King of Kings
For centuries philosophers have argued and stated their views of what is the best type of ruler, and as seen through the works of Niccolo Machiavelli and Plato, there is a vast difference in the description of regimes seen through their views on justice, virtue, and human nature. Though both make a good argument for either side Machiavelli's views on ruling have the best view on which ruler is the best to rule.
Though Plato was a big influence on Machiavelli, it still seems as though in such works as Machiavelli's The Prince, Machiavelli seems to be arguing against Plato's views on philosophy. To Machiavelli, there are three things that a ruler focuses on in order to be a good ruler. Those are to gain power, retain power, and extend power. To achieve this Machiavelli believes that a ruler can do anything and everything to complete this goal. Plato believes in moral virtue and on the other hand, Machiavelli believes that a ruler should not be virtuous, but it is necessary that he should seem to be virtuous in what is best for the state.
A ruler, in Machiavelli's eyes, the only purpose is to do whatever is necessary in order to protect their people. In order to do this, a ruler must engage in war in order to protect their citizens. Even if the act can be considered unjust, it is a justifiable act if it is to protect and maintain the state. "A Prince, therefore should have no care or thought but for war, and the regulations and training it requires, and should apply himself exclusively to this as his peculiar province; for war is the sole art looked for in one who rules." (The Prince, P. 70) Machiavelli believes that in order to preserve one's country the ruler must be truthful, and do what they say they are going to do, by doing so this will not damage the preservation of the country and its people. In the end, what Machiavelli believes takes for a good ruler consists of having a strong military, being deceitful, and having the will to do what it takes in order to stay in power.
Plato's ideal set suggests that the best ruler must behave in the same manner at all times. The ones that are best fit to rule, according to Plato, are the philosophers. (Republic 473d) Plato also believes a state should be ruled by knowledge, not by brute force. Essentially Plato wants the ruler to have a specialization. He believes that this specialization connects with justice, and as seen in Divergent, the 5 factions being the specializations, this goes good and bad for certain factions trying to be justifiable. For Plato, in order to be just, there are no discrepancies in how one acts no matter what. Plato in essence believes in modern democracy. Plato's belief that the people of the state should have a say in politics was way ahead of Plato's time, and though that is the current popular regime does not mean that it is the best type of rule.
Plato has three basic principles when it comes to justice. His first principle is that justice...
