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... and prestige, More argued for communal property rather than private property. If private properties were eliminated and all were made equal citizens, competition would cease as there would be no scope for [inequalities and injustices] in such a society (80). If all persons were set equal than corrupt rulers would also be an improbability, for one cannot subvert or overpower one who is on equal footing with oneself. He contended that human nature is itself good and should be a unifying force among persons throughout the world; a morality is inherent within man which if not corrupted by society and poor laws is a law unto itself which can preserve order, and promote justice and equality (109). In a moral society as described in Mores Utopia peace is easily maintained through human goodness and a few well thought out laws.
In the same vein as all men are bound by their humanity it is only logical that they tolerate one another; from this flows the notion of religious toleration. More suggested that subverting religious dissenters was simply a cause of discord; he felt that as occurred in Utopia, people... gradually [tend] to drift away from... inferior creeds and to unite in adopting what seems to be the most reasonable religion, which was in his case Catholicism (118).
In short, More contends that human nature and the notion of a universal and moral man when coupled with a few good laws are the remedies with which to cure the demoralization of Christian society. He adopted an ethical approach based on the potential of human goodness, a potential that had fallen under close scrutiny at the close of the Renaissance and on the eve of the Protestant Reformation in Northern Europe. Cardinal Richelieu was born into a noble family in Paris in 1583 and soon gained the attention of the Queen-Mother Marie de Medici while serving as a representative of the clergy in the Estates General. In 1614 he became a secretary of state and mentor to the young prince, Louis XIII.
Richelieu entered the sphere of the political elite at a time when the French state had fallen into disrepair due to weakness in the international realm, as well as internal religious wars between Catholics and the Huguenots. The St. Bartholomewes Day Massacre in 1572 marked the commencement of decades of hostility between Catholics and the Huguenot minority in France; following this attack the Huguenots appealed to protestants in other countries for aid thus, creating political instability within France and a weakening her position among foreign nations. Observing the divisive and deleterious effects of such religious conflict King Henry III attempted to dissolve the Catholic League in 1588, which had been a major source of violence; however he failed to complete such a dissolution as a Dominican Friar murdered him for his anti-Catholic leanings. Henry III s successor Henry IV was from the outset disliked by both Catholics and Protestants alike. He had originally been Protestant but converted to Catholicism in order to become king; such a conversion alienated Protestants.
Catholics would not accept his conversion as genuine since it was readily apparent that it was merely an expedient for gaining the French crown. In 1598 Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes, which awarded the Huguenots freedom of conscience; they were subsequently permitted to have their own churches, courts, and districts forming a state within a state. This sort of state within a state further weakened the authority of the crown within France as Huguenot districts were generally opposed to the monarchy and were in conflict with the surrounding Catholic districts. In 1610, Henry IV, like his predecessor Henry III, was assassinated by a religious fanatic, leaving behind an 8 -year-old son to ascend to the throne. By the time the future king Louis XIII turned 13 however, his mother had found him a powerful advisor, Cardinal Richelieu who became prime minister in 1624.
Under Richelieu's guidance, Louis XIII raised France to great heights, consolidating his authority over the nation. Richelieu, like Machiavelli, despite the fact that he was a cardinal, adopted a secular approach in his Political Testament to remedy society's ills; however, he aimed at maintaining order, while Machiavelli strove to create it. To strengthen Frances position in the international world Richelieu advocated ceaseless negotiations either openly or secretly, and in all places, even in those from which no present fruits can be reaped and still more in those for which no future prospects as yet seem likely (94). He contended that he who [negotiated] continuously [would] finally find the right instant to attain his ends and if such an instant never occurred nothing would have been foregone or lost as negotiations are innocuous remedies which never do harm (95). It is essential that a king keep his frontiers well fortified and maintain a military force of loyal citizens by cultivating their love for him and amassing a treasury of hearts; in doing so he promotes public order and contentment while repelling invaders. (120 124) Richelieu also suggested that it was necessary to appear powerful in order to be powerful; and as a good appearance arises from the sound condition of the internal organs it is essential that a king keep his house in the good order. (96) Richelieu advocated the supremacy of reason, over emotions and impetuosity; he contended that a truly wise prince does not act rashly or out of passion, rather he makes decisions utilizing his own logic and that of trustworthy advisors. If one followed reason complete favoritism in awarding offices would be eliminated, Louis XIII had a tendency to pick favorites to fill offices and consequently found himself head of government run by ingrates and inept officials.
Therefore, through the application of reason, a gift from God, a prince could eradicate the corruption so long prevalent in the French government and thus, work to achieve the greater public good. In short, the preservation of the public good was Richelieu's main aim; in this light a king could violate a law of God such as thou shall not kill in order to punish disobedience and crimes without being held accountable in the hereafter (126). However, if a king failed to punish a criminal, for fear of transgressing Gods law at the expense of public order that in itself would be a sin; in essence, a king must uphold the public good and order at all costs. Out of this logic flows Richelieu's doctrine of toleration of religious dissenters; though he himself was a clergyman he advised Louis XIII not to force the Huguenots to convert to Catholicism at the expense of public order. In doing so he helped to consolidate monarchial authority and unify France; as a unified nation, France was internally strong and thus, seen by external powers as a major player in international affairs. Richelieu proved the most immediately successful in instituting his political ideology and reforms in his given state.
Through his active role as prime minister to Louis Xiii's, he strengthened French absolutism and France itself. His reforms and advice quelled the religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants, and created a bureaucracy not of favorites but of merit-based appointments thus, ending internal strife and corruption within the government. By strengthening and consolidating the monarchial rule, Richelieu provided France with a strong position in the international realm as well; a position, which he ensured through the Thirty Years War. Though ending after his death it resulted in the defeat of Spain and Austria allowing France to emerge as the dominant power in Europe. In his successor Cardinal Mazarin Richelieu had found someone capable of carrying his work on after his death; in brief, Richelieu raised France to great heights and ensured its dominance for a number of years to come through his choice of successors. By contrast Machiavelli and More did not achieve immediate success, rather their ideas proved influential in later times.
Machiavelli's Prince provided grounds for a number of tyrannies, but more than anything revealed an awareness that devotion to Christianity was succumbing to a new, secular ideology of devotion to the state. By suggesting that the end justified the means so long as the end is the liberty of ones hinterland and state Machiavelli expressed a sense of patriotism and nationalism which would soon become commonplace throughout the world, and the driving force behind such revolutions as the American Revolution over a century later. Mores Utopia in turn undoubtedly influenced the rise of the working class throughout Europe and the subsequent union movements. His criticism of class based divisions also spurred on such revolutions as the French Revolution of the 18 th century. It, like its counterpart in antiquity, Plato's Republic, with its avocation of communal property also influenced the adoption of communism in nations such as the Soviet Union and China. However, as More expressed himself, his ideas could not have physically manifested themselves at their birth as they would have resulted in violent disruption of society due to their revolutionary nature.
Machiavelli, More, and Richelieu all set forth remedies for the ills of their given society, however, Richelieu proved the most successful in curing such ailments, while the espousals of his counterparts proved more influential in future years than at their birth.
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Research essay sample on Catholics And Protestants Mores Utopia
