-
Machiavellianism And Democracy
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
Page 2 of 5
-
-
-
1.3 Statement Of The Problem
Man in his nature is a political, social
and religious being. These three aspects of man plays a very important
function in making man what he ought to be. These aspects are
complementary in the sense that none supersedes the other in the various
endeavours of man. Religion acts as a shield to human conduct and as
such promotes morality. This morality is further expressed in the form
of virtues. Virtue guides our actions including our socio-political
life. Morality has been a thing of concern for many political thinkers
and philosophers. Some understand morality as a sine qua non for life.
Ekwutosi Cosmas, in his definition of morality states that it is “the
rightness and wrongness of the human actionâ€[2].
The problem of
morality constitutes a major part in Machiavelli’s political philosophy.
From the ancient times, philosophers had always associated politics
with morality. They identified politics in moral tenets. The case of
Machiavelli was that of a radical contrast. To this Joseph Omoregbe
states, “he writes to remove morality if they want to be successful
politicians or rulersâ€. There is no space and consideration for
morality. Machiavelli from the start disposed his readers that
“straightforward efforts to master and apply the tenets of traditional
rules will not produce an effective ruler. Politics must have its own
rulesâ€[3]. A look on the views of other philosophers will show the place
they assign to morality in political life. For Socrates human actions
are associated with morality. Thus, he opines, “to know the good is to
do the good. Knowledge is virtue[4]â€. He equated knowledge with virtue
and maintained that to have the knowledge of a virtue is to have virtue.
Plato in his moral philosophy states, “Virtue means knowledge, a true
knowledge of the true consequences of all actsâ€[5]. Plato follows
Socrates in maintaining that the goal of human life is happiness and
that the only road that leads to it is through a virtuous life.
In
addition, Aristotle’s theory of morality centers on his belief that
people, as everything else in nature has a distinctive ‘end’ to achieve.
He begins his Nicomachean Ethics by saying that “every art and every
inquiry and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at
some good. If this is so the question for ethics is, what is the good at
which human behaviour aims?â€[6] Happiness is the end that is sought for
its own sake. For St. Augustine once morality is taken away from
government it ceases to exist. Justice is essential to any government.
Hence he states, “Without concord there is no city; but without justice
there is no concord. Consequently justice is the first condition
required for the existence of the cityâ€[7]. The basic problem in
Machiavellian principle is the rejection of morality. There was no place
for justice, peace and fairness. Machiavelli’s popular maxim that ‘the
end justifies the means’ is an attack on ethical principles. Where will
morality be if we glory in the end that we make possible through fair
and foul means? If we accept this, then on which ground shall we stand
to condemn some immoral acts perpetrated by people? What shall we say
about leaders and politicians who ascend leadership positions through
questionable ways and yet succeed in improving the standard of living in
their countries? There are people who have followed this path, the
likes of Jerry Rawlings of Ghana who assassinated the past leaders in
order to bring sanity into the political arena of Ghana. What of Nigeria
whose present condition has been a deplorable one? It does seem that
there is little or no morally approved means of survival for the common
man.
1.4 Methodology
The method of my research will be highly
critical and expository which will aim at analyzing the principles of
Machiavelli and the principle of democracy. I will juxtapose
Machiavellian principles with the practice of democracy in Nigeria. I
will limit my research on democracy in Nigeria running through the three
republics it has witnessed. Also a cursory look at democracy and the
factors that hinder its workability in Nigeria will be taken.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
Page 2 of 5
-
