· This page of the essay has words. Download the full version above. Introduction. Niccolò Machiavelli (3 May ‘ 21 June ) was born into this unstable time of shifting fortunes in the year He served in a number of minor government positions, and was banished or imprisoned at various points of his blogger.comted Reading Time: 8 mins Niccolo Machiavellis gift to Lorenzo de Medici, The Prince, is a discourse discussing politics and how a prince should rule his state. Machiavelli describes his beliefs on the most efficient way for a prince to rule and remain in power and validates his arguments by Machiavelli Prince Essay The Prince, By Machiavelli Words | 7 Pages In The Prince, Machiavelli doesn’t hesitate to recommend that a ruler employ conventionally immoral methods against his own subjects to maintain authority over them, but he does imply that whatever a ruler does should ultimately benefit the community
In the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, Italy was in an unfavorable position. It was divided into small parts. Rome, Florence, Genoa, Venice, and other parts of the country were all independent warring states.
The country was at war with such powerful states as modern-time France and Spain, machiavelli the prince essay. Great thinkers of the epoch tried to find the right answer. One of the most outstanding authors of his century was Niccolo Machiavelli. Who was Machiavelli? He is famous as a diplomat, philosopher, and writer.
His best-known masterpiece is The Prince that he wrote in Niccolo contributed to Western thinking through a number of other essential discourses, machiavelli the prince essay, too. He wrote a lot about the principles of warfare and diplomacy. For many years, he served as a high-ranking official in the Florentine Republic. For example, in the years —he worked as secretary of the second chancellor. At that time, the powerful dynasty of Medici was not in power in Florence.
Machiavelli witnessed how Medici II re-gained power machiavelli the prince essay helping the Spanish forces defeat Florence. Machiavelli was expelled from the citystate of Florence for a year. Inhe went to prison. He was released after three weeks. He was engaged in diplomatic and military affairs. His personal letters are a valuable source of information for historians and scholars. From the facts that we know, Machiavelli seemed never to consider himself a philosopher.
He even denied some philosophical studies. Neither was he satisfied with the standard model of academic philosophy. His writings machiavelli the prince essay not always systematic and consistent. Instead of pure logical analysis, he often turns to experience and examples. However, Machiavelli is usually listed among political philosophers. He tried to emphasize a pure political pragmatism. He focused on existential questions, too. Philosophers all over the world are eager to study and discuss his ideas.
The term is rather widespread in both political and business spheres, machiavelli the prince essay. It challenges the entire tradition of political philosophy. It gives a different perspective on the motives and actions of rulers. The principles written down by Machiavelli were meant to help the Prince become influential and respected. InLorenzo became the duke of Urbino. He develops a strategy for quite an authoritarian ruler. The thinker advises the Prince to modify his ruling style.
He claims that combining different methods in ruling the state is more effective. This should help the Prince expand the empire and make people from all over the state loyal to him. However, at the time people achieved power either by overthrowing others or inheriting the throne.
It was too early for moral and ethical considerations to play a crucial role. Democracy was not accessible at the epoch. Let us consider the tips proposed by Machiavelli in more detail. Conquering power through wars implies cruelty. Despite innocent victims, Machiavelli claims that it is an appropriate means to gain and keep power. Machiavelli the prince essay thinker gives a horrible recommendation to make sure that the previous ruler has no heirs.
In his essay, Machiavelli reflects on how love and fear help a ruler preserve power. Any leader needs obedience and loyalty of their subordinates. According to the author, Lorenzo should know how to make people like him and be afraid of him at the same time. That is arguably the main objective of a new ruler. While everyone is unique, Machiavelli does not focus on their differences.
For a ruler, it is not necessary to view their subjects as individuals. Instead, Machiavelli refers to a group of subordinates. What regards the laws, taxes, and so on, Machiavelli argues that the new ruler should not change anything. He recommends preserving the old way of life that people are used to. Most people should be OK with it. People do not like changes, machiavelli the prince essay.
Keeping things as-is is said to be the best way for new rulers to establish hereditary possessions. That is a vital component of preserving the gained power. To accomplish this objective, military people need to protect the borders of the kingdom. The diplomat supports the use of military methods to strengthen power. Naturally, this can also protect the country.
The concept mentioned above implies that the ruler should be more artful and astute than his subjects. Otherwise, those who should obey might rebel, machiavelli the prince essay.
Meanwhile, subjects must protect the strong leader, fear his power, and avoid any confrontation with him. When people describe someone cunning and sly, they compare that person to a fox.
He believes that a ruler should possess the qualities of a fox in order to succeed. A good and wise prince should know how to win, even if the methods are not direct and just. Honesty and sincerity are not the essential qualities for a ruler, according to the thinker. In the meantime, foxes are not the strongest animals. A lion is way more imposing and seems to have more power. Lions are often called the kings of all animals. When it comes to inspiring fear and respect, a lion is a better example for a prince.
What is the best motive for the subjects to keep loyal to the rule? Should it be love or fear? Machiavelli claims that the ruler must inspire both fear and love. This might be challenging, of course. But the wisdom of any ruler is in finding that balance. According to Machiavelli, those who cannot secure their position through both love and fear should choose the one they are more confident machiavelli the prince essay. In the meantime, choosing one does not exclude the other.
While using fear as the main source of power, machiavelli the prince essay, the Prince should strive to win sympathy, machiavelli the prince essay.
If a ruler cannot make people love him, he will at least need to ensure he is not hated. Another thing a prince should be an expert at is controlling the quality of the army. The soldiers should be organized and should know the rules well.
Machiavelli claims that a good army reflects good laws. Sometimes fidelity of subjects is better protection for the state than a new fortress. He notes that leaders must consider the interests of the state first. Being an expert at prioritizing is very beneficial for a ruler. The ultimate goal for Florence of that time was uniting different Italian states. Accordingly, any methods were acceptable on the way to this.
But personal gains could not become the objective. While Machiavelli emphasizes the role of a strong leader, he also recommends having wise advisors. Lorenzo di Medici was not experienced enough to run the state just on his own.
That was especially true for the tough period and the crisis that Florence was going through. Niccolo Machiavelli suggests how to run a state in a volatile political situation. Many recommendations imply perceiving the machiavelli the prince essay as instruments for gaining prosperity. In Machiavellianism, machiavelli the prince essay power victory is the ultimate goal.
Any means to reach the goal are machiavelli the prince essay. A present-day reader might be unpleasantly surprised at that perception. However, Machiavelli lived in a different epoch.
POLITICAL THEORY - Niccolò Machiavelli
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The Prince, by Machiavelli Essay Words6 Pages “It is much safer to be feared than loved.” This quotation was just a specimen of the harsh and very practical political annotation of the legendary historian, Niccolò Machiavelli – philosopher, patriot, diplomat, advisor and statesman · In chapter eighteen, he writes that there “are two ways of contesting, the one by the law, the other by force; the first method is proper to men, the second to beasts; but because the first is frequently not sufficient, it is necessary to have recourse to the second… it is necessary for a prince to understand how to avail himself of the beast and the man” (p) Since in the Machiavellian theory the prince’s Machiavelli Prince Essay The Prince, By Machiavelli Words | 7 Pages In The Prince, Machiavelli doesn’t hesitate to recommend that a ruler employ conventionally immoral methods against his own subjects to maintain authority over them, but he does imply that whatever a ruler does should ultimately benefit the community
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