G. Aaron Rangel Saltoun-Ebin 2/6/13 5863410 328 words What is Machiavelli’s attitude toward mankind? Does his view of man’s relation to fortune reflect optimism or pessimism? Machiavelli‚ a 15th ce writer and philosopher‚ had a negative and distrustful attitude towards mankind as he writes in his book “The Prince” about how to be the most effective ruler. His writing style throughout the book reflects that he was pessimistic towards man’s fortune. In Machiavelli’s most famous book‚ he
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Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian prince as well as a writer who lived in Florence during the renaissance. One of his most famous wittings‚ “The Prince”‚ debates weather or not It is better for leaders to be feared or loved. Machiavelli’s book contains much evidence that shows how a leader who is feared makes a stronger leader. Others Interpret that “The Prince” describes that it is better for a leader to be loved. Although both positions have valid points I believe that there is more evidence
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In The Prince Machiavelli tries to approach the rules in order for them to understand the importance of knowing how to rule from a citizen’s perspective. He states that there are two main types of principalities: the new and the hereditary ones. The first ones‚ are acquired through the usage of force or influences‚ so their life cycle are more difficult to over go. On the other hand‚ the second ones are passed from one generation to another‚ so as they are already in the tradition of the people‚
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would be one of which who show trustworthiness‚ mercy‚ religiousness‚ etc.‚ all of which are good traits. On the contrary‚ according to Machiavelli‚ the ideal prince would at most show none of these traits and yet seem to possess them all at once. The ideal prince for Machiavelli would be one who is cruel and prudent and is more miserly than liberal. Machiavelli feels that an ideal prince would be cruel enough to bestow enough fear upon his subjects that he would gain respect‚ while at the same
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Joanna Wilbur 2010-2011 Global: Summer Reading Notes The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli 1) Why did Machiavelli write The Prince? Machiavelli wrote The Prince because he wanted to impress Lorenzo de Medici‚ who was the current ruler‚ and prove that he was knowledgeable and a useful advisor to him. He also wrote it as a mirror for Princes to read and understand how to be effective in power. 2) Name three recurring themes in The Prince? 1) One recurring theme in The Prince was
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The Founding Father’s views on government were influenced by both the classical republican and the natural rights philosophers. The two groups of philosophers held very different views on how a government should run. The classical republicans believed that the individual should sacrifice his or her personal freedoms in order to gain the greater good. The natural rights philosophers‚ on the other hand‚ held that a person’s individual freedoms out to be preserved at all costs. The two greatest
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been an easy endeavor and very few rulers have been able to accomplish this. "This leads us to a question that is in dispute: Is it better to be loved than feared‚ or vice versa?" (Machiavelli‚ 51) An effective ruler would be one that relies upon fear without hatred‚ rather than love‚ as described by Niccolo Machiavelli in his book The Prince. In a perfect world all people would be good-hearted‚
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The few or the many? Their lives or our lives? One action‚ or many more months of fighting with many more deaths to come‚ with no end in sight? These were the questions that the American government had to ask themselves during World War II‚ when deciding on whether or not to use the atomic bombs that they had at their disposal. The weapon was eventually used‚ and while controversial‚ it was done with a good end in mind. The ends do‚ in fact‚ justify the means of war if the goal is good‚ and if the
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Niccolo Machiavelli‚ in his work “The Prince” talks in detail about how a prince must act in order to be a truly effective and prosperous ruler. One of his cardinal rules for these princes is the idea that‚ “A prince should have no other object‚ nor any other thought‚ nor take anything else as his art but that of war and its orders and discipline; for that is the only art which is of concern to one who commands.” (The Prince‚ 58). William Shakespeare in his play Henry V tells the life of Henry the
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US people‚ keep the stable of the US society or at least safeguard the interests of one’s own party. In a country like the US that put nation’s interest and human rights first‚ is not easy to embody ethics in foreign politics. In The Prince‚ Machiavelli (1988) discussed the importance of having a strong army in many chapters. Based on his time‚ he suggests that a prince should not depend on mercenary or auxiliary armies. The US not only needs mercenary and auxiliary armies but also has the strongest
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