The Political Views Of The Renaissance

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The Political Views of the Renaissance Machiavelli vs. Eramus During the Age of the Renaissance, their were two very distinct and conflicting humanistic views on politics. One of those views stemmed from the secretary to the Florentine Council of Ten, Niccolo Machiavelli. He expressed these thoughts in his book The Prince, one of the most famous treatises on political power in the western world (p 351). Desiderius Eramus was another humanist, a Christian humanists to be specific, that wrote a book on his political standing called, Education of a Christian Prince. The two of these men’s views were quite different from each other. Machiavelli believed that as someone with political power, it was much safer to be feared than loved by your subjects. He stated that citizens will be there for you as long as they are benefiting in some kind of way, but the moment things change, they will turn there back on you. If you instill fear in them however, Machiavelli believed, it will restrain citizens because the are afraid of punishment (p353). Eramus‘ beliefs, on the other hand, were on the total opposite end of the spectrum. He assumed that to be a superior ruler you must attempt to do good for everyone that you rule over. As a Christian humanist, Eramus believed that a good prince is a living likeness of God, who is at once powerful and good (p353). While both men’s analysis’ make excellent points, in today’s society a combination of both love and fear at a balance are vital in regulating over a country. For instance, during the election process in the United States of America, candidates that have a warm, enticing personality can have longevity during the course of the election. Candidates such as President Barack Obama and former vice president nominee, Sarah Palin adhered to a lot of specific individuals with certain promises that assisted them with getting votes.
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