Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli is perhaps one of the most influential political philosophers in history. Machiavelli's greatest piece of writing The Prince presents a view that is completely paradoxical to the accepted model on how a ruler governs his or her state. Where as most people felt that a ruler should be a kind and adored ruler, Machiavelli holds a very derogatory view on the nature of human beings and feels that rulers would have more security in their position if they were feared rather than loved. After examining the works Niccolo Machiavelli in The Prince, and of Nicholas Fearn in The Zeno and The Tortoise, who justifies many Machavelli's arguments, I feel that Machiavelli had many valid points about human behaviour, however I feel the concept of Machavelli's Prince would not work and although Fern's comments on Machiavelli are justified, resorting to a modern day Prince would result in disaster.

Machiavelli, contrary to many leaders, believes that a ruler should be feared rather than adored by the public. "It is better to be feared than loved, more prudent to be cruel then compassionate." Machiavelli's bizarre concept that leaders should be feared instead of loved actually proves to have some substance to it. Machiavelli feels that leaders have more security and stability if they are feared rather than loved. To prove this Machiavelli refers to his belief of what is the true nature of human beings. "Ungrateful, fickle and deceitful, eager to avoid dangers and avid for gain, while you are useful to them they are all with youÐ'...but when danger approaches they turn on you." Machiavelli alludes to the public's superficial obsession on how during times of prosperity the citizens adore and praise the ruler, however during times of hardship the people will turn on their leaders. Thus if a leader is feared by the public they would not revolt against him or her. Machiavelli expresses his deep hatred for the public's shallowness, as he believes that the majority of people pay more attention to the image being presented rather than the message or reason. " For the mob is always impressed by appearance and by results, and the world is the mob." Thus, Machiavelli feels that if a leader is feared rather than loved people will follow the leader even if they are in a difficult situation as opposed to turning against the ruler during the time of hardships.

Nicholas Fearn's novel Zeno and the Tortoise, presents a section with a pro-Machiavellian vibe. Fearn is an admirer of Machiavelli's amoral philosophy with "the end justifying the means". He adopts many of Machiavelli's concepts and relates them to modern day situations. Fearn agrees with Machiavelli "The way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live if he pursues the way he ought to live will lead to his downfall" so he states "What use are political values without the power to put them into practice". Fern believes that we have strayed away so far from our values, that no one longer pursues anything moral, and that there is no point in holding these values if we cannot put them into practice. Fern expresses his views on the modern vote-buying exploits by the modern democratic politicians would find some justification in The Prince. Fern also agrees with Machiavelli in striking fear into the citizens by explaining that if human nature is so superficial then they deserve a government that induces fear in order to keep obedience and preventing constant insurrections." While men are base creatures and will break a bond of love when it is in their interest, fear underwritten by the threat of punishment will always be effective in securing obedience". In The Zeno and the Tortoise, Fearn, much like Machiavelli, believes that