The Nature Of Human Beings By Niccolo Machiavelli s The...

Reason has been argued to be the essence of humans; however, humans are not the only rational beings to inhabit Earth. The nature of human beings tales far beyond rationality to characteristics such as emotion or pity. For example, if a man bears witness to a bull ferociously attacking another man, feelings of empathy, sympathy, and even pity quickly fill his mind. Thus, emphasizing that reason is not the sole essence of human beings. Humans are animals, and yes, they are rational beings. However, this does not give us the right to disregard emotional feelings that fall beyond rationality and other animals do not share the same qualities. Renà © Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, Niccolà ³ Machiavelli’s The Prince, and Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan, support this ideology that the depth of human beings fall beyond reason, solidifying that emotions are also a foundation to human existence. Thomas Hobbes adds significant insight to the claim that human existen ce stretches beyond the voice of reason and speaks to the emotional attributes of the human mind. Hobbes argues that emotion is a part of the foundation to humans existence, whether it be feelings of empathy, fear, or hope. He relates this to a state of nature in which humans are in â€Å"continual fear and danger of violent death† (Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 58). The state of human nature is embodied by a constant fear of death. Without laws or a structured society, humans turn to their state of nature and become savages.Show MoreRelatedThe Human Nature Of The Prince, Thomas Hobbes And James Madison1447 Words   |  6 Pagesancestors. Furthermore, human qualities such as strong emotions come from what we think is important to us. Actions, whether they are good or bad, also derive from our most inner thoughts. The question now is what type of reasoning is natural to us all? This human nature is a topic explored by thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan, Niccollà ² Mac hiavelli in The Prince, Thomas Hobbes and James Madison in The Essential Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Human nature is the force that pushesRead MoreHobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Machiavelli Essay1855 Words   |  8 PagesHobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Machiavelli The thirteenth through the eighteenth century brought profound changes in the political realm of Western civilization. Beginning with the Scientific Revolution and only advancing during the Renaissance, secularization and skepticism lead to changes in not only the intellectual life of Westerners, but also to their politics. At the forefront of the political debate were well-versed men such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. The influencesRead MoreThe Prince And His Power1675 Words   |  7 PagesThe Prince and His Power Kings ruled during the Early Modern Period in Europe and many Europeans addressed this. The issue of the prince and his power was discussed by statesmen, observers of the king, philosophers, political theorists, and bishops. Kings themselves would use various methods to not only build up their image, but to promote the power of the monarch. Each of these individuals had different views on by what means the prince got his power and how the prince should rule. The first viewRead MoreThe Natural State Of Man2222 Words   |  9 Pages Christine de Pizan, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes all formulated their foundation of understanding of human nature based on their personal experiences. Each applied their theories of human nature to political arrangements and how it ought to be reflected. Hobbes argues that it would be rational to contract with one another to create a government run by a sovereign holding absolute power, because only absolute power is sufficient to resolve disputes. Machiavelli argues that man has bothRead MoreAccountability Is The Responsibility Or Obligation Of Government Officials Act Of The Best Interests Of Society1587 Words   |  7 Pagesof government officials to act in the best interests of society† . In the UK, the best example of this is an MP being accountable to its constituents to listen to what they want and need and taking that to parliament. Accountability is used in democracy to prevent leaders, such as the Prime Minister or even MPs, from becoming power thirsty and corrupt. Without accountability, basic human rights and freedom can be dismissed by leaders and the public citizens become extremely vulnerable. The British