Tuesday, August 20, 2019
How to Avoid Hatred While Being Feared
During class today, we discussed Machiavelli's The Prince, which is where Machiavelli presents his argument that it is better to be feared than to be loved if a choice between one had to be made with the caveat that being hated should be avoided. This brings up the question of where the line should be drawn in one's cruelty while ruling to avoid being hated while still being feared. In my opinion, people begin to hate a ruler when they feel a sense of unfairness and irrationality from the ruler. For example, there are children who begin to hate their parents when their parents impose rules and restrictions that make no sense to the children and have no logic to them. This does not mean that being cruel will cause someone to be hated because cruelty can still be based on fairness and rationality. Machiavelli brings up the point that rulers could do fairly violent and cruel acts like killing people as long as there is a reason or justification for it because the general people would be able to understand why a certain punishment occurs, no matter how cruel it is. Therefore, no punishment that is made for an understandable reason can lead to hate. However, if cruel actions or punishments are done for no rational reason, this would soon lead to hate due to people not feeling like they are being treated fairly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It's interesting that you say that because rulers that are loved can also have the same effect on their subjects. Because everyone that likes the ruler might end up listening because everything that the ruler is doing, is benefiting them. I also agree that there is a fine line between being feared and being hated. Being hated would ultimately hurt an authority's rule whereas being feared will keep people in line, but being loved can mean that people are supportive of their leader's opinions and align with the authority as well. However, does being loved mean that the ruler could be a push over and taken advantage of easily?
ReplyDeleteYour opinion makes sense because I can think of times where I hate the people who impose rules that I felt were unnecessary. But if one is imposed rules by someone they love they can easily take two routes to the situation, most would listen because of how much they admire the person. And one can also go the route in which you explained and start to hate the person. But then I wonder this, if you're a loved leader by your people, how can you impose a necessary rule that goes against your people without being hated? Is it possible to be feared by the people that once loved you, or will they just hate you? How can this hate be avoided?
ReplyDelete