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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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.
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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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Core Argument of the Machiavelli Passage
Machiavelli’s argument is built on a stark separation between private morality and public necessity.
1. The Primacy of "Stato" (The State): The ultimate goal is to "maintain the state." All other considerations—fidelity, friendship, humanity, religion—are secondary to this primary political objective. The survival and strength of the principality are the supreme values.
2. The Justification of Immorality: A ruler, "especially a new one," is often forced to act contrary to conventional virtues. Machiavelli does not necessarily celebrate this; he presents it as a grim necessity of the political arena. For him, a leader who insists on being always good amidst so many who are not good will inevitably lose power.
3. Flexibility as the Key Virtue: The essential quality for a prince is a "mind ready to turn itself" with the "winds and variations of fortune." This is not mere opportunism but a calculated and necessary adaptability. The true skill lies in knowing when and how to employ both good and evil actions effectively.
4. A Conditional Preference for Goodness: The famous Machiavellian caveat: "not to diverge from the good if he can avoid doing so, but, if compelled, then to know how to set about it." Goodness is a preferable option, but it is a luxury that must be abandoned without hesitation when necessity demands. The emphasis is always on the effective result, not the moral quality of the action itself.
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To complete the comparative analysis:
1. Core value
Mencius centers on benevolence (ren) as the non-negotiable core for rulers to act morally, while Machiavelli prioritizes state survival as the ruler’s primary guide for action.
2. Means & Ends
Mencius holds that moral means (virtuous conduct) must align with moral ends (governing for the people’s good), whereas Machiavelli argues that state survival (the end) justifies abandoning moral means (e.g., fidelity, humanity) when necessary.
3. Moral Hierarchy
Mencius ranks virtue and the “Way” (moral principles) above pragmatism, but Machiavelli places state survival (pragmatism) above traditional virtues (like benevolence) or ethical principles.
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1. Core value: Mencius centers on "benevolence (ren)" as the ruler’s inherent moral duty, while Machiavelli prioritizes state survival over virtuous conduct.
2. Means & Ends: Mencius insists virtuous means must align with moral ends, but Machiavelli allows unvirtuous means if forced to secure the state.
3. Moral Hierarchy: Mencius ranks the "Way" (moral virtue) above all, whereas Machiavelli elevates state survival (pragmatism) over traditional virtue.
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1. Core value：Mencius prioritizes rulers’ adherence to ren (benevolence) and alignment with the Dao to secure people’s welfare; Machiavelli centers on a prince’s unwavering preservation of the state.2. Means & Ends：Mencius insists means must embody virtue to achieve just ends; Machiavelli holds that any means are permissible if they serve the end of state survival.3. Moral Hierarchy：Mencius ranks virtue and the Dao above all else; Machiavelli places state survival as the supreme principle, subordinating virtue and propriety to pragmatism.
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1. Core value
Machiavelli centers on a ruler’s state survival as the core value, while Mencius prioritizes a ruler’s benevolent virtue (ren) to uphold the Dao and secure people’s welfare.2. Means & Ends
Machiavelli argues that any means are justified if they preserve the state, whereas Mencius insists that virtuous means are inseparable from righteous ends, forbidding moral compromise.3. Moral Hierarchy
Machiavelli ranks pragmatism above virtue/religion for rulers, but Mencius places the Dao and moral propriety (li) at the top, with pragmatism subordinate to virtuous governance.需要我帮你把这些句子调整成学术论文注释式的精简表达吗？
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Core value: Mencius posits that a ruler's primary value is benevolence (ren) and righteousness (yi) as the very foundation of legitimacy and order, whereas Machiavelli argues a prince's core value must be pragmatic statecraft and the effective maintenance of power, even at the expense of conventional virtues.
Means & Ends: For Mencius, moral means are inseparable from righteous ends, as ethical conduct itself produces stability and authority, while for Machiavelli, necessary ends (securing the state) justify otherwise reprehensible means when circumstances demand.
Moral Hierarchy: Mencius establishes a fixed hierarchy where virtue and propriety are supreme, being expressions of a universal moral "Way" (Dao), whereas Machiavelli creates a contingent hierarchy where pragmatism and state survival temporarily override fidelity, humanity, and religion.
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Core value– While Machiavelli’s central value is the security and stability of the state(even at the cost of personal scruples), Mencius’s central value is the cultivation of benevolence (Ren) and righteousness (Yi)as the very foundation of a ruler’s legitimacy.
Means & Ends – Machiavelli argues that the end (state survival) justifies the means (even acting against faith or mercy), whereas Mencius argues that the means (moral action) must align with the ends, as a ruler cannot achieve true success through unrighteous methods.
Moral Hierarchy– Machiavelli subordinates virtue and religion to pragmatism and fortune. whereas Mencius subordinates pragmatic political gain to higher principles(the Way) and virtuous conduct.
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Core value – Machiavelli posits that a ruler's core value is the pragmatic preservation of the state, while Mencius argues it is benevolent virtue that constitutes a ruler's true foundation and legitimacy.
Means & Ends – For Machiavelli, the imperative end of state survival justifies morally flexible means, whereas for Mencius, moral means (ren, yi) are inherently inseparable from and necessary for achieving the proper ends of governance.
Moral Hierarchy – Machiavelli subordinates traditional virtue and propriety to the supreme principle of political necessity and pragmatic statecraft, while Mencius places innate human virtue and conformity with the benevolent "Way" (Dao) as absolute, higher principles that pragmatism must ultimately serve.
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