Case Summary on
Confucius, Machiavelli and Rousseau

Confucius, Machiavelli and Rousseau talked about the concept of leadership. They all have different ideas and views about leadership. Their views differ in many areas.
Confucius talked about superior and morally person. Superior is the one who likes to become a part of the community and surrounding. Inferior is the one who motivates by himself. Confucius discussed about a good society is one which contains well-ordered relationship. According to Confucius a leader should be fair and superior man. He was not in favor of laws and punishment if one wants a good and healthy society.
Machiavelli discussed about the attributes that a Prince of the society should have to maintain his power. He mentioned that proper action, attitude and cunningness is required in politics at the right time. He emphasis on observation in determining human nature. (He reflected upon the “Action-Observation-Reflection” theory we discussed in the class.) This knowledge of human nature allows him to think how his people thinks, acts and behave. He said that leader should create fear by building his own army. He also considered about using the law and punishment. He felt that it is necessary that law and punishment should be implemented to maintain the power.
Rousseau initiated the idea of General Will which purpose is to create a society that has freedom. He talked about the corruption in society which is brought in by inequality. Rousseau’s hope was that if society corrupts the human nature, it also has the possibility of perfecting the human nature. It should be taken into consideration that individual does not lose their freedom but rather they rediscovered it in the general will. He tried to create a good and obedient society through his social contract.
All three have different point of view about the concept of leadership.