Virtù and the Herbivore Men
I
dare assume that Machiavelli’s Il Prince
can be summarized into one word: virtù.
Virtù is a word that means “range of
personal qualities that the prince will find it necessary to acquire in order
to ‘maintain his state’ and to ‘achieve great things,’ the two standard markers
of power for him,” according to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Machiavelli accentuates this trait’s significance as an essential quality for a
potential prince to acquire in order to face fortuna, which can be roughly translated as vicissitudes of life
(and a state). He seems to identify the state with its ruler, so virtù is clearly a personal quality that
influences the whole state. Those with the capability to withstand fortuna can overcome random and at times
adverse circumstances and accomplish something great.
Machiavelli
is pretty macho in explaining this term. While personifying fortuna as a mettlesome woman, he
insists that a young, less cautious, more spirited, bolder man with virtù can “master” her by treating
“aggressively” and “violently.” Though I do not think men (compared to the
past) do not (and should not) mistreat women, maybe such masculinity can be
‘virtuous’ for individuals who seek to acquire what they want and change their
communities by fighting off external influences. Period. Nothing more, nothing
less.
And
I’m not the only one who thinks so. A Professor of Government at Harvard
University Harvey Mansfield takes it even further by saying that men these days
lack manliness, citing on the Machiavellian virtù.
Following a Machiavellian line of thought, he does not wish to judge right or
wrong of a man with virtù, for he is
a man who wishes to change his community, including the value-judgment system.
He elaborates on the concept of virtù
by naming it manliness, a quality that makes heroic individuals say and act
boldly to accomplish what they want, regardless of perils on its course. Although
Professor Mansfield almost lost his job for being criticized as “chauvinistic”
by feminist thinkers, I pretty much agree with him. And I think his remark on
contemporary society as having less virtù
or manliness is quite insightful.
In
1999 Blair administration initiated a term “NEET (Not currently engaged in
Education, Employment or Training).” It designated unemployed young men who
have no will to engage in advanced education or a stable employment. They
instead work as part-timers in department stores, convenient stores, restaurants
and etcetera.
Or
we see “herbivore men” of Japan and Korea. A term coined by pop culture
columnist Maki Fukusawa, the term “herbivore men” designates male that take up
a 30% portion of Japanese male population who reject eagerly engaging into social
movements or occupation but choose to enjoy hobbies like foot cosmetics and
gardening. Fukusawa comments that their carnal instincts for rich, reputation,
social change, and sex had been nearly castrated.
Some
might say that these NEETs or herbivore men have adapted well to the
Machiavellian fortuna by following
the current of the “violent river” Machiavelli pointed out as a trait of fortuna. Nonetheless, they would be
neglecting the latter part of Il Prince
that mentions how a prince should treat goddess fortuna “violently” and “aggressively;” they are neglecting that
Machiavelli supported an active adaptation to circumstance, not a passive. By ferociously
fighting with vicissitudes, a prince might acquire dominance over state,
whether it be literal or metaphorical. In a modern application, would NEETs who
were excluded from the society due to depression be ever able to wiggle out of
their cashiers and Buy The Way uniforms and initiate social change? I doubt it;
until they acquire virtù for the guts
for change, they will never be able to rule the state.
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