Machiavelli and Erasmus Compared by GENNADY STOLYAROV II Two scholars who lived simultaneously during the Renaissance could be considered the principal representatives of two colossally different schools of thought‚ humanism and pragmatism‚ which may be termed diametrical opposites in many respects. In their theories regarding government‚ war‚ toleration‚ and the perception of the individual‚ Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) and Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) differed dramatically‚ though with
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Machiavelli Renaissance Humanism is defined as “a literary and linguistic movement-an attempt to revive classical Latin (and later Greek)‚ as well as the values and sensibilities that came with the language” (Hunt et al‚ 415). I think that Machiavelli was a humanist of his era because in his writing The Prince‚ he relied on history to provide a handbook to future rulers and princes. Machiavelli drew much of this guidebook from his past dealings with politicians and their self-ambitious monarchies
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STUDY QUESTIONS NICOLO MACHIAVELLI 1. What opinions does Machiavelli have on the people and the nobility as arbiters of power? Machiavelli recognizes the importance of the people that aims to not be dominated by the nobility and see them as a source of power for the prince. So the people are seen as a malleable figure‚ which ensures the maintenance of power whenever they are satisfied. Instead‚ nobles wish to rule and oppress‚ that’s why people select a prince to protect them from the nobility
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people. A ruler is responsible for maintaining peace and stability. Niccolò Machiavelli‚ the Italian Renaissance philosopher and diplomat‚ states that a person who is morally good would not remain in office for too long because you are dealing with the mass of the people. He then goes on to say that it is acceptable to lie‚ deceit‚ and scheme your people to remain in power. Thomas Hobbes is an English philosopher
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In "The Qualities of the Prince‚" Niccolo Machiavelli describes how he believes a prince should rule. He had "studied the way people lived and aimed to inform leaders" of his research (par.10). He viewed "misery as one of the vices that enables a prince to rule‚" using techniques like deceiving and manipulating in order to accomplish a certain task (par.12). Machiavelli focuses on qualities such as Military skills‚ generosity and miserly and whether a prince should be loved or feared in order to
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generalized classes was far more complicated in reality that it initially seems‚ as socioeconomic classes consist of multiple branches. Nonetheless‚ it all essentially came down to two undeniable factions‚ the oppressors and the oppressed. Niccolo Machiavelli‚ being a mixture of the two due to his living condition while writing the book‚ gained a middle-ground which allowed him to achieve omnipotent intelligence that so many rulers normally lack‚ first hand experience of what it like to live both lives
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will not be as effective of a leader. Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince to try and help upcoming leaders‚ or kings‚ be great ones. The way he wrote the book raises a deceptive leader instead of one who truly tries and earns things. Not only should leaders appear
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that justice was best defined as that which is done to benefit the stronger‚ meaning that in a democracy democratic laws are just and in tyranny‚ tyrannical laws are just‚ and this applies to all other forms of government. Both Thrasymachus and Machiavelli have overlapping points in them views of justice and virtu. In Thrasymachus’s definition of justice and Machiavelli’s definition of virtu some of the concepts that overlap are the willingness to do whatever necessary for the good
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Niccolo Machiavelli was a political philosopher of the Renaissance. He lived from 1496-1527. Niccolo Machiavelli was also a very famous painter in his time. He painted many famous paintings that are seen in museums‚ books‚ and many other places. He was also involved in government throughout his life. Niccolo Machiavelli was a painter‚ political philosopher‚ Italian historian‚ an statesman for influenced many political leaders in Europe. Niccolo Machiavelli led a very political life. In 1494‚ Niccolo
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humans as having great potential‚ as was common in his time‚ Machiavelli analyzes power in a way that is more consistent with the realities of human nature. He recognizes that societies of people are unpredictable and thus difficult to manage. Throughout the text‚ there are multiple suggestions for how a ruler would be able to maintain his power over the people regardless of their capricious nature. In The Prince‚ Niccolo Machiavelli asserts that‚ due to this erratic nature of man‚ a wise prince
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