All through history there were many different forms of government that were practiced all over the world such as communism, anarchy, democracy, and a monarchy. There were few governments that worked, while many others were overthrown or went to war like Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship. There were many famous philosophers in the mid 1700s such as Lao-Tzu, Rousseau, and Machiavelli. What does society expect from their leaders? What change do they want to see? What kind of government would be better for the people that allows them to practice their freedom, all while having laws that govern them? During this time period Rousseau’s philosophy is the best choice to establish a more successful government.
Rousseau’s way is the best choice to establish a successful government because he takes individual rights into consideration while at the same time holding his ground. His overall idea is to allow people to be free and yet still set laws and limits to help create stability. He uses “the family” as an example to help better explain his idea. The ruler is the father and his children are his people. Once the children are grown and independent they leave the family and “return to a condition of equal independence”. People have the right to stay with the government and obey or just leave if they don’t want to comply.
Machiavelli quotes,”it is better to be feared then loved, if you cannot be both”, (Machiavelli p.46). In simpler words, it is better to have a strict, firm and fearful leader because most people wouldn’t want to suffer the consequences once they have disobeyed the laws of the land. When some of high power is feared, the people beneath them have no other choice but to fear them. There is no room for arguments or disagreements. If caught arguing, people were prosecuted. In this type of government, laws are way too tight and just simply not rational. In actuality, society would eventually rebel and the government would soon crumble. But in Rousseau’s...