Machiavelli's Prince Vs Hobbes Taxation Case Study

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7. MACHIAVELLI’S PRINCE V. HOBBES’ SOVEREIGN CAGE MATCH Though they are both absolute rulers over their respective states, the choice between living in a state ruled by Machiavelli’s Prince and Hobbes’ Sovereign is not an incredibly difficult one. Under Hobbes’ Sovereign, the subjects are far more protected, and the Sovereign works in their favour. The primary goal of Machiavelli’s Prince is to take and then maintain his power; the goal of the Sovereign is to maintain peace and stability, and the “procuration of the safety of the people”. This “safety” that Hobbes refers to is not simply a “bare preservation” of the human life, but “all other Contentments of life”; food, shelter, and employment, for example. It is for this end that the Sovereign …show more content…

In this state, Hobbes explains, the breaking of the law is permitted if “a man is destitute…and cannot preserve himself any other way, but by some fact against the Law…he is totally Excused.” This Hobbesian society is one which provides for all its subjects and permits them to do what they must to preserve their safety. The focus on the wellbeing of the subjects is clear – it is the goal of the Sovereign and all should be done to ensure that it is fulfilled. Taken in comparison to Machiavelli’s Prince, Hobbes’ state is far more forgiving to be subject to; nowhere in The Prince does Machiavelli outline a similar statement of laws. Machiavelli only declares that conquered principalities may be easier to maintain control over if old laws are kept, and that a state “used to freedom can be more easily ruled through its own citizens.” Even if this is so, and the Prince allows the citizens to aid in the government of the state, and retains old laws, this type of rule is not guaranteed, and is only implemented to the end of maintaining power. There’s also no security that these laws were equitable to begin with, as Hobbes’ Sovereign’s laws are intended to be. The Sovereign that Hobbes describes is bound to be fair and just while Machiavelli’s Prince can, essentially, do as he pleases if he doesn’t believe he’ll …show more content…

It is worth noting, however, that this is an apparently unattainable reality. This essay has been written with an ideal in mind, with Hobbes’ state fully realised. Given the chance today, in the existing world, between the Prince and the Sovereign, with no promise of that ideal being fulfilled, I would choose Machiavelli’s Prince; the Prince is far more pragmatic, a safer ruler. A benevolent absolute ruler is an unattainable ideal – a pragmatic, cunning ruler with an astute political mind is not. But of course, if it was possible, I would choose the more representative, consented to, and benevolent Hobbesian

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