Violence and Its Relationship with Power

Abstract

Abstract: Niccolo Machiavelli and Hannah Arendt, while writing from totally different times in history, offer opinions and explanations for the use of violence in society. Machiavelli, in his book The Prince, gives advice for a political ruler, which is interwoven with different explanations and justifications for the use of violence. Hannah Arendt, in her book On Violence, traces how individuals and communities interact with violence, and identifies the self-defeating logic of violence. These authors both agree that the use, and misuse, of violence is the greatest danger to society. By analyzing and comparing their arguments in tandem, we can better understand how and why violence is a threat to society.