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)?
1. Machiavelli prioritizes the state's survival as the ultimate value, whereas Mencius holds that an unwavering benevolence is the foundation for a ruler.
2.For Machiavelli, the end of maintaining the state can justify immoral means, while for Mencius, virtuous means are inseparable from a good end.
3.Machiavelli places pragmatism and the state's survival above traditional virtue, while Mencius ranks the Way and benevolence as higher principles that override all other concerns, including state interests.
Core value
Machiavelli’s prince is valued above all for flexible self-preservation of the state, whereas Mencius insists the ruler’s central task is to cultivate benevolent righteousness (ren-yi) for the people.
Means & Ends
For Machiavelli, fidelity and humanity may be sacrificed whenever the security of the principality requires it; for Mencius, immoral means automatically corrupt the end, so only virtuous conduct can secure true kingship.
Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli subordinates virtue, religion and good faith to pragmatic state necessity, while Mencius ranks the moral Way and benevolent virtue above both pragmatic advantage and ritual propriety, condemning any sacrifice of humaneness for political survival.
The Prince (Machiavelli) and mensusMachiavelli’s prince prioritizes state survival/stability, justifying pragmatic/immoral means with it as the supreme principle; Mencius’s ruler centers on benevolent governance
For core value, Machiavelli argues a prince must prioritize state survival, even acting immorally; Mencius centers on benevolence (ren), seeing it as key to good rule.
Core value
Machiavelli's central value is a ruler's effective acquisition and maintenance of state power, while Confucius's is the moral ruler's cultivation of virtue (de) to create a harmonious, ethical society.
Means & Ends
For Machiavelli, morally questionable means are fully justified if they secure the desired political ends, whereas for Confucius, moral means (ritual, righteousness) are inseparable from and necessary for achieving good ends.
Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli subordinates traditional virtue and propriety to the pragmatic necessity of state survival, while Confucius establishes a hierarchy where higher moral principles (the Way) govern virtue, which in turn guides propriety and pragmatic action.
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.
Core value – Machiavelli centers on the ruler's pragmatic maintenance of power and state stability, whereas Confucius emphasizes the cultivation of personal virtue and moral example as the foundation of governance.
Means & Ends – Machiavelli argues that ends justify means, permitting immoral actions for state survival, while Confucius insists that means must align with moral principles, regardless of the ends.
Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli prioritizes state survival and pragmatism over traditional virtue, whereas Confucius places virtue and propriety, guided by the Way, above practical concerns.
Core value
For Machiavelli, the central value for a ruler is the survival and stability of the state, which can necessitate actions contrary to conventional morality, whereas for Mencius, the core value is innate human goodness (ren), which a ruler must cultivate and express through benevolent governance.
Means & Ends
Machiavelli argues that pragmatic, even morally questionable, means are justified by the end of preserving the state, while Mencius insists that benevolent means (ren) and righteous methods (yi) are inseparable from and essential for achieving the proper end of a harmonious and stable kingdom.
Moral Hierarchy
In Machiavelli's view, the state's survival is the supreme principle that can override virtue, propriety, and religion when necessary, but for Mencius, universal moral virtues like ren and yi are the highest principles, and pragmatic statecraft must always be subordinate to and guided by them.
Machiavelli argues a prince—especially a new one—can’t always uphold virtues (fidelity, friendship, humanity, religion) esteemed by men. To maintain the state, he may need to act against them, but should stay flexible: cling to good if possible, yet know how to deviate when compelled.
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.
1. Core value
Machiavelli says a new prince’s main job is hanging onto power—even if that means ditching stuff like loyalty or kindness; Mencius thinks a ruler’s whole point is being good to the people (what he calls "benevolence")—that’s non-negotiable.
2. Means & Ends
For Machiavelli, keeping control justifies almost any move (sketchy or not); Mencius argues you can’t have a good end (a stable kingdom) without good means—you’ve gotta play by the rules of virtue, no shortcuts.
3. Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli puts staying in charge above virtues like honesty or decency; Mencius ranks virtue and proper conduct first—without those, a ruler’s just got empty power, and no one’s gonna respect ’em.
Mencius distinguishes between ritual propriety (li) and expediency, but both serve moral ends. Machiavelli: Ends justify means—pragmatic means take precedence over moral scruples to achieve the end of state survival.
Moral Hierarchy
Mencius: Hierarchy is rooted in “the Way (Dao)” as the highest principle
Machiavelli: Hierarchy is centered on state survival as the “higher principle
Core value – Machiavelli's central value is the pragmatic survival of the state, while Mencius's is the moral cultivation of humane governance (ren yi).
