Thoughts on Ruling: Machiavelli VS. Petrarch In the fourteenth century‚ the humanist philosopher Francesco Petrarch wrote a letter entitled How a Ruler Ought to Govern His Sate. Nearly a century later‚ another philosopher by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a book about governing‚ The Prince. The two documents show many similarities in content and theme. While the two wrote in similar subject matter‚ it is clear that these philosophers possess distinctly different viewpoints on how a ruler
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theory of Niccolò Machiavelli‚ and yet differs in the theory of virtù. Hobbes follows Machiavelli in some important aspects of political theory‚ and yet expands upon or discards Machiavelli’s ideas in other important aspects. Both men agree that politics directly corresponds to the nature of man and that the concepts of right and wrong are arbitrary and result only from human perspectives and experience. Hobbes focuses on the principle that what is good and what is evil comes from a person’s own interests
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Niccolò Machiavelli thoroughly discusses the importance of religion in the formation and maintenance of political authority in his famous works‚ The Prince and The Discourses. In his writing on religion‚ he states that religion is beneficiary in the formation of political authority and political leaders must support and endorse religion in order to maintain power. However‚ Machiavelli also critiques corrupt religious institutions that become involved in politics and in turn‚ cause corruption in
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David Zinland 9/6/13 Period 2 Machiavelli Assignment In The Prince by Machiavelli‚ he lays out a recommended plan on how to manage the city for the current Prince. His plan is today considered to be manipulative‚ and diabolical. Machiavelli might be slightly manipulative but I believe that he is still an astute political mind that is seeking to regain his power. For a long time Machiavelli served as the secretary to the Second Chancery in Florence where he travelled on diplomatic missions
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than loved. This is the second quality that Machiavelli gives advise that will make a good ruler. Every prince would want to be considered merciful‚ though he should be careful not to mismanage this clemency of his. Machiavelli point out how Cesare Borgia was cruel‚ yet he was able to provide peace and order to the Romagna. Therefore‚ no prince should mind being called cruel for what he does to keep his subjects united and loyal. Machiavelli believes that a prince should make examples of punishing
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Ching Shih‚ also known as the Pirate Queen‚ was the most powerful female pirate of her time. Before she became a pirate‚ Ching Shih worked as a prostitute in a floating brothel in Canton. Ching Shih was born Shi Xiang Gu in 1775. In 1801‚ the Pirate Zhéng Yi married Ching Shih. It is said that Zhéng Yi chose Ching Shih because of her because of her abilities as a businesswoman‚ using the secrets she learned as a prostitute to control her powerful and affluent clients. Ching Shih agreed to marry
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The Impact of Niccolò Machiavelli “It is much safer to be feared than loved.” This quotation is an example of the tough and practical political commentary of Niccolò Machiavelli— philosopher‚ statesman‚ and patriot. The son of a poor lawyer‚ Niccolò spent many hours educating himself in his father’s library. In 1498‚ he began a political career in Florence‚ Italy that would lead him to write one of the most important books in history—The The Prince (1513). Machiavelli was not a great artist or religious
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Machiavelli and Hobbes To be successful‚ one must have the appearance of virtuousness‚ but not necessarily be virtuous. At least‚ this appears to be true according to Niccolo Machiavelli’s works. Machiavelli’s idea of the virtuous republican citizen may be compared to Hobbes’ idea of a person who properly understands the nature and basis of sovereign political power. Hobbes’ ideas seem to suggest that most anyone can claim rightful authority as there is a belief in God‚ and one can under Hobbes
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Justification of Cruelty in Machiavelli’s “The Prince” Throughout his work “The Prince‚” Machiavelli explores the characteristics of an ideal leader and offers practical advice on a variety of matters associated with one’s rise to power. Characteristically‚ his arguments are straightforward and rational and he frequently employs historical evidence to strengthen them. One profound hypothesis presents itself in Chapter VIII of this political discourse in which Machiavelli focuses on the necessary evil of cruelty
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Dante and Machiavelli define opposite sides of the Renaissance in several ways. Certainly the former believes that God will reveal all and call people to account for their behavior‚ while the latter gives every sign of believing in no God and supposing that scrupulous behavior only makes one a target for ruthless exploitation. This difference in the two could be expressed in terms of religious faith—but they could also be said to have differing views of human nature. Try to get to the heart of
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