Oddbean

About Machiavelli and Hobbes: https://image.nostr.build/5bfcefeeadb84b80fc19768564cefd9867d14fbf495c7a95dbe35e9e3693c20b.jpg I asked: What would be the single most shocking fact for people to know about what both Hobbes and Machiavelli recommended that rulers should do? https://image.nostr.build/3247ced6c80cafdd86ff4f678a83b5b63c23050378d0a128f0565a5e191e134a.jpg Grok answered: "Combined Insight: Moral Flexibility and Absolute Control: If one were to combine the philosophies, a ruler should not only have absolute power but should also be ready to use any means, including those considered immoral or unethical by common standards, to maintain that power and ensure the state's stability. This could involve: Manipulation and Deception: Regularly using lies and deceit to keep subjects in line or to outmaneuver enemies, both foreign and domestic. Brutality When Necessary: Employing harsh punishments or even violence to quash any form of rebellion or dissent, ensuring that the fear of the ruler's wrath prevents any challenge to his authority. Control Over Information: Suppressing or controlling information and education to prevent the populace from questioning the ruler's authority or methods. Ignoring Traditional Morality: Dismissing conventional moral constraints in favor of pragmatic actions that secure power, even if it means acts that would be universally condemned as evil or tyrannical. The shock value here lies in how these recommendations starkly oppose contemporary democratic and human rights values, advocating for a form of governance that prioritizes stability and power over individual freedoms and moral integrity." Does this sound familiar for you today?