Word count: 1‚206 (with citations) The Prince is Machiavelli’s guide for ruling and conquering states. Machiavelli elaborates on various ways to acquire principalities and provides the reader with a straightforward guide on how to successfully conquer and maintain control over states. Machiavelli analyses the strengths and flaws of certain paths to conquest‚ how to maintain a hold on power and the importance of strong arms. Machiavelli sees humans as easily persuaded and simple minded. He believes
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that a ruler has to rule with force. In actuality‚ Machiavelli means no such thing‚ he says that there are times when the common good outweighs the means‚ and the morality of a rulers actions. He also says that you cannot be loved by everyone‚ so try to be loved and feared at the same time‚ but of the two‚ choose to be feared. The Prince is considered to be one of the most important of nonfiction literature written in the history of mankind.
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Machiavelli entering into evil In chapter VIII‚ Machiavelli believed that the necessity of being cruel is really important for the princes or leaders. He does not hesitate to support the necessity of cruelty and crime in founding power; however the cruelty has to be limited; otherwise the princes will be hated. Machiavelli argued that cruel acts must be committed only as necessary‚ but all at once and then ceased‚ so that the populace will forget them. “Hence it should be noted that in talking
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Machiavelli and Adolf Hitler are both names synonymous with evil: killing without reason‚ fear tactics‚ cruelty. “Adolf Hitler‚ according to his own word‚ kept The Prince by his bedside‚ where it served as a constant source of inspiration…” (Downs 201). Machiavelli’s work is known as a guide to holding absolute power; Hitler took The Prince’s advice‚ but the extent is up for debate. They shared basic mutual principles‚ but certain technicalities are different. Hitler took a great amount of inspiration
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Niccolo Machiavelli’s‚ “The Prince” is all about having the right character‚ political mind‚ and taking the right cause of action in order to be what Machiavelli describes as a strong Prince. In chapters 5-10‚ Machiavelli gives the reader a perfect image of the stone-hearted reputation that he has been renowned for throughout his years as a political writer. He states his own beliefs on annexing a democratically free state‚ commonwealth‚ or republic and how to appropriately reign over the peoples
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assessment of Machiavelli ’s claim that ’people should be either caressed or crushed ’. by Glen Thomson (11161340) for the course: Political Theory (200.215) Niccoló Machiavelli lived in violent times. He was an acute observer of the political realm and he read and studied the works of the great philosophers. Using these experiences he wrote a book called ’The Prince ’‚ in part to exhibit his ingenuity and knowledge‚ in part to try and secure employment of a political nature. In The Prince he makes
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Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3‚ 1469 in Florence‚ Italy. The young Machiavelli became a diplomat after the temporary fall of Florence’s ruling Medici family in 1494. He served for 14 years during Medici family exile. After his involvement in an unsuccessful attempt to organize a Florence militia against Medici return in 1512. Machiavelli was jailed and banished with any role in political life. As an exile Machiavelli turned to farming and writing. His major efforts‚ however‚ were of a literary
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The Prince each present an “ideal” state along with a description of what an “ideal” founder of such a state would be like. The ideals of these two great men differ immensely and the foundation for these differences can be found in their distinctive views regarding human nature. Once this is assessed the picture that each man paints of their ideal ruler or founder becomes much clearer. Plato promotes the concept of philosopher-kings who rule over his imagined Utopian society‚ while Machiavelli endorses
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Of the many disparities between Plato and Machiavelli‚ the distinction of virtue versus virtu sticks out like a sore thumb. Virtue was the political bases for Plato: All men should behave virtuously at all times. Whereas Machiavelli believed virtu was the basis for political prowess. What was best for the state as a whole was the main concern‚ and the ends always justified the means. Plato’s object was the creation of a utopian society--a civilization that abhorred war and centered itself upon
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Unlike the idealistic ancient philosophers such as Plato‚ who discusses politics in “the context of things above politics” (Machiavelli vii)‚ the modern philosophers‚ Niccolò Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes‚ take a realistic approach in explaining political actions and outcomes. Considered to be among the first social scientists‚ they both try to delve deep into the nature of mankind and its relationship to politics. In the course of doing so‚ both authors seem to believe that virtue and morality‚
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