Criminal virtues Comparison of Machiavelli's and Ghazali's viewpoints regarding the morality of rulers' cruelty

In the history of Ethics, whenever the word virtue has been mentioned, it has brought admirable interpretations, but Machiavelli, perhaps for the first time, reveals virtues for rulers, which are not only not admirable, but will be repulsive to an outside audience. According to the famous interpretation, Machiavelli's duty of government is to maintain authority and provide security and welfare for the people, not to promote morality. So, if we are in a position of conflict between these two, Shahriar should sacrifice morality without any hesitation. This view of Machiavelli was not liked by thinkers and therefore Machiavellianism has always been a term with contempt for those who are willing to violate morality to maintain their power. But it should be noted that Machiavelli's orders are not necessarily nonmoral if we measure them in the utilitarian system. Among the Muslim philosophers, Ghazali has similar advice to Machiavelli, especially in the Nasihat al-Muluk. Although the suggestions that Ghazali makes to the ruler are sometimes criminal, but the difference in the foundations and type of moral approach between Machiavelli and Ghazali will determine a different fate. Because Ghazali, unlike Machiavelli, is a virtuoso and by the way criticizes utilitarianism.

کلیدواژه ها:

Criminal virtues ، Machiavelli ، Al-Ghazali ، The Prince ، Nasihat al-Muluk