Essay Chicago Literature and Language

Thomas Hobbes and Nicollo Machiavelli had different views on the role of politic in the
society, but their thoughts and theoretical approaches are still relevant in the contemporary
political scene. Hobbes mostly focused on the concept of power and the role of consent in
legitimizing power. On the other hand, Machiavelli simply assumed that power exists, and
Machiavelli’s’ concern is on how power politics comes into play. In The Prince, Machiavelli
sought to expound on his political philosophy through seeking what he termed as the truth.
Hobbes concept on the state of nature appears imaginary in comparison to Machiavelli’s
thoughts and wittings. This paper delves into how Thomas Hobbes Leviathan state is similar and
different from Machiavelli’s principalities and republics.
Machiavelli
In The Prince, Machiavelli stated that principalities could come about either as new
entities or through heredity. However, Machiavelli went to state that principalities brought about
by hereditary were easier to hold on to; as such, a principality would already be accustomed to
being ruled by the same family1
. In other words, an heir to the thrown is more likely to hold onto
power for long unless an extraordinary event results to power shift. Machiavelli further supposes
that in the event that the rightful heir is relieved of power, then this would simply be temporary,
as power would revert to the rightful person. Thus, the heir to power needs not offend people to
be powerful, and not unless he provokes the people through carelessness then there is likelihood
that he would be a popular power broker.
Leviathan state and principality

1 Machiavelli, N. The Prince. Trans. by Jonathan Bennett, (2010), 2

Machiavelli divided states into either a republic or a principality, but Hobbes viewed
states as either being formed through agreement or force. Both a principality and state has
sovereignty over the people being governed, but the differences emerge on how the two view the
issue of power2
. To Machiavelli ruling through hereditary power, best serves the interests of the
people, and Hobbes prefers monarchy to a republic because of the view that sovereignty should
not be divided3
. Thus, a strong state is either ruled when the ruling authorities have undivided
sovereignty in governing over states and principalities. Consequently, Hobbes focus on
sovereignty has similarities to Machiavelli’s views on power.
The similarity between Leviathan state and Machiavelli principality is on the manner of
power acquisition. Both entities arise out of the need to govern, while also having some form of
control within a specific geographical boundary. The most apparent similarity is that both viewed
acquisition by a force as an alternative. However, Hobbes has a more positive view on forceful
acquisition even when people may initially oppose this kind of acquisition. In case that people do
not resist then the sovereign holds control over the subjects. Equally, peace would only prevail if
the sovereign becomes the source of power and knowledge. Machiavelli viewed forceful
acquisition of power as being dangerous for the rulers, as those helping him typically have their
own agenda.4
According to Machiavelli, power acquisition in a foreign land should be seen to
empower the weak, and should weaken the powerful for the ruler to remain powerful.
Hobbes focused on monarchy systems more than democratic systems of ideal state based
on his views about sovereignty and state of nature. The monarchy system is in fact a principality,

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2 Hobbes, T. Leviathan, Renascence edition.USA: University of Oregon,(1999), 78
3
Ibid 2
4 Machiavelli, N. The Prince. Trans. by Jonathan Bennett, (2010),5

whereby the monarchy is the source of authority5
. Hobbes lays emphasis on the monarchy
because it seems as the natural form of authority unlike democracy or aristocracy, which were
artificial systems of authority. Thus, Hobbes view in the Leviathan show that he also favored
principalities as the natural order of things. However, the origin of monarchies may have been
preceded by democracy, but his emphasis on sovereignty is an extension of the notion of power
as absolute. To Hobbes power needed to be undivided for states to enjoy more sovereignty.
Leviathan state and republic
During Machiavelli’s time, the republic represented a government system in a state where
people had the right to nominate elected officials. To Hobbes, people were inherently selfish and
greedy to the extent that they cannot be expected to legitimately form governments. Thus, to
avoid this problem, it is essential to have to limit the free state of nature before creating
communities. In essence, Hobbes supposed that freedom would result to infighting through
struggle for power and wealth. Hobbes view on a social contract in a state of nature requires
submission to a higher authority, but Machiavelli did not expound on republics in The Prince.
Machiavelli viewed republics as being ineffective in public administration in contrast to princely
rule, but like Hobbes he saw republics as alternative forms of administration.
A government by state of nature is in fact ruling through force, and Hobbes had a
negative view on rights accorded to individuals in a state. In essence, it is difficult for people to
give up their rights, and sovereignty would only arise when people gave up their rights to an
authority. Similarly, people would have to give up their rights in cases of princely rule, as
princely rule would emerge dominant over republics. Machiavelli thoughts on republics were

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5 Hobbes, T. Leviathan, Renascence edition.USA: University of Oregon,(1999), 8

negative, because he stated that any strong former republic would have to be eliminated to give
chance for princely rule. Thus, both Hobbes and Machiavelli sought to downplay the relevance
of republics in the political sphere, but their reasons for this view were divergent.
Even though, Hobbes stated that the ruled gave up some of their rights for the betterment
of the society, this would not entirely result to autocracy. In essence, after some time they would
be stability, safety and people would gain wealth. Thus, people would then regain freedom and
rights over time, after initially ceding them to a legitimate authority. Hobbes thoughts also
capture the notion that individual rights and equality are essential in the long run. Hobbes
thoughts on individual rights indicate that a republic was an ideal state so long as there was
prolonged security. However, this view contrasted with that of Machiavelli who preferred the
return of principalities in place of republics6
.
Differences between the Prince and Leviathan
Hobbes viewed human beings as being irrational because they can act on impulse, and in
the state of nature there is little authority as people can do anything they want because they are
no defined rights. Nonetheless, through a social contract all people must surrender sovereignty to
a person or group of person through a democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy. However,
Machiavelli, holds a differ opinion on governance, as shown by his preoccupation with princely
rule. In other words, Hobbes is willing to consider both principalities and republics as having
sovereign power over the ruled. On the other hand, Hobbes, does not take into account the issue
of sovereignty, but assumes that principalities would automatically transfer authority to the ruler/
prince.

Essay Chicago Literature and Language

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