Contrary to popular belief, Machiavelli is not a diabolic political figure in search of power. He is instead an astute politician who uses his extensive knowledge of politics to analyze various princes and principalities in order to educate future…
Machiavelli – a diplomat exposed to decadent, cynical of the true nature of humanity, reflecting darker aspects of Humanism that man is essentially corrupt, self-serving and treacherous…
People who wanted fame and power in this new world of humanism and self-righteousness had to deserve it. No longer did a supreme authority, such as the pope, appoint officials and leaders. The authority rested in the hands of the person willing to take charge. This approach to gaining wealth and power can be described as Machivellian, named so by the influence of ideologist Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli wrote one of the most influential political books of all time, called the Prince, which is considered the most lasting work on Italian Renaissance. In his novel, Machiavelli writes of " cruelty, well used or badly used," and warns the compassionate and humanistic prince "not to make bad use of this compassion".(Burke p.196) Machiavelli expanded on his belief in the Prince, that Italians should behave with ferocity when it comes to politics, and should back up that ferocity with a unified force. Machiavelli's principles have had a profound effect on the way Europe and the rest of the world have viewed politics over centuries, and truly show the Rennaissance's uncanny trait of promoting individualism and social Darwinism.<br><br>The Italian Renaissance has made a major impact on the rest of Europe, leaving an intellectual and artistic heritage that…
Summary Chapter I: The Kinds of Principalities and the Means by Which They Are Acquired…
Machiavelli's philosophy was that "The end justifies the means." This meant that the end result is the most important, and how you got there was of no importance. The Prince was a book of advice to rules on how to found a state and how to stay in power. Machiavelli explained in his book the many different ways to gain power. One way was to acquire land. The four methods that he discusses to acquire more land is: Your own arms and virtue, fortune, others' arms, and inequity. To Machiavelli, the word virtue meant manliness and strength. Machiavelli also advocates the use of evil to achieve any goals. He gives an example of Agathocles of Syracuse as a proof that this works and will enable the prince to rule the land peacefully through fear. "Born of a potter, this one always had an iniquitous life throughout his years: nonetheless, he accomplished his iniquities with such virtue of spirit and of body that, having joined the militia, he rose through its ranks to become praetor of Syracuse. Being established in rank, and having decided to become prince and to keep with violence and without obligation to others what had been conceded him by agreement... ...one morning he convened the people and the senate of Syracuse, as if he had had to deliberate things pertinent to the republic; and at a preordained nod…
If I were a prince during the time of Machiavelli, then his methods would be very useful because power was constantly being moved. If I wanted my power to last then I would want to be cunning and feared. His methods of being devious and deceiving are perfect for winning battles and maintaining a city.…
Who was Niccolo Machiavelli and how did he believe a ruler should act? He was a civil servant of the Florentine republic and believed a ruler should be efficient in maintaining and gaining power and to not be limited my moral principles…
During Niccolỏ Machiavelli’s lifetime, Italy’s city-states were in turmoil, and he was extremely interested in the politics behind the chaos.1 Machiavelli advised principalities on the proper way to conduct themselves by using his study of human nature. His understanding of human greed, disloyalty, and predictability created a vision of politics that utilizes power for a prince to maintain stability. Machiavelli created power-politics, his vision of how to stabilize a principality, in The Prince.…
Essay #15 Machiavelli believed that a leader should possess the ability to heroically and decisively for the good of their country. Machiavelli’s suggestion that a ruler should be like a lion and a fox was fairly true in Europe. Machiavelli uses a lion in comparison to a ruler because he thought a king should be strong and maintain an honest image. He also uses a fox as a symbol to show how a ruler is deceitful.Catherine the Great of Russia and Elizabeth I of England were both like a lion and a fox through their way of handling problems that they confronted during their reign. Elizabeth I of England and Catherine the Great of Russia were both good rulers who had policies against peasants/serfs, foreign countries,and religion. Catherine the Great of Russia had a strong army as well as Elizabeth I of England only difference was that Elizabeth I of England tried to avoid war but secretly encouraged Francis Drake to destroy Spanish fleets. Catherine the Great of Russia used her wisdom to decide when to use her powers to benefit Russia.Catherine the Great of Russia was like a lion because she suppressed the revolt of serfs which made her look strong. Peasants serfs tried to revolt but were not successful due to Catherine the Great of Russia. Another thing that made Catherine very powerful was the Russian military. She gained a large portion of Poland by leaving conquered Danubian area. Catherine the Great of Russia was like a fox because she controlled the nobles. She had earned the nobles loyalty by giving them control of the serfs. Thanks to the support of the nobles Catherine the…
Throughout my reading of Machiavelli, a particular selection struck me as very interesting. This comes from Chapter 17 when Machiavelli states, “Here a question arises: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved. . . . Love endures by a bond, which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage to do so; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present (Machiavelli 54). I believe this is an interesting question that would be a good topic for debate. Regarding this question, I side with Machiavelli on his reasoning that it is more beneficial to be feared then loved with regards to obedience. Examples of this principle can be seen in our world today. Laws demonstrate this very well. Laws are present to keep society in order, and with disobedience comes penalties. These penalties are what make people obey the law. Without penalties, or using the term pain in an exaggerated sense, most people would continue to break the law being aware that there are no consequences. Fear is what fuels laws to be effective.…
author of Prince. They are both philosophers but have totally different perspective on how to be a good leader. While both philosopher's writing is instructive. Lao-tzu's advice issues from detached view of a universal ruler; Machiavelli's advice is very personal perhaps demanding. Both philosophers' idea will not work for today's world, because that modern world is not as perfect as Lao-tzu described in Tao-te Ching, and not as chaotic as Machiavelli illustrated in Prince.…
Practically nothing is known of Nicolo Machiavelli before he became a minor official in the Florentine Government. His youth, however, was passed during some of the most tumultuous years in the history of Florence. He was born the year that Lorenzo the Magnificent came to power, subverting the traditional civil liberties of Florence while inaugurating a reign of unrivaled luxury and of great brilliance for the arts. He was twenty-five at the time of Savonarola 's attempt to establish a theocratic democracy, although, from the available evidence, he took no part in it.…
Giulio de’ Medici was born in the exquisite city of Florence, Italy on May 26, 1478. He was the son of Fioretta Gorini, and the prevailing Giuliano de’ Medici whom was in fact one of the pronounced leaders of Florence during the late 1400’s. Giuliano de’ Medici was brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent and was recognized as the “co-ruler” of Florence in his time. After the tragic assassination of his father and death of his mother, Giulio de’ Medici was then taken in and educated by his uncle, Lorenzo the Magnificent.…
Niccolo Machiavelli, known as the founding father of modern Political Science, lived between 1469 and 1752 in Florence in what is known today as Italy. He is not only known for his work in politics and diplomacy, as he was also a well-versed historian. He employed the method of citing historic figures and events in his justification for the suggestions he made in his famous book: The Prince. In the book that was dedicated to Lorenzo Medici, Machiavelli raises many important aspects relating to the political environment, governance and ethics of an individual in possession of political power citing political actions that should and should not be taken, the state briefly and violence in governing which is studied by political philosophers today as there are many ancient concepts…
“Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Everyone sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.” Niccolo Machiavelli Niccolo Machiavelli is a writer from the renaissance. This piece is about Machiavelli’s life and career, his contributions, and how life would be without him in the world. In the paragraph about his life and career it will talk about how he became a writer and what encouraged him to become one in the first place.…