Machiavelli - Question 1. Comment on Machiavelli's secularism.

                                            Machiavelli through his seminal work 'Prince' is often credited with pioneering the separation of politics from religion, ethics and morals laying the groundwork for modern secularism.

                                       His assertion is that religion can create dilemmas for rulers, when we think too much about the ethicalities of things we may end up taking a lot of time in making a decision. Machiavelli stressed about how to use religion as a tool to maintain social order in a society. For example, in 'Prince' Machiavelli suggests that a ruler should appear religious to gain the support of the people even if his actions are not guided by genuine devotion.

                                       However, Machiavelli's ideas have faced significant criticism form Leo Strauss, he argued that Machiavelli's separation of politics from ethics leads to a form of political amorality where the pursuit of power justifies any means including deceit, cruelty. Isaiah Berlin criticized Machiavelli for undermining the moral foundations of politics, he suggests that his ideas contribute to cynical view of power and that can lead to authoritarianism.

Machiavelli's influence is visible in various global leader's action for example,
(1) Putin's strategic use of religion and national identity to consolidate the power in Russia reflects Machiavellian approach.
(2) India's stance on Russia Ukraine War demonstrates Machiavellian's secularism in action. India has maintained a neutral position abstaining from UN's vote on condemning Russia. Of course, people are dying in this war, but India separated politics form ethics when dealing with a key alley, this decision reflects its pragmatic approach 'real politik' stance which echos Machiavellian's thought.

                                     In conclusion, Machiavelli's secularism, with its focus on pragmatism over ethics, laid the foundation for modern political realism by following the approach of 'real politik'. His influence is evident in global politics, where countries, like Russia and India, are prioritizing national interests over ethical considerations. This approach underscores the enduring relevance of Machiavellian thought in contemporary statecraft.

                                            

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Plato - Question 4. State is individual writ large. 20 Marks (250 words)

                               Plato's statement that " state is individual writ large " reflect his belief that the state's structure mirrors the soul of the individual. This idea is central to his political philosophy particularly in 'The republic" where he explores the nature of justice, both in individual and in state.                                Plato posits that as the soul consists of three parts i.e. reason , spirit and appetite , state is structured into three corresponding classes i.e. rulers , auxiliaries and producers . Rulers (reason) they are philosopher kings who govern with wisdom. Auxiliaries (spirit) they are the warriors who defend the state. Producers (appetite) they are the workers who fulfill societies material need. Justice for Plato is achieved when each part of the soul or class of the state perform...
Read more

Aristotle - Question 6. Comment on Aristotle's conception of equality.

                                               Aristotle's conception of equality is central element of his ethical and political philosophy as articulated in his works ' Politics ' and ' Nicomachean Ethics '. Aristotle distinguishes two types of equalities, (1) Numerical Equality  - it's a principle of treating everyone exactly the same, for example - universal adult franchise , (2) Proportional Equality - it is about fairness by treating individuals or groups differently based on their specific circumstances to achieve true equality, for example - affirmative action and reservation .                                                         In 'Politics', Aristotle argues that justice involves treating equals equally and...
Read more

PLato - Question 1. Plato was an enemy of the open society. (Karl Popper). Comment. 250 words (20 marks)

                                    Karl Popper in his book ' The open society and its enemies' talks about 3 philosophers - Plato, Hegel and Karl Marx whom he believes to be the enemies of the open society. Karl Popper argued that Plato's political philosophy as outlined in his work ' The republic ' advocated for a hierarchical (tripartite society i.e. rulers, auxiliary and producers) and authoritarian  society (abolition of private family, eugenics etc.), he thinks was incompatible with the principle of an open society.                                        Popper saw that Plato's vision of an ideal society involved a rigid class system, strict control over citizens life both personal and professional. According to Popper these ideas reflected a tendency towards totalitarianism (a scenari...
Read more