Most notable among the Greek philosophers who inspired Machiavelli was Plato. In particular, Machiavelli took interest in Plato's concept of just rulers who ruled by moral virtue. ... On the other hand, Plato argues a ruler can never be unjust. ... This is not far from what we aspire for in a republican society. ... We can clearly see Machiavelli's objective examination of republican leadership. ...
Readers of Machiavelli's work have found that unlike other writers of republican concepts, he is very careful to only mention justice in a sparingly manner. ... When thoughts of "justice" were pondered in Ancient Greece, early students of Socrates accepted actions that were to the benefit of friends and detriment of enemies as the standard definition of justice (Plato I.332b). ...
Athens and late Republican Augustan Rome. ... It was in the works of the humanist antiquarian Leonardo Bruni (c. 1370 "1444) that formality established the framework for a republican belief system. ... The works of Plato were particularly compelling, and a ring of Neoplatonic researchers headed by Marsilio Ficino (1433 "1499) looked to circuit Christian thought with Platonic philosophy. ...
