Machiavelli's The Prince

Machiavelli (1469-1527)--the most famous and controversial

Political writer of his time

Early works had shown signs of his keen insight into

the amoral and efficient prince

The Prince, published five years after his death, had been planned as a re-entry into politics

and the hope of obtaining public office

Most important works: Discourses on the First Ten Books of Livy (1513-21); The Prince (1513).

Today, Machiavelli's entire reputation rest on The Prince

Machiavelli chose to write The Prince in the vernacular Italian--

and in doing so helped to strengthen and elevate the language

Introduced into the world a handbook for obtaining and

maintaining power through ruthlessness and amorality

Manuals such as The Prince were classified

as pedagogical literature

Machiavelli's literary voice--that of a seasoned,

experienced political advisor lends immediacy to the manual

The Prince is noted for it plain style

and the dramatic oratorical address to the reader

Pedagogy

Teaching, instruction

Realpolitic

Power politics, real politics, practical politics, Politics that works

Persona

Role player, estemed personality

Amorality

absence of morality

Autocrat

Self-sufficient

Fortune (Fortuna)

Luck, happenstance, unknown entity that everyday life experience, goals changed of everyday life

Republic

Any form of government, election of delegates

Machiavellian

Cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, esp. in politics or in advancing one's career.

Power politics

Whatever it takes to get the job done, means justify the end

Romagna

Occupied by Pope Alexander after given by king Louis; Central part of Italy

Machiavelli's premise

Human beings are evil. Aspiring politicians cannot allow themselves to be religious or philosophical; they must be practical

In this political handbook of 26 chapters, Machiavelli

1. Views politics in a world in which mutual loyalty, faith, and honest cannot be thought to exist 2. Creates a myth of the "Savior Prince," helping to create thereby the modern notion of politics as a source of salvation 