Machiavelli's Separation Of Ethics

From these differences on ruling government arise Machiavelli and More’s approach on ethics. Machiavelli believed that there should be a separation between politics and ethics contrasting More’s view that there should be a connection between Christian morals and politics. A secular state is what Machiavelli preferred where morals and politics do not clash with one another. Machiavelli does not believe in the Medieval concept that the state is a necessary creation for the people’s spiritual and social well-being. What Machiavelli believed in is that a secular form of government and politics is more realistic and practical to maintain the state. Machiavelli also redefined the meaning of virtue. Virtue is usually closely associated with Christian …show more content…
For a prince, it is important to have all these qualities in virtu because this way he can be an effective ruler that can successful maintain his state. This an example of de compartmentalization where Machiavelli is cutting ties with Christianity. This is in a way his separation of politics and ethics. Machiavelli advised that a prince should concern himself with living virtuously, but should try to achieve the most practical benefits for him and the state. A prince first job is to safeguard the states and sometimes possessing bad characteristics is necessary. Unlike Machiavelli, More believed that Christian morals and ideals along with politics are closely tied together. The Utopians mainly focused on the people’s spiritual well-being in which this was one way the community can be well-maintained and cared for. What the community mainly emphasized is social harmony. This shows that Christian morals and ideals are important in a community in More’s point of view because a society without virtue is exactly like England’s current society, where wealth and material are valued more, giving birth to greed, envy, and pride leading people to become more