Choose two of Saint Augustine, Machiavelli, and Socrates, and compare and contrast their interpretation of human corruption. What kind of corruption do they think that people suffer form, how do they think that people are corrupted, and how do they suggest that people may be improved. Machiavelli and Socrates have widely different views concerning human nature. On one end, Socrates finds man to be ignorant by nature, one without absolute virtuosity and knowledge. Human corruption grows from mans own ignorance, or more specifically, a false belief that he is wise when he is not. Therefore, it is the goal of man in his lifetime to achieve absolute virtuosity and knowledge, or attempt to achieve for it is certainly an impossible task. Man is therefore generally good by nature. Machiavelli, on the other hand, views human nature to be corrupt and evil, with selfish goals. He does not trust mans intent and therefore goes to such lengths in his work, The Prince, to explore how a prince may remain in power in spite of mans nature. Socrates view of the nature of virtue and knowledge was that these required absolute definition, which was to be attained, if at all, only through exhaustive philosophical dialogue and debate things beyond the reach of the average Athenian. In Platos Apology, Plato gives an account of Socrates famed trial. The Athenians believed that Socrates was willingly corrupting the youth through his teachings. Believing this claim to be false, he points out that if he had intentionally been corrupting the youth, he would, as a result, be intentionally making them evil, as it was agreed at the trial, corruption makes people evil. No man would choose to live among evil people, because they in turn would do evil on others. Therefore, no man would purposely teach his fellow townsmen to be evil. Socrates would not intentionally teach the youth to be evil because he would then be placing himself in danger. It is apparent that no man would knowingly place himself in danger, therefore Socrates would not have intentionally corrupted the youth. It is clear that Socrates chooses a path much different than Machiavellis Socrates prefers a life of good, virtue, and truth. Socrates respects the state and its laws regardless of his views of them. When Crito attempts to persuade Socrates into escaping imprisonment and ultimately death, Socrates deduces, after some contemplation, that escaping from an imposed prison sentence would be wrong and would jeopardize the principles for which he has stood. He agrees with Crito in that the laws are unjust, however, he replies that You must either persuade it or obey its orders, and endure in silence whatever it instructs you to endure one must obey the commands of ones city and country Crito, 51b. In this sense, Socrates would be Machiavellis ideal subject. However, Machiavelli does not view man to be that way.In The Prince, Machiavelli believes that men respect power, but they will take advantage of kindness. He believes that when given the opportunity one must destroy completely, because if one does not he will certainly be destroyed. A prince cannot consider whether his acts are moral or immoral, and he instead must act in an unbiased manner for the state. Also, it does not matter how the state achieves its goals, as long as these goals are achieved. Corruption or immoral behavior, i.e the use of cruelty is a necessary evil in the many circumstances when governing a country. As long as it is used assiduously and for the betterment of the state, it is certainly allowable. I believe that here it is a question of cruelty used well or badly. We can say that cruelty is used well if it is permissible to talk in this way of what is evil when it is employed once for all, and ones safety depends on it, and then it is not persisted in but as far as possible turned to the good of ones subjects. The Prince, Chapter Those who come to power by crime, Machiavelli has a very low opinion of the people throughout history. In general, he feels that men are ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers. They shun danger and are greedy for profit while you treat them well, they are yours. They would shed their blood for you but when you are in danger they turn against you. Machiavelli basically has little respect for the people, and he feels as though they have deceived him very deeply
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