What would history’s great philosophers think of our modern culture?
For instance, how would Plato view our highly mobile society? How would Thomas Hobbes assess the impact of the Internet?
And — for the purpose of today’s column — how would Machiavelli dissect American government in the early 21st century, and the ideological debates surrounding it?
Niccolo Machiavelli’s most famous political essay is, of course, “The Prince.” It’s a remarkably amoral piece of writing that has earned Machiavelli a reputation for embracing a cynical and diabolical view of human nature. This reputation is not quite accurate.
It’s true “The Prince” deviated from earlier political thoughts that tended to explore the Platonic notion of the good. Instead, Machiavelli was mainly interested in what worked. That’s especially so in “The Prince,” which was basically a how-to manual for an autocrat seeking to retain power.
But a more insightful view to Machiavelli’s thought process can be found in his other major political tract, known as “The Discourses.” Here, he examines representative government in its assorted forms, analyzing how they succeed and how they fail.
In Machiavelli’s view, a key component in the political process is corruption and its harmful consequences. For Machiavelli, corruption doesn’t exist merely within government; it also can be found in the people.
More than just a willingness to accept money inappropriately, Machiavelli’s view of corruption includes weakness and cowardice — a willingness to look the other way when bad things happen. This can be attributed to greed, fear and similar shortsighted characteristics.
Such corruption allows problems to fester. A simple example might be a growing reliance on borrowed money. Governments, businesses and households that increasingly build up debt are asking for trouble. Refusing to acknowledge this is a form of corruption that will eventually take a toll.
Machiavelli well knew that corruption is inevitable among human beings. But there are ways to keep it in check. Real problems arise when this corruption becomes so bad and so pervasive that it cannot be controlled.
In these circumstances, the “matter” — or essence — of a society becomes corrupt. The end result is social collapse, defeat from a foreign invader or government overthrow.
Here is where it’s appropriate to ask how the dispassionate Machiavelli would rate America’s chances. We, as a nation and as individuals, frequently find ourselves up to our ears in debt. Do we have the courage to make the hard decisions necessary to reverse this growing trend? Or are we destined to suffer the consequences of corruption?
Most people are inclined to avoid unpleasantness of any sort. They will pretend that debt is relatively painless and temporary, a process they can reverse readily. The truth is far more harsh.
Societies and individuals tend to find comfort in stability. They don’t like to be challenged. They don’t like events or ideas that create uncertainty.
Machiavelli, however, saw a stable society as a stagnant one, destined to become corrupt and decline. In short, without new ideas, without voices of dissent, without honorable and ethical forces for change, a society — or any other entity — is doomed.
I think Machiavelli would conclude that America is in trouble. But he would also see there are critics with widely differing views, determined to fight for the future.
Can they succeed? Will their voices be heard above the din of idiocy that drives much of popular culture? I’m not sure even Machiavelli could provide an answer.
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DEAR READER: Do we have the courage to halt corruption?
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