Lao Tzu and Machiavelli’s View of “The People”

Azhar A. Sapargaliyeva Professor Hammerbeck Introduction to Critical Issues 18 September 2012 equalize Lao Tzus and Machiavellis view of the mountain. How does each formers conceptualization of the large number affect what kind of government they run on? Life experience, culture, language, time of living and many other factors affected Lao Tzus and Niccolo Machiavellis views on how an ideal leader ought to govern a country. These views, expressed in their texts, reflected on how these writers perceived the fellow men. Lao Tzu is a Chinese philosopher and founder of Daoism.He is the causality of a philosophical document cal guide Tao-te Ching. Niccolo Machiavelli, is a 1fifth century aristocrat and a writer, mostly famous for his political treatise, The Prince. This essay will attempt to analyze both authors views on clement nature and the debequest these views affected the types of government upkeeped. As mentioned above contrary lives of Lao Tzu and Machiavelli influenced their images of human nature. Lao Tzu worked in the court of the ruling dynasty and lived a quite stable and peaceful life in around the 5th century B. C.E. Whereas Machiavelli lived during the time of political turmoil in Italy. He was venture of conspiring against the royal family and was even tortured for that (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Thus, these different living conditions led both philosophers to think of the slew differently Lao Tzu had a imperative opinion of individuals, which is contrary to that of Machiavellis suspicious and cynical image of the tidy sum. This is important to analyze because these views in some way determined the way they portrayed an ideal government.Lao Tzu, in his Tao-te Ching, has an optimistic, almost idealistic perception of the tidy sum. His proposed attitude for the ruler to have toward citizens resembles that of p bents toward a child. They treat the child with respect and care. At the same time they let go of restrictions and rules, so that he/she learns from their own mistakes and grows up to be self-reliant. The upbringing of children can be compared to disposal community. Lao Tzu in paradoxical way proposes to stick to the recitation of non doing (Jacobus 24) and let the things take their inhering course.The author encourages leaders to give the hatful to a greater extent freedom and indemnifys I let go of the law and bulk become honest (Jacobus 29). He believes in the good in people and in their talent to choose the morally good paths. He says pour forth away morality and justice and people will do the right thing (Jacobus 25). His description of an ideal government resembles a modern daylight egalitarian type of government as democracy literally delegacy ruled by the people (Britannica Online Encyclopedia). The Prince reveals an entirely different view of the people.Lao Tzu is mostly concerned with their well being. He advocates politics based on moral considerations while Machiavelli a dvices the leader not to bother with such things and boil down more on practical politics. The latter is a reflection of a pessimistic and cynical view of the people. According to the author they are ungrateful, fickle, avoiders of danger and greedy for gain (Jacobus 46). The very title of the book, and its form as a affordbook for the ruler, a single person, hint at support for monarchic type of government.Monarchy is a type of political system in which authority is represented in a single person who exercises arbitrary power (Britannica Online Encyclopedia). Moreover, strictly speaking, Machiavelli basically says that bad people need a strict ruler, who would be feared. As a matter of fact it is ruin to be feared than loved, because love is temporal, while fear is constant (Jacobus 46). Therefore, his kingship seems more like an autocracy or even dictatorship. Dictators gain despotic power, which they thusly maintain through the use of intimidation and oppression (Britannica Online Encyclopedia).The advice in these twain texts, however, might not be as relevant as handbooks for politicians these days. lend oneself shows that there have not been many prosperous absolutely democratic governments, which at the same time imposed no laws and restrictions whatsoever neither have there been many despotic monarchs in power to successfully run a country. The views of the people by both writers represent 2 extremes, and seem to be unrealistic and in a way paradoxical.Reading and consciousness both books, however, is still of significant value, because they represent the literary and historical legacy of political thought and most importantly they disc?lse the tw? particular ways of l?oking at the world. On the one side The Prince gives an insight of what the w?rld looks like from a dem?ralized and cynical realists perspective. On the other hand Tao-te Ching expresses utopian perceptions of an idealist. To sum up Lao Tzu in his Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching, he advocates the practice of not doing as a way to govern people.One of the reasons for that are the authors high opinion of and a belief in their ability to adopt a morally right behavior. He proposes for things to take their natural course. Therefore, adapted to modern times, the type of government that Lao Tzu supports resembles democracy. Machiavelli, on the contrary, views the people as simulators and deceivers. Thus he directs the prince to rule by keeping the people in awe. He signals his support for monarchy and, possibly, dictatorship. Works Cited Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Democracy. 15 Sep. 012. Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Dictatorship. 14 Sep. 2012. Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Monarchy. 15 Sep. 2012. Jacobus. Lee A. A World of Ideas. Boston Bedford / St. Martins, 2010. 925-28. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Niccolo Machavelli. 8 Sep. 2009. 14 Sep. 2012.