Machiavelli and Confucius

Machiavelli background

1. diplomat in Florentine Republic

2. political collapse and imprisonment

Confucius background

1. philosopher and spiritual leader in China

2. weakened central authority and competition of regional rulers for power

Machiavelli vs Confucius worldview

1. humans are greedy, ungrateful, and disloyal

2. to be human is to be good

Machiavelli central questions

1. how is power acquired and maintained

2. how is order secured

Confucius central questions

1. how can we restore harmony in society

2. how should rulers govern and individuals cultivate themselves

Machiavellian view on politics

1. governed by necessity, survival, and power relations

2. not subordinate to theology or moral philosophy

Confucianist view on politics

1. governed by virtue, education, and relational stability

2. subordinate to moral philosophy

Machiavelli ideal ruler

1. fear > love

2. utilizes fear

3. uses cruelty well

4. displays moral excellence

5. virtu and fortuna

Confucius ideal ruler

1. leads by example

2. utilizes shame

3. avoids excess punishment

4. embodies moral excellence

5. junzi, li, ren, filial piety

Machiavelli vs Confucius: Decay of power and structure

1. decay is natural and renewal requires leadership, military preparedness, and productive conflict

2. decay comes from disrupted moral order, failure of rulers to set moral examples, and poor governance

Machiavelli vs Confucius: coercion vs modelling

1. ruling through coercion leads to structure and obedience

2. ruling through coercion leads to a society with weak and breakable morals

Machiavelli vs Confucius: human nature and conflict

1. constant and cyclical, unlimited desires and limited resources

2. caused by poor governance

Machiavelli break with classical/christian tradition

1. politics is autonomous

2. state survival comes first

3. moral goodness ≠ political success

Machiavelli – well used cruelty

1. decisive, limited, leading to long term order

2. non strategic violence prolongs instability

Machiavelli – Virtu

1. mastery of circumstance

2. active ability to impose form on chaos

3. requires initiative, courage, and creativity

Machiavelli – Fortuna

1. role of chance

2. unpredictable and dangerous

3. ruler must anticipate crisis and have structures to contain disaster

Machiavelli – founding vs establishing

1. founders must use bold force and eliminate threats

2. established rulers must preserve support and prevent decay by maintaining legitimacy

Confucius – Ren

humaneness, benevolence

Confucius – Li

ritual and proper conduct maintains harmony

Confucius – Junzi

self cultivation is needed to be a noble person

Confucius – FIlial Piety (Xiao)

care for elders is the foundation for a moral society

Confucius – Learning

1. political reform begins with education

2. learning is an ethical formation