Differences between Aristotle and Machiavelli essays

Differences between Aristotle and Machiavelli essays Differences between Aristotle and Machiavelli Of the philosophers that we have studied: Plato, Aristotle and Machiavelli, it is evident that they all have differing opinions about certain concepts. In the following paragraphs I will be discussing the different views of Aristotle and Machiavelli concerning the issues of politics and human nature. For Aristotle, a political community is one in which there are arguments and dialogues over what is advantageous and harmful, and just and unjust. The mail goal for the community is happiness for each other. Aristotle is not an idealist like Plato was. He believes that nature disposes us to set rules living in a community. For him, arguments or conflicts are what makes things run; but he sees in this the goal of construction. In short, Aristotle believes politics are worthy of pursuing and carrying out for the common good, to prevent chaos, and for happiness, virtue and equality. Contrastingly, for Machiavelli in politics the only rules that should be followed are those that help a person gain security and power. The idea of the common good is irrelevant to Machiavelli. He believes that people only go into politics for power and who ever the ruler may be; he should be forceful and manipulative. In terms of human nature, Machiavelli believes that we all came into this world naked, unprotected, insecure, and alone. He says nature provides each of us with an inclination towards evil but creates a condition of scarcity that makes each of us fundamentally alone in the universe. He thinks that human beings are selfish, antagonistic towards others and inclined to evil. It is our nature that inclines us to try and defeat others and only those things that further our power and increase our ambition are in our best interest. Machiavelli also believes that human beings are divided by reason and desire. It is natural to him that our reason obeys our desires. We are not rational an...