GWC Machiavelli

Machiavelli Background

power shifts in florence between republic and medici

Machiavelli State of Nature

psychological hedonism, should implies can, morality as desired end

Psychological Hedonsim in Machiavelli’s State of Nature

pursuit of pleasure, avoidance of pain

Should Implies Can in Machiavelli’s State of Nature

humans can only act in their selfish nature

Morality in Machiavelli’s State of Nature

morality is subjective, good achieves desired end

Machiavelli’s Methods

past ruler case study

Machiavelli’s Method 1

Cesare Borgia, perfect

Machiavelli’s Method 2

Agothecles of Sicily, power without glory

Machiavelli’s Method 3

Oliverotto of Fermo, power without cunning

Machiavelli’s Method 4

Alexander VI, power without virtue

Machiavelli’s Method 5

Philopoemen, power through war

Cesare Borgia

secured state, delegated cruelty, public virtue

Agothecles of Sicily

well-used cruelty, no public glory

Oliverotto of Fermo

well-used cruelty, no cunning

Alexander VI

well deceiver, no public virtue

Philopoemen

military importance

Machiavelli’s solutions

securing power, beast and man, bad/good cruelty, virtuous appearance, hidden moral egoism

Machiavelli’s Securing Power

reason to violence all equivalent

Machiavelli’s Beast & Man

law and force, fox and lion

Machiavelli’s Good Cruelty

violence all at once to secure power and benefit subjects

Machiavelli’s Bad Cruelty

growing violence causing fear and instability

Machiavelli’s Virtuous Appearance

abstain from subject’s property/women

Machiavelli’s Hidden Moral Egoism

act in self-interest, hide it

Machiavelli’s Ch. 8

defines cruelty, agothecles/oliverotto

Machiavelli’s Ch. 15

virtue as weakness, justified ends

Machiavelli’s Ch. 18

beast and man, fox and lion, appear virtuous

Problems w Machiavelli

too much effort, collapse of order, over-simplified human nature

Hobbes on Machiavelli

agree on state of nature, disagree on hidden moral egoism (effort), war of all against all, must accept social contract

Locke on Machiavelli

disagree on ends justify means, all subject to natural moral law; cruelty as mala in se; source of disorder; anarchy/tyranny

Descartes on Machiavelli

disagree case study method; disagree managing conflict; disagree cruel rulers

Machiavelli on Social Cohesion

Layer 3 in Zone 4 through Hidden Moral Egoism; ruler acts in self-interest in benefit of subject’s interest, prevent chaos