fandomhigh | Build Your Own Philosophy, Period 2, 2/1/10

The board read:

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. -- Niccolo Machiavelli

"Today," Tyler announced from his perch atop his desk as soon as class was assembled and the door was closed, "we're skipping ahead a thousand years. We're talking about Machiavelli." Two books -- a text and an accompanying set of SparkNotes -- were already on each desk. "He was writing in 1513, telling local rulers what they needed to do to keep power. He was also trying to tell people who wanted power how they could get it. This is one of the first books about philosophy to be flat-out practical. Machiavelli isn't looking at what God wants you to do -- he's looking at what you need to do. He's looking at how to be a wolf and not just another dog."

Yeah, Tyler had an ideological crush.

"We'll be spending a couple weeks on this book, so please take it home. Look at it. Read it. Sleep with it under your pillow if you want. Today, we're starting with one question: Do you want people to fear you, or to love you?" He paused and paced across the classroom, wishing for a cool swirly cape like Anakin's.

"We all want to be loved. We're all designed to crave love. To bask in it from the cradle, if we're lucky. Roll around in it. But people will do things out of fear that you could not get them to do out of love. So -- if you want power -- fear's the blunt instrument. Cruelty, even, if you're trying to keep a large group of people like an army on the same path. At least, if you believe Machiavelli."

"What I'm asking today is what you think. Imagine you're in charge of a country. Do you want the people to fear you first, or to love you first?" He grinned. "Automatic detention to anyone who says both. I'm not in a mood for having it both ways."

He meant that, too.

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Liir, of course, had to be difficult.

"Personally, I'd want them to think I'm competent.

"Competency doesn't come with the whims of love or fear. A man can love you one day and scorn you the next; as for fear, it's finite. People mostly want their lives to go on the same way as they did the day before, however, and a competent man can do that for them.

"They might occasionally curse a competent man for a mistake, but never overthrow him unless that mistake is utterly unforgivable... and then, how competent was he really? A competent man does not rely on his people's love or fear to drive them in battle (or otherwise, really), but their own self-interest... and is there any stronger drive in a thinking creature of any stripe?"

Someone had 'budding bureaucrat' tattooed on him since birth *cough*

Tyler shot a distinctly skeptical look his way. "Very good, Liir," he said, slightly patronizing. "No argument, competent trumps. But if we take it out of play and the choice is love or fear ....?"

Liir's look in return said quite clearly that this was an unrealistic argument since those certainly weren't the only two options. But he acquiesced with a nod.

"My answer would depend on the time scale. If you as a ruler are intent on remaining in power for an extended period, or your concern is for the life of the country over the years, then love. The sliding scale of fear ultimately leaves a ruler in unrest: if he is not feared enough, then the people will be angry and act accordingly. If he is feared too greatly, he threatens the health of his society; nothing thrives in fear. Love is more difficult, but the returns are ultimately long-lasting.

"On the other hand, if one has finite goals and no particular attachment to the people you are lord over, then fear is the better option. Nothing acts so quickly, so decisively in the heart as fear. I suppose if all I wanted was to be remembered as this or that, a warrior or an innovator or what have you, I would prefer fear. But more than likely, the fellow after me would have to pick up the pieces in some manner or another."

Edited 2010-02-01 18:19 (UTC)

If Tyler's face were a bit more eloquent, it would have made the argument that Tyler knew the dichotomy was not entirely realistic, but he'd already said arguing for both wasn't allowed, so why did Liir think choosing a third option would be all right?

But it wasn't, so he just looked a little pissed, though that melted away as he considered the answer.

"Good," he said, "Good. Maybe get them to fear you at first. Then give them time to grow to love you."

Because Tyler hadn't actually actively disallowed it? Liir was an odd boy sometimes.

"That would probably work best, as it would no doubt become something of a matter of being feared externally and loved internally, such as with... I can't remember his name, but Professor Atreides mentioned him in another class. But he was known for impaling people and his people still consider him a hero today."

"Likely Vlad the Impaler," Tyler said, ever so helpfully. "Model for Dracula. But that's an ideal. Your people love you so they'd do anything for you. Your enemies figure you'd slit their throats, so they don't try anything that might force you to make hard choices and alienate your people."

"That sounds about right," not that he knew who Dracula was.

Build Your Own Philosophy, Period 2, 2/1/10

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