Philosophies in its ancient and current day forms always strike the world in two ways, with criticism and support.  The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, The Prince by Niccoló Machiavelli, and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse are three books describing three different philosophies: Buddhism, Communism, and Dictatorship.  Each was criticized and praised in its individual way, and each has aspects still present in the world.  The differences in philosophies, however, are great.  The novels vary because The Communist Manifesto’s main philosophy is that of equal status in all things, The Prince’s philosophy is that men are inherently evil, and Siddhartha’s philosophy focuses on the belief that everyone and everything is connected by some invisible pattern and the purpose of life is to find ultimate enlightenment.  Philosophy always changes, it’s always created, it is an idea that is unstoppable, but it is one that could be forgotten or ignored.  However, these three philosophies are still present in some of today’s people and they follow them with the highest assiduity.

The Communist Manifesto was the first of its kind to announce the true philosophy of communism into the world.  Marx was dedicated to his political profession, and was devoted to his belief in communism: he and Engles wrote The Communist Manifesto in 1848 as commissioned by the communist party (Karl Marx).  The work explains the basis of communism, including the philosophy that every person is equal in profession, and they share the same obligations (Engles and Marx 76).  Marx claims that doctors, lawyers, and blue-collar workers should be labeled the same thing: laborers (Engles and Marx 66).  This philosophy is a completely different vicissitude from the other two philosophies: Machiavelli focuses on straight dictatorships (The Prince) and Siddhartha focuses on Buddhism and peace (Hesse X).  The Communist Manifesto does contrast extremely with Machiavelli’s world of power and one individual ruling the masses (The Prince).  The Communist Manifesto’s philosophy, however, is somewhat similar to that of Siddhartha.  Siddhartha tells the tale of a man seeking enlightenment and his enlightenment leads to the belief that everything is connected and equal (Hesse 77).  This is similar to the principle within Marxist philosophy that every person should be treated equally in society (Karl Marx).  Although Marx’s philosophy of every individual being equal in the work force and empire is fundamentally different from other philosophies, it still creates invisible parallels between Buddhism and other ways of thinking.

The Prince’s main philosophy is that all men are inherently evil.  Machiavelli wrote his work when he was in exile from his beloved country, Italy (Niccoló Machiavelli).  Although critics such as Charles D. Tarton claim that Machiavelli’s philosophy is full of impossibilities and improbabilities, and is unable to grasp any firm hold on politics and power (Tarton 753).  However, Machiavelli’s philosophies of how men are inherently evil and how the ends justify the means are in striking boldness (The Prince).  Machiavelli claimed that men must be evil yet good at the same time: inherently evil, yet overcoming it.  In addition, they must remain in the middle and negotiate who they have to be in varying situations (Machiavelli 92-94).  This varies greatly from the philosophy of Siddhartha, which focuses on Buddhism and peace (Siddhartha).  At its very core, The Prince and Siddhartha differ: where Siddhartha sees good, The Prince sees evil.  In addition, where Buddhism values non-violence, Machiavellian philosophy condones it (Machiavelli 60).  The Prince also varies with the philosophy of The Communist Manifesto.  Where Machiavelli sees taking victory and power in the palm of one’s hand, Marx sees patience and eventual take-over (Engles and Marx 76).  Even though Machiavelli’s philosophy contrasts to extremes beside Siddhartha and The Communist Manifesto, its philosophy still resides in today’s society, burning brightly.

Siddhartha focuses on the belief that the purpose of life is to find ultimate enlightenment and that everyone and everything is connected by some invisible pattern.  Hermann Hesse wrote this work because of his ongoing interests in Buddhism and Hinduism (Hermann Hesse).  Siddhartha is the main character within this novel, and he travels on a journey to search for his own enlightenment (Hesse 5).  Siddhartha ultimately expands his ken and discovers his enlightenment by staying beside a river with an old, wise ferryman (Hesse 73).  The belief in the conjoining of everything and everyone is the basic philosophy within Siddhartha (Siddhartha).  Again, this corresponds with the basic philosophy of The Communist Manifesto in which everyone is equal within society (Karl Marx).  However, it also contrasts visibly.  Siddhartha follows the belief in peace and understanding, whereas, communism is a serpent waiting to strike the unwary (Engles and Marx 91).  The Prince also contrasts visibly, not only in violence, but also in the fact that Machiavelli condones the belief that men should emulate others, not create their own paths (Machiavelli 48).  Therefore, Siddhartha’s philosophy contrasts visibly with The Communist Manifesto and extremely with The Prince.

Every philosophy is followed with the utmost daring and bravery.  If people were ruled by pusillanimity and cowardice, no philosophy would ever be discovered.  The Communist Manifesto, The Prince, and Siddhartha are three works by authors who discovered their own philosophies and wrote them down.  The Communist Manifesto revolves around the belief that everyone is see equally in the eyes of society, The Prince demonstrates the belief that all men are inherently evil, and Siddhartha explains the philosophy of the oneness in nature and in the world and how one’s ultimate goal in life is to seek out ultimate enlightenment.  No matter the philosophy, it has followers and those dedicated to its path.  However, those who discover their own paths are the creators of philosophy: they are the brave.