a perfect king come from, and after reading Machiavelli's Prince and Henry V one begins to note similarities. Not the least of which is the passage quoted above, a true Machiavellian manoeuvre. In this passage, the governor of Harfleur, the French city under siege by Henry's troops, has refused entrance to the army of Henry. As Machiavelli says, "it is wiser to have a reputation for meanness which brings reproach without hatred, than to be compelled through seeking a reputation for liberality". Therefore, Henry, following this advice of Machiavelli, does exactly that, and frightens the innocent people of Harfleur into opening their city gates through the sheer grotesqueness of his command. We frequently see these similarities between the actions of Henry, at least through Shakespeare's portrayal, and the recommended actions of a good prince, as documented in Machiavelli's The Prince. Therefore, one might draw the conclusion that either Shakespeare is drawing his inspiration for his dramatization from Machiavelli or that both Machiavelli and Shakespeare have similar ideas of what the ideal ruler would be."

Tags:england, european, italy, kingship, leadership, machiavelli, relations, renaissance, rulers, shakespeare

Abstract
This paper examines how Niccolo Machiavelli and Sun Tzu were two of the most influential thinkers and military strategists of all time and how many of their ideas and notions are still being used to this day in regards to warfare and even business. In particular, the paper compares and contrasts the ideas of these two men concerning the act of war, and, despite their similarities, show how different the work of each man truly was.

From the Paper
"Although the concept of fortuna is unique to Machiavelli, Sun Tzu relies heavily on the idea of opportunity as well. Because Sun does not believe in fortuna in the same way Machiavelli does, Sun says that opportunity comes not from our strength or success but from the failure and mistakes of our enemies. Because of this, Sun Tzu says that we must always be ready and waiting to take advantage of the opportunity that the enemy will give us. Sun portrays this idea well in chapter 4 of the Art of War when he says; "To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself" (The Art of War, p. 19). We can see here that Machiavelli believes that through proper preparation you can successfully guard yourself against defeat, but the opportunity for victory can only from taking advantage of your enemies mistakes. "

Tags:warfare, business

Abstract
The main objective of this paper is to discuss the main themes of Niccolo Machiavelli's writings, including "The Prince," and how these themes were a response to both the inherited ideas about politics and to the specific historical context in which the great theorist lived.

From the Paper
"Machiavelli, like any other classical republican treated individual freedom in relation to the freedom of the state. He argued that a state could be said to be free when it is independent of external control by other states' rulers,
and when its rulership is exercised by the citizens and not
a single person or "prince."

Tags:prince, italian, political, science, philosophy, leader, republic, state, discourses, virtu

Abstract
The objective of this essay is to analyze the relationship between freedom and the state as perceived and argued by various thinkers. The author looks at the views of such political theorists as Niccolo Machiavelli, Marsilius, John Stuart Mill, John Locke, Rousseau, Thomas Paine and more.

From the Paper
"Mill was against the natural rights theory. He maintained the position that what actually make liberty valuable is that both men and women in the society must possess equal rights. He believed that liberty is an important factor to both self-development and to human progression. As a crusader of equal right for men and women, Mill argued that even if women were inferior to men as proposed by some thinkers, this should not be a reason for maintaining systems of social and political subordination that prevent them from developing their characters and contributing to what Mill termed as moral regeneration of humanity. His argument of individual liberty is the one where the state has the capacity to use its power to ensure that people do not interfere with or cause any harm to social interests through their actions or by not fulfilling their civic responsibilities to the state."

Tags:mill, machiavelli, john, stuart, hegel, thomas, paine, locke, rousseau, marcilius, marx, karl, republic, prince, equality, godwin, green, government, society, nature, power

Abstract
With reference to the "Levianthan" by Thomas Hobbes and the "Prince" and the "Discourses" by Niccolo Machiavelli, this paper compares the theories of these political philosophers in regards to leadership by one person. The differences and similarities are illustrated by comparing the theories with regards to the role of fear and force, the responsibility of the ruler and the ultimate goal of the ruler.

From the Paper
"One similarity is found in the proposition of a causal relationship between fear and obedience, the former causing the latter. A likely reason for this resemblance is that Hobbes and Machiavelli share a common perception of human nature. Machiavelli regards men as "ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain" (Machiavelli, 131) and in a similar light Hobbes holds that "pursuers of Wealth, Command, or sensuall Pleasure; ... are the greatest part of Mankind" (Hobbes, 200). This view of human nature and individual rationality explains why both philosophers believe that obedience can only be produced by fear."

Tags:government, leadership, political, theory

Abstract
In this essay, the character of Claudius from Hamlet is shown as a quintessential Machiavellian character. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote the book entitled The Prince, and is known by some for making the guidelines on how to become the best prince through lies, corruption, evil, and murder. This essay examines how Claudius, the King of Denmark fulfills these guidelines. Claudius' Machavellian character is shown through the way he deceives others about his virtue, his development of schemes, and his belief that rules can easily be broken.

From the Paper
" A Machiavellian character is not hard to come by, and ample exist around us today. A person of this characteristic will break rules, pretend to be virtuous, plan schemes, and do anything they must, in order to receive what they strive for. In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, a perfect example of such a character is displayed in Claudius, the New King of Denmark. Claudius performs many deceptive, and horrifying acts, which make him the quintessential Machiavellian character. Developing schemes, pretending to be virtuous, and proving his belief, through his actions, that rules may be broken, are the deeds he executes, which prove his true character."

Tags:deception, downfall, evil, gertrude, hamlet, laertes, prince, shakespeare, survival, tragedy, virtue