Mencius A417 emphasizes rulers should govern with benevolence (ren), upholding moral virtues. Machiavelli, however, claims a prince may set aside fidelity/morality to maintain the state, prioritizing statecraft over ethics
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Comparative Analysis (Mencius A417 vs Machiavelli “The Prince”)
You have just read the following English passage from The Prince (Machiavelli) and Mencius A417：
“And you have to understand this, that a prince, especially a new one, cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed, being often forced, in order to maintain the state, to act contrary to fidelity, friendship, humanity, and religion. Therefore it is necessary for him to have a mind ready to turn itself accordingly as the winds and variations of fortune force it, yet, as I have said above, not to diverge from the good if he can avoid doing so, but, if compelled, then to know how to set about it.”
Task
Use only the three comparison headings below, write a brief analysis (1 sentence per heading) that explains how the two thinkers differ on each point.
- Core value – What is the central value each author makes about how a ruler (or moral agent) should act?
- Means & Ends – What is the relationship between means and ends in each case?
- Moral Hierarchy – How does each author rank the relationship between virtue, propriety, pragmatism, and higher principles (e.g., the “Way,” the state’s survival)?
Write your analysis in clear, concise English.
143 回复
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Core value
Machiavelli's ruler should prioritize the acquisition and maintenance of political power,while Erasmus's ruler should prioritize the Christian virtues of peace, justice, and wisdom.
Role of fear and love
Machiavelli argues it is safer for a prince to be feared than loved if he cannot be both,whereas Erasmus contends that a ruler who is loved, not feared, builds a truly stable and prosperous realm.
View of traditional Christian morals
Machiavelli treats Christian morals as often impractical and subordinate to the demands of effective governance,while Erasmus insists they are the essential and non-negotiable foundation for all princely conduct.
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1. Core value – Machiavelli emphasizes that a prince should prioritize the maintenance of the state, even acting contrary to traditional virtues when necessary, while Mencius centers on the ruler’s cultivation of benevolence (ren) and adherence to moral principles to govern virtuously.
2. Means & Ends – For Machiavelli, the end of state survival justifies employing morally questionable means if needed, whereas Mencius holds that moral means (upholding righteousness and benevolence) are integral to achieving the end of a harmonious and just society.
3. Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and the state’s survival above traditional virtues like fidelity and humanity, while Mencius places virtue (especially benevolence) and adherence to the “Way” (Dao) at the top, viewing propriety and moral principles as foundational to good governance.
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Mencius’s view in A417 and Machiavelli’s in The Prince present contrasting theories of governance. Mencius, extending Confucian ideals, asserts that human nature is inherently good and that a ruler’s legitimacy stems from benevolent governance (ren zheng) and the people’s welfare. He argues that a leader who cultivates virtue will naturally command allegiance, framing morality as the foundation of power.In stark contrast, Machiavelli, writing during Renaissance political turmoil, separates ethics from statecraft. He advises the Prince that it is safer to be feared than loved if one cannot be both, and that the appearance of virtue often matters more than its reality. For him, effective rule depends on pragmatic strength and the shrewd management of power.Ultimately, Mencius grounds authority in moral cultivation, while Machiavelli bases it on pragmatic control, highlighting a fundamental divergence between Eastern virtuous leadership and Western realpolitik.
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Core value – Machiavelli values the state's survival above all, while Mencius values inherent moral virtue as the foundation of rule.
Means & Ends – For Machiavelli, the end justifies the means; for Mencius, moral means are essential to achieving a proper end.
Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and state survival above virtue, whereas Mencius makes virtue the supreme principle. -
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1. Core value – Mencius asserts that a ruler must adhere to innate moral virtues like benevolence and righteousness, while Machiavelli argues that a prince must prioritize state stability, even if it requires actions contrary to conventional morality.
2. Means & Ends – For Mencius, virtuous means are inseparable from righteous ends, whereas Machiavelli justifies morally flexible means if they secure the political end of maintaining power.
3. Moral Hierarchy – Mencius places universal virtues like humanity and the "Way" above pragmatic concerns, while Machiavelli subordinates traditional morality to the higher principle of the state’s survival.
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Core value: Machiavelli's prince must centrally value the state's survival and stability, whereas Mencius's ruler must make benevolent governance (ren) his core, unshakeable value.
Means & Ends: For Machiavelli, pragmatic and even immoral means are justified by the end of preserving the state, while for Mencius, moral means are inseparable from and necessary for achieving the proper ends of rulership.
