Comparison between Machiavelli's View of Imaginary Republics and Socrates View of Governments and Justice

Comparison between Machiavelli's View of Imaginary Republics and Socrates View of Governments and Justice

Introduction

The world reveres “The Prince”, as the master piece of the master himself, Niccolò Machiavelli. The context, which The Prince holds in quite interesting and yet a little perplexing. The context of “The prince” primarily revolves around the political conflict Italy had indulged into after the fall of the Medici Family, which had ruled the region for decades, and then raised a series of conflict, which indulged not only the Italian states but also numerous foreign powers for the acquisition of the control of Italy.

Rationale behind Machiavelli's View of Imaginary Republics

Machiavelli's view of imaginary republics is derived from the political context and nature of his time. He eloquently articulates that the citizens and other respective individuals have imagined and supposed certain republics and principalities; where as they them have never seen or witnessed themselves, nor does there exist any manifestation of such republics of being existent in reality. Mainly because, the whole concept differs so much from the reality, it propagates that how it possible is for a person to leads one's life, but how he actually does, being bounded by numerous state articulated norms and circumstances.

Machiavelli clearly detests the Plato's imaginary republic as he believes it to be absurd to the main theme of politics. Machiavelli does not hesitate from further stating that proponents of such concept or respective state may endeavour to inculcate goodness in their followers; however, their structure only results in weakening their political establishment.

He immensely believe that devoting energies and dedication to the political structures, such as imaginary republics is nothing less than a sheer waste of time, as these systems have never existed in reality, let it be the past, present or even in the future; nor does their exist any strong sound basis for their existence and astute working. He further states that all the proponents of the imaginary republic are doing is presenting their believers with nothing less than a hoax, because no matter how authentic their arguments may sound on the paper, even they themselves have never been successful in providing a practical and effective picture of what they believe can be the righteous manner of rule, which is the imaginary republic (Kapust, 2010).

He believes that the current circumstances do not pave way for the actual implementation and organization of such political rule or system. The society is too consumed in debating over the submission of powers, authorities and rules, that there exists any room and provision for the proposed imaginary republic. Therefore, instead of providing the inhabitants with a wrong and impractical picture (of imaginary republic), it is highly imperative that the attention is diverted towards more dire, perplexing and authentic issues.

Rationale behind Socrates View of Governments and Justice

Socrates in his time had openly subjected not only the rule, but also the system of justice to ...