Means & Ends – For Machiavelli, morally questionable means are justified by the end of preserving power, whereas for Mencius, moral means are inseparable from and essential to achieving righteous ends.
Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli subordinates virtue to pragmatic statecraft when necessary, but Mencius places moral virtue as the supreme and inviolable principle that governs all action.
Core value – Machiavelli's prince must centrally value the state's survival and power, whereas Mencius's ruler must center his actions on innate human benevolence (ren).
Means & Ends– For Machiavelli, morally questionable means are justified by the end of maintaining the state, while for Mencius, moral means are inseparable from and essential for achieving morally ordered ends.
Moral Hierarchy– Machiavelli hierarchically subordinates virtue and higher principles to the pragmatic needs of the state, but Mencius makes pragmatic success dependent upon and subordinate to unwavering virtue and the higher "Way."
Mencius argues that a ruler’s core value lies in upholding benevolence and moral integrity, emphasizing virtue as the foundation of governance. He insists moral means must align with good ends, rejecting unethical methods to achieve so-called "good results." In his moral hierarchy, virtue and the Way are supreme, with pragmatism and propriety subordinate to ethical principles. Machiavelli, by contrast, holds that a prince’s central goal is maintaining state survival and stability, asserting that unethical means—such as betrayal or inhumanity—are justified when necessary, as state stability legitimizes such methods. His moral hierarchy prioritizes pragmatism and state survival above all, treating virtue, propriety, and religious ideals merely as tools rather than ultimate pursuits. The two thinkers stand in sharp opposition on rulers’ codes of conduct, the relationship between means and ends, and moral ranking.
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.
1. Core value – Mencius holds that a ruler’s central value should be benevolent governance (ren zheng), rooted in innate human goodness, while Machiavelli argues that a prince’s primary value is effective statecraft, even if it requires actions contrary to conventional morality.
2. Means & Ends – For Mencius, moral means are inseparable from righteous ends; immoral actions corrupt the goal. For Machiavelli, the end of maintaining the state can justify means that violate fidelity, humanity, or religion.
3. Moral Hierarchy – Mencius places virtue and the “Way” (Dao) above pragmatic state interests, whereas Machiavelli subordinates personal virtue to political necessity and the survival of the state.
Mencius establishes a strict hierarchy where higher moral principles like benevolence and the "Way" are supreme and non-negotiable, whereas Machiavelli subordinates individual virtue and religion to the overriding principle of the state's survival and pragmatic necessity.
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.
1. Core value: Mencius's core value is inherent human goodness and benevolent rule, while Machiavelli's is the pragmatic acquisition and maintenance of political power.
2. Means & Ends: For Mencius, moral means (benevolence, righteousness) are inseparable from the end of a stable kingdom; for Machiavelli, pragmatic or even immoral means are justified by the end of preserving the state.
3. Moral Hierarchy: Mencius places universal virtue and the "Way" above the ruler's interest and pragmatism, whereas Machiavelli prioritizes the state's survival above traditional virtue and propriety.
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.
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
Core value: Mencius asserts that a ruler's core value must be benevolence and righteousness, while Machiavelli argues that the central value is the pragmatic survival of the state.
Means & Ends: For Mencius, virtuous means are inseparable from and necessary for achieving righteous ends, whereas for Machiavelli, necessary but immoral means are justified by the end of preserving the state.
Moral Hierarchy: Mencius places conformity to the "Way" and inherent virtue as the supreme principle, above the ruler's power, while Machiavelli subordinates traditional virtue and religion to the higher principle of the state's survival and the ruler's pragmatic necessity.
The former is a pursuit based on belief, with the spiritual dimension at its core. It emphasizes the primacy of ideas, beliefs, or ideal goals, holding that reality should conform to ideals
The latter is concerned with reality and practicality, advocating for an accurate depiction of nature or contemporary life. It rejects idealized imagination and focuses on objective analysis and truthful reflection
1.Core value：Machiavelli prioritizes the ruler’s survival and maintenance of power as the supreme goal, even if it requires abandoning conventional morality; Mencius emphasizes that a ruler must act with innate benevolence (ren) and righteousness (yi) as non-negotiable foundations for good governance.
2.Means & Ends: For Machiavelli, ends (state stability/survival) justify virtually any means, including deceit or cruelty; Mencius insists that virtuous means are inseparable from just ends—using immoral tactics undermines the legitimacy of the outcome.
3.Moral Hierarchy：Machiavelli subordinates virtue, fidelity, and religion to the practical necessity of preserving the state, treating them as flexible rather than absolute; Mencius places virtue (especially benevolence) and propriety above mere political expediency, viewing adherence to these principles as essential to aligning with the cosmic “Way” (Dao) and securing true stability.
您确定给 “
