A Perfect Society
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A Perfect Society
Through his profound scrutiny about human nature, Machiavelli shows us some essential
qualities that a prince or ruler must have in order to maintain his state. On the other hand,
Thomas More’s Utopia clearly illustrate how to maintain a “perfect” society by abandoning
private property and money. Although both Thomas More and Machiavelli write about the basic
issues about how society work and what should be our position in the society, they have quite
different view about power management, governmental system and overall human nature.
Machiavelli represents power is one of the most important things that a prince should
possess in order to run his kingdom. His success also hugely depends on how he can use his
power properly. As he says, “ In addition, anyone in a country which differs from his own in the
way I described should make himself the leader and protector of the small neighbouring powers,
and he should endeavour to weaken those which are strong” (The Prince, 11). Therefore,
Machiavelli reveals that, a prince can only become powerful by destroying stronger ones so that
no one can easily revolt against him. Weaker power generally supports the strongest power as
long as they cannot increase their power. Therefore, a ruler must possess the ultimate power in
order to retain and maintain his kingdom well.
On the other hand, in Thomas More’s Utopian society, power is something that
individual should possess rather than the ruler. Thomas More does not say anything clearly about
the power of the ruler and everything is revolved around people, not around ruler. Every
individual have same power, same opportunities and same way of life. He strongly criticizes
Machiavelli’s notion about power. As he says, “Certainly a man who enjoys a life of luxury
while everyone else is moaning and groaning round him can hardly be called a king – he’s more
like a gaoler” (Utopia, 40)....
Through his profound scrutiny about human nature, Machiavelli shows us some essential
qualities that a prince or ruler must have in order to maintain his state. On the other hand,
Thomas More’s Utopia clearly illustrate how to maintain a “perfect” society by abandoning
private property and money. Although both Thomas More and Machiavelli write about the basic
issues about how society work and what should be our position in the society, they have quite
different view about power management, governmental system and overall human nature.
Machiavelli represents power is one of the most important things that a prince should
possess in order to run his kingdom. His success also hugely depends on how he can use his
power properly. As he says, “ In addition, anyone in a country which differs from his own in the
way I described should make himself the leader and protector of the small neighbouring powers,
and he should endeavour to weaken those which are strong” (The Prince, 11). Therefore,
Machiavelli reveals that, a prince can only become powerful by destroying stronger ones so that
no one can easily revolt against him. Weaker power generally supports the strongest power as
long as they cannot increase their power. Therefore, a ruler must possess the ultimate power in
order to retain and maintain his kingdom well.
On the other hand, in Thomas More’s Utopian society, power is something that
individual should possess rather than the ruler. Thomas More does not say anything clearly about
the power of the ruler and everything is revolved around people, not around ruler. Every
individual have same power, same opportunities and same way of life. He strongly criticizes
Machiavelli’s notion about power. As he says, “Certainly a man who enjoys a life of luxury
while everyone else is moaning and groaning round him can hardly be called a king – he’s more
like a gaoler” (Utopia, 40)....