Machiavelli's Discourses On Livy: The Common Good

Machiavelli & The Common Good

In Discourses on Livy, Machiavelli argues that the purpose of politics is to promote a “common good.” This statement holds true in Machiavelli’s The Prince, albeit differently than one might expect. It is evident in The Prince that Machiavelli believes ensuring the common good of the community should hold high priority; therefore a primary duty of the Prince to fulfill. Machiavelli’s view on how this should be obtained, however, drastically opposes the opinions and views of political philosophers of his time.
It had been a common view among political philosophers of Machiavelli’s time that a certain relationship existed between legitimate authority and moral goodness. Philosophers of this time believed that
the use of political power was just only if it was exercised by a ruler whose moral character was strictly virtuous. Along this line of thought, it was believed that rulers succeeded when they acted according to this moral goodness; rulers would earn obedience and respect so much as they showed themselves to be virtuous and moral. Machiavelli, on the other hand, separates morality and virtue from politics to promote the pursuit of power for its own sake. Machiavelli argues that it is the primary duty of the prince to secure and maintain power, in doing so setting aside moral considerations in order to pursue whatever strategies it takes to achieve that end. The saying, “The ends justify the means” can be attributed and traced back to Machiavelli.
“Everybody sees what you appear to be, few feel what you are, and those few will not dare to oppose themselves to the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them; and in the actions of men, and especially of princes, from which there is no appeal, the ends justify the means. Let a prince therefore aim at conquering and maintaining the state, and the means will always be judged honourable and praised by every one..” Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, SIGNET CLASSICS (New American Library, 2008) pg. 74.
Machiavelli is very blunt concerning strategies the prince may employ.
Ruthlessness may be exercised in order to achieve the desired end. The prince ‘should not keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest’, and he must ‘learn not to be good’; he ‘should not worry if he incurs reproach for his cruelty so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal…it is far better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both’. [Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, SIGNET CLASSICS (New American Library, 2008) pg. 69-73.] This advice to rulers throughout The Prince (i.e. the defense of cruelty toward people) could very easily lead someone to believe Machiavelli’s book is evil or amoral. Additionally, the clear separation of ethics from politics seems to indicate there is no role for any kind of virtue in Machiavelli’s state. However, Machiavelli never promotes cruelty or other immoralities for their own sake. Machiavelli advocates them only in the interests of upholding the state, which, in Machiavelli’s view, is the ultimate good. Machiavelli states that when it is in the interest of the state, a prince must strive to act virtuously; however virtue should never take precedence over the state. Machiavelli also states that rulers should desire to be considered merciful (this coming with exceptions, of
course.)
“I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness. Cesare Borgia was considered cruel, but his cruelty had brought order to the Romagna, united it, and reduced it to peace and fealty. If this is considered well, it will be seen that he was really much more merciful than the Florentine people, who, to avoid the name of cruelty, allowed Pistoia to be destroyed. A prince, therefore, must not mind incurring the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and faithful; for he will be more merciful than those who, from excess of tenderness, allow disorders to arise.” Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, SIGNET CLASSICS (New American Library, 2008) pg. 68. Despite the controversial methods and ideals Machiavelli encourages in The Prince, it is clear that he has the best interest of the community in mind. Machiavelli never seemed to care if feelings got hurt, people were killed, or if punishment was brought upon individuals as long as the Prince was using his power and authority to act in the best interest of his people. Machiavelli encouraged acting in the interest of the many even if the community didn’t understand or view the Prince’s actions in the same light. A Prince should strive to carry a good reputation (i.e. virtuous, moral, and one who promotes the common good) but mustn’t place reputation above responsibility. A prince must ultimately do what he deems necessary.