Moral Hierarchy: Mencius establishes a fixed hierarchy where virtue and the "Way" are supreme and must never be compromised for pragmatism, while Machiavelli inverts this, making the state's survival the highest principle to which virtue must often be subordinate.
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1. Core value
Machiavelli holds that a ruler’s core value lies in maintaining the state’s survival, while Mencius argues a moral agent (or ruler) should prioritize upholding benevolence (ren) as the inherent moral foundation.
2. Means & Ends
Machiavelli advocates that ends (state survival) justify morally questionable means, while Mencius insists that virtuous means are inseparable from moral ends—evil means can never align with the "Way."
3. Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and state survival above virtue/propriety, whereas Mencius places higher principles (the Way) and virtue at the top, with pragmatism subordinate to moral integrity.
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Mencius centers on moral integrity (benevolence, righteousness) as the ruler’s foundational guide, insisting ethical conduct is non-negotiable; Machiavelli, however, frames state survival as the core value, allowing a prince to set aside morality (fidelity, humanity) when forced by fortune.
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Core value
Mencius holds that a ruler’s conduct must be rooted in benevolence and righteousness, while Machiavelli argues that a prince should prioritize effective governance and the maintenance of power.Means & Ends
For Mencius, virtuous means are inseparable from righteous ends, whereas for Machiavelli, the end of securing and sustaining the state justifies the use of often ruthless and deceptive means.Moral Hierarchy
Mencius places inherent virtue and conformity to the “Way” above all else, but Machiavelli ranks the survival and strength of the state above traditional virtue or propriety when necessary. -
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Core value
Machiavelli centers on state survival as the ruler’s core value, while Mencius prioritizes benevolence (ren) as the moral agent’s foundational guide.
Means & Ends
Machiavelli argues ends (state preservation) justify morally questionable means, whereas Mencius insists virtuous means are inseparable from just ends (upholding the Way).
Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and state survival above virtue/fidelity, while Mencius places higher principles (the Way) and virtue above pragmatism or mere rule maintenance.
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Core value
Machiavelli's ruler should prioritize the state's security and power, while Confucius's moral agent should cultivate and demonstrate virtuous character.Means & Ends
For Machiavelli, effective ends justify any means, whereas for Confucius, moral means are inseparable from righteous ends.Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and state survival above traditional virtue, while Confucius places adherence to the Way and virtue above all else, with propriety as its essential expression. -
Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and the state’s survival above traditional virtues like fidelity and humanity, while Mencius places virtue (especially benevolence) and adherence to the “Way” (Dao) at the top, viewing propriety and moral principles as foundational to good governance.
Means & Ends – For Machiavelli, the end of state survival justifies employing morally questionable means if needed, whereas Mencius holds that moral means (upholding righteousness and benevolence) are integral to achieving the end of a harmonious and just society.
Machiavelli treats Christian morals as often impractical and subordinate to the demands of effective governance,while Erasmus insists they are the essential and non-negotiable foundation for all princely conduct.
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Core value – Mencius holds that a ruler's core value is benevolence and righteous conduct, while Machiavelli's prince must centrally value the pragmatic survival of the state.
Means & Ends – For Mencius, moral means are inseparable from and necessary for achieving good ends, whereas for Machiavelli, the end of state security justifies the use of immoral means when necessary.
Moral Hierarchy – Mencius subordinates pragmatism to a higher moral principle (the Way), but Machiavelli explicitly prioritizes the state’s pragmatic survival over conventional virtues like fidelity and humanity.
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Core value
Machiavelli’s central value is that a ruler should prioritize state survival and power maintenance over moral goodness, while Mencius holds that a ruler must act on benevolence (ren) as the core to fulfill his moral duty to the people.
Means & Ends
For Machiavelli, morally questionable means are justified if they serve the end of preserving the state and ruler’s power; for Mencius, means must align with benevolent "Way (Dao)"—immoral means can never legitimize any end, as virtue itself is integral to the goal of good governance.
Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and state survival above virtue and propriety, with "higher principles" subordinated to practical power; Mencius places virtue (benevolence) and the "Way" at the top, followed by propriety, with pragmatism only valid when it upholds these moral foundations.
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1. Core value – Machiavelli prioritizes the prince’s ability to adapt and act for the state’s survival, while Mencius emphasizes moral cultivation and acting in accordance with benevolence and righteousness.
2. Means & Ends – Machiavelli allows the prince to use immoral means if necessary to achieve the end of state survival, whereas Mencius believes that the ends of governing must be achieved through moral means.
3. Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and the state’s survival above virtue and religion when compelled, while Mencius places virtue and the Way at the highest level, considering propriety and pragmatism as secondary to moral principles.
