THEME Machiavelli had a true and abiding love for Florence. He wanted to make Florence great and also find himself a job‚ as he lost his when the Medici family came into power. He dedicated his book on political science‚ The Prince‚ to Lorenzo Medici in the hopes that Lorenzo would be impressed and offer him a job. However‚ Lorenzo ignored the book and Machiavelli. The Prince is a didactic examination of political power‚ how to achieve it‚ maintain it‚ and expand it. Machiavelli does not
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military force or political fortune. Machiavelli continues by admitting that hereditary principalities are much easier to govern than those that are newly developed since the prince who rules by inheritance simply has to follow in the paths of his ancestors. The Duke of Ferrara is an example of such a prince. Though he was attacked by outside forces on two separate occasions‚ the fact that he was a hereditary prince placed him on good standing
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Although Socrates would not agree with Machiavelli in The Prince‚ he would be able to find some aspects that he would view as being practical in establishing a just political regime‚ such as having an autocratic leader in charge that knows what is best for the people‚ as well as being loved by the people. Socrates would find Machiavelli’s belief that the ruler of a society should have an elevated wisdom that most citizens do not possess to be beneficial to creating a just government. He would also
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A good leader is one who can stand up against the norm and take risks to uphold their state. According to Machiavelli‚ in his book The Prince‚ this includes taking actions that are not favored by the majority. Though Machiavelli was born on May 3rd‚ 1469 and only wrote his book in 1513‚ his ideas were so significant that they apply even to contemporary leaders. Angela Merkel‚ the chancellor of Germany‚ is facing situations that can either prove her strength as a leader or set the European Union on
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“The Prince” Nicolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince‚ which has been used by many to learn and understand his realistic political theory. In the text‚ Machiavelli depicts his very flagrant and stark outlook of human nature. He also goes into explaining why he feels that most human beings are wretched‚ selfish creatures. Hence his political theory‚ being is for a prince to control his people is to have them fear him. With my own personal experiences in life‚ I would have to agree with Machiavelli’s
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Machiavelli wrote a guide of advice to kings about how to effectively rule. Many rulers have successfully followed his advice. Others have not. While Richard the third was Machiavellian in some ways‚ many of the things he did Machiavelli would not have condoned of. This is especially the case with regards to his attempts to win the people’s goodwill. Richard the Third had not done this and ultimately paid the price. Richard the Third was not a Machiavellian king. On the surface‚ Richard may appear
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A vital component of Machiavelli’s system of morality is that it is necessary for a ruler to occasionally “make exception to being good” (Machiavelli‚ 55). This means that sometimes a ruler must take on certain actions that are not necessarily considered “good” in order to maintain and extend his power. Despite occasionally making exceptions to being good it is still crucial for a ruler to be viewed as virtuous to his people. The ruler does not necessarily have to actually act virtuously to be viewed
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Toys “R” Us and Machiavelli’s Virtues Machiavelli believed that what one may have been taught as moral and ethical might actually deter you from advancing and obtaining power and that one may need to do “bad” actions only when it’s necessary to protect yourself‚ maintain and/or gain power. Under Machiavellis’ virtues‚ a leader should use‚ “whatever means are available to promote the acquisition and maintenance of one’s power‚” (Cavico‚ Mujtaba‚ 2009‚ pg. 65). When one looks at Toys “R” Us’ conduct
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translating as ’from the founding of the city (Rome)’. What Machiavelli set out to detail within the Discourses in essence‚ is the refined knowledge gleaned from an in depth analysis of Livy’s accounts‚ observations of the legislative‚ socio-political and military management structures that provided Ancient Rome such a stable and economically fruitful empire. Concerning the structures of governance as it was in 16th century florence‚ Machiavelli expressed the opinion that only six forms of government
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I think Machiavelli means leaders need to show their followers their human qualities. When using these qualities‚ leaders get people to believe what they are doing is in the best interest of everyone. Leaders get people on their side and the people do not see they are being manipulated to believe in what leaders want them to believe. But in reality‚ leaders are manipulating people to do what they want to achieve their objective. Machiavelli believes it is better to be feared
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