Marx & Machiavelli the Issue Term Paper

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Marx would therefore react negatively towards the idea that some economic power cannot be distributed in an absolutely equal sense. Communism entails the equal distribution not only of wealth, but also of economic power. Liberalism does therefore fit into this ideal to some degree, but not entirely.

Machiavelli had a number of beliefs related to his economic paradigm. According ot this philosopher, human beings, society and culture can all be improved by means of education, and that central to such education stood manly virtues. This paradigm is more or less proved by means of the evolution of liberalism in the United States. A system that began as yet another form of coercion has developed to become an altogether improved paradigm. Indeed, the variety of ideologies within society at any given time greatly influenced the evolution of the liberalist ideology. This can be seen above, with the historical movements from World War II, the Vietnam war, and the evolution of society to include minority groups in the "equal opportunity" paradigm.

In terms of Friedman's statement then, I believe Machiavelli would agree that it is the product of a process of evolution to find the best possible strategy. Rather than turning a blind eye to possible flaws in this system, Machiavelli I bleieve would consider all alternatives before exchanging the old for the new.

While believing in the possibility of evolution then, Machiavelli nonetheless does not presume the perfectibility of human beings.
Instead there are steps of improvement that can always be improved upon. Thus it is possible to learn from the past mistakes not onlyof oneself, but also of others. In this way once again the paradigm of American liberalism has evolved according to Machiavelli's viewpoint.

Liberalism, and those believing in this paradigm, have changed and grown in a wide variety of ways in order to reach its current improved state. Thus, Machiavelli would then agree that liberalism has reached a state where it can be improved upon by examining the actions and work of other leaders from the past.

In terms of political freedom, I believe that both Marx and Machiavelli would agree with the first sentence. The absence of coercion is indeed the fundamental principle not only of liberalism, but also of communism. Communism also requires and maintains freedom in terms of economic choice.

Thus both Machiavelli and to some degree Marx agree with the viewpoint held by Friedman in the quoted statement......

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