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Machiavelli's contingency is a political strategy of "outcome first", which can deviate from morality in order to achieve his ruling goals; Mencius' contingency is an ethical flexibility based on righteousness, and the moral bottom line cannot be broken through.
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Core value: Mencius prioritizes benevolent rule, while Machiavelli justifies pragmatic Realpolitik. Means & Ends: Mencius sees virtuous means as essential to righteous ends; Machiavelli allows immoral means for state stability. Moral Hierarchy: Mencius places humanity and righteousness above profit; Machiavelli subordinates virtue to political necessity.
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- Core value – Machiavelli emphasizes political pragmatism, arguing that rulers must sometimes abandon traditional virtues to preserve the state, while Mencius stresses the importance of moral integrity and virtue as the foundation of good governance.
- Means & Ends – For Machiavelli, the ends (state survival) justify the means, even if those means are immoral, while Mencius believes that ethical means must align with virtuous ends, emphasizing moral conduct in governance.
- Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli prioritizes the state’s survival above moral principles, endorsing pragmatism over virtue when necessary, whereas Mencius places virtue and propriety above pragmatic concerns, arguing that a ruler’s moral character is essential for just rule.
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Core value : Machiavelli believes a ruler should prioritize state security above all else, while Confucius insists a ruler must uphold moral virtue as the foundation of governance.
Means and Ends – :For Machiavelli, the end of maintaining power justifies any means, whereas Confucius argues that moral means are inseparable from righteous ends.
Moral Hierarchy : Machiavelli subordinates virtue to pragmatic statecraft, while Confucius places virtue and propriety above all, viewing them as essential to aligning with the "Way."
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Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and state survival above virtue/propriety. Machiavelli’s central value for rulers is state survival, justifying actions that contradict traditional virtues; Mencius centers on benevolence , holding that rulers must act morally to fulfill their ethical duty to the people.
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Mencius held "benevolent governance" as the core value, achieving kingly rule through moral education, while Machiavelli prioritized "state interests," endorsing any means to maintain power. On means and ends, Mencius insisted moral means were integral to righteous ends, whereas Machiavelli believed the end justifies the means, including force and deceit. Regarding moral hierarchy, Mencius placed virtue and the "Way" above politics, but Machiavelli ranked pragmatism and state survival over conventional morality.
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Core value
Machiavelli holds that a ruler’s core value lies in maintaining the state, even if it requires acting against traditional virtues, while Mencius centers on benevolence (ren) as the inviolable guide for a ruler’s conduct to secure the people’s well-being.
Means & Ends
For Machiavelli, ends (state survival) justify flexible, virtue-compromising means; for Mencius, moral means (upholding benevolence and righteousness) are inherent to legitimate ends (governing well and winning the people’s hearts).
Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli ranks pragmatism and state survival above virtue and propriety, while Mencius places higher principles (the Way, benevolence) and virtue at the top, with pragmatism and propriety subordinate to these moral ideals.
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Core value
Machiavelli centers on state survival as the ruler’s core value, while Mencius centers on benevolence (ren) as the moral agent’s core value.
Means & Ends
Machiavelli holds that ends (state survival) justify immoral means; Mencius argues that moral means (upholding virtue) are inseparable from just ends.
Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli ranks pragmatism/state survival above virtue/religion; Mencius ranks virtue/propriety above pragmatism, aligned with the "Way."
I can help you expand each sentence with a brief textual reference from either work if you need more depth.
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Core value ： Machiavelli's ruler should prioritize the state's survival and stability, whereas Mencius's ruler must act from inherent benevolence and righteousness to be truly legitimate.
Means and Ends：For Machiavelli, morally questionable means are justified by the end of preserving the state, while for Mencius, virtuous means are inseparable from and necessary for achieving righteous ends. Moral Hierarchy– Machiavelli subordinates traditional virtue and propriety to the higher principle of pragmatic state survival, whereas Mencius places conformity with the benevolent "Way" above any pragmatic concern for power or profit.
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Core value
Confucius centers on benevolence (ren) as the ruler’s guiding virtue, urging alignment with moral integrity, while Machiavelli prioritizes the state’s stability and survival over the ruler’s personal morality.
Means & Ends
Confucius insists means must embody virtue (ends cannot justify unethical means), whereas Machiavelli argues ends (state survival) may legitimize pragmatic, even morally questionable means.
Moral Hierarchy
Confucius ranks virtue and propriety above pragmatism, grounding all in the “Way,” while Machiavelli elevates pragmatism and state interest over virtue or propriety as the highest priority.
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