Virtue

Name

Date

Subject

Professor

Virtue on Equality and Power

The notion of virtue for both Niccolo Machiavelli 's The Prince and Jean Jacques Rousseau 's On the Origin of Inequality contrast sharply wherein the former is used as a tool of political governance and power and the latter , a natural tendency for the human state to establish social relationship beneficial toward the formation of an ideal government and society . However , the unifying factor for both viewpoints is the notion of compassion as virtue , in to provide social harmony or

retention of authority

The Prince narrates the existence of a compassionate dictator a ruler to govern over society inspiring fear , respect , and authority without resorting to hatred . For Machiavelli , the ideals presented in his treaties are necessary for a chaotic society to regain stability and it is through a form of dictatorship that it can be achieved . The treatise acts as a guideline for a prince on how to acquire and maintain power Much of the theories that are found on the treatise basically stress importance on the function of power and how it can be effectively used to govern and control the end justifies the means . It is necessary for a prince , to remain in power , to instill goodwill and fear . This implies a strict notion of discipline rather than authoritarian abuse since a prince 's downfall comes from the instilling hatred . Nevertheless he [prince] he ought to be slow to believe and to act , nor should he himself...