Kautilya’s Arthashastra, an ancient Indian treatise, suggests a nuanced understanding of the role and application of ethics in statecraft. Which of the following statements best captures this understanding?
1
Kautilya promotes a completely pragmatic and ruthless approach to statecraft, completely dismissing the relevance of ethics
2
Kautilya insists on a strictly ethical and virtuous approach to statecraft, similar to the idealistic principles found in Plato’s philosophy.
3
Kautilya balances between pragmatic and ethical considerations in governance, arguing that a ruler must embrace Dharma (righteousness) but must also employ Naya (policy or expedience when necessary).
4
Kautilya primarily focuses on military force as the primary means of maintaining control and order in the realm, having little to no concern for ethics or morality in his political philosophy.