The idea Machiavelli presents in The Prince, that humanity is innately corrupt and self-interested, is not a foreign one, nor is it completely false. Machiavelli argues many times that a Prince must expect the worse from others if he is to plan around the motivations of the people. This same idea applies to a Prince needing to lie rather than be manipulated by the lies of others. Though believing humanity is depraved is perhaps the safest school of thought, it is also not constructive towards a betterment of society. There is an Augustinian concept of total depravity that encompasses all these ideals Machiavelli presents. Looking at
The idea Machiavelli presents in The Prince, that humanity is innately corrupt and self-interested, is not a foreign one, nor is it completely false. Machiavelli argues many times that a Prince must expect the worse from others if he is to plan around the motivations of the people. This same idea applies to a Prince needing to lie rather than be manipulated by the lies of others. Though believing humanity is depraved is perhaps the safest school of thought, it is also not constructive towards a betterment of society. There is an Augustinian concept of total depravity that encompasses all these ideals Machiavelli presents. Looking at