The book, The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, was written in 1513 and published in 1532. The book, Utopia, by Thomas More, was written in 1516. These two books both explain what a society and its ruler should be like, but their ideas on certain things are completely different. Their ideas on human nature and society, the organization and ruling of the state, the armies of war, and what its role should be differ.
Machiavelli’s view on human nature and society in The Prince is both good and bad. “…man has qualities that will bring him either praise or blame.” (Machiavelli 55) He believed in the exact opposite of a Humanist. While a Humanist concerns about human values and dignity, Machiavelli believes in power and ruthlessness. Machiavelli believes that the people are only interested in their own well-being, and that they will only support their prince if he supports their happiness and rules the state well.
Thomas More’s view on human nature and society in Utopia is the exact opposite of Machiavelli’s perspective. He believes human nature to be good. More understands human flaws, so in Utopia, he created a “perfect society” for imperfect people. These imperfect people could improve greatly by having social and economic ways being reformed to avoid misery. More believes that justice cannot exist when the “worst people” own the “best things,” or “where property is limited”. “Fearing they will have it taken, and those who have so little are utterly wretched” (II More 38). More believes in helping the people and supporting their imperfectness. He just tries to improve that imperfectness without acting ruthlessly.
Machiavelli’s view on the ruling of the state in The Prince is a style of leadership using any means necessary to preserve the state, using cruelty, deception and force if nothing else worked. “The first is to ruin them, the next is to reside there in person, the third is to permit them to live under their own laws…” (Machiavelli 20) Machiavelli was often strict, but in some cases, you had to act wisely in order not to lose the citizens trust and loyalty. This means he must be both “loved and feared”. Machiavelli understood this rule. Every Prince must have different approaches and techniques to different situations in order to keep his state intact.
Thomas More’s view on the ruling of a state in Utopia is a style of a well planned out creation of the city. More doesn’t use force or cruelty. He “curves” around that by shaping the citizens when they are at a young age, so there is no worry for fear in their future. “Since they content themselves with fewer things, it falls out that there is a great abundance of all things among them.” (More 37) More describes that everything is perfect. He keeps everything in line. There is rarely any crime and injustice due to their laws and how perfectly everything is run.
Machiavelli’s organization style of the state is based on his drive for gaining and maintaining power. He was aware of his risk in sudden change, but Machiavelli understood one of the basic concepts of critical thinking: Whenever you bring in change, however beneficial or positive the change might be, you create the opportunity for problems to arise. “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” (Machiavelli 24) His recognition of how much change affects performance is associable in any organization of a state.
Thomas More’s organization style is well thought out. This state has everything a society needs to survive in a perfect manner. Utopia focuses on political and social organization. “There is never any shortage of horrible creatures who prey on human beings, snatch away their food, or devour whole populations; but examples of wise social planning are not so easy to find.”
(II More 40) More has organized his city by eliminating private property, broad labor, decreased pleasure, and eliminated money. He did this by being able to give imperfect people a perfect place to be so they will accept it and follow the rules.
Machiavelli’s idea of a society has a portrayal of human nature and its emphasis on order and security. It is found that the people perform an important function and contribute significantly to the state, but Machiavelli believes in inhumane actions and does not have sympathy for the people. “People are by nature changeable. It is easy to persuade them about some particular matter, but it is hard to hold them to that persuasion. Hence it is necessary to provide that when they no longer believe, they can be forced to believe.” (Machiavelli 25) All Machiavelli wants to have is a successful state. He does not care how he gets there and what he does to get there. He just has very few concern for his society.
Thomas More’s idea of a society is to be politically and socially perfect. This society is a place where there is rarely crime and all the citizens hold their part of the city. “In all other places…while people talk of a commonwealth, every man only seeks his own wealth.”
(II More 81) Utopia is Thomas More’s idea of a perfect society while others ideas may differ. His society is his perfect dream of a city.
Machiavelli’s army and view of war is all tactics and trust. Most of The Prince is set to describe exactly what it means to create a good war: how to effectively fortify a city, how to treat citizens in new territories, and how to prevent domestic disorder that would distract from a winning war. “A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline…” (Machiavelli 67) Also, the Prince has to have an army. He has three types of armies: his own personal army, Mercenary, and Auxiliary. Mercenary and Auxiliary troops are unfaithful, disunited and have low morale. “…there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants.” (Machiavelli 67) Machiavelli uses force and has no remorse so he uses this army to take control while he studies more tactics.
Thomas More’s army and view of war is completely avoidant. They hate war and try not to get involved. They engage in war only to protect themselves. “nothing more inglorious than that glory that is gained by war.” (II More 64) Their army is small in amount of soldiers. ALthough their army is small, it is their policy, once entered in open battle, to send in specially trained troops to find and kill/capture the leader of the enemy’s forces. “A small number of men can hinder the descent of a great army.” (I More 28) Even though Utopia does not support war and killing, they are ready to attack when attacked.
These two books, written in the same era, have completely different ideas and opinions on human nature, society, organization, ruling a state, armies, and war. They complete certain actions differently. One uses force and the other works around the problems. Both Machiavelli and Thomas More have completely different ways to run a city and what the leader should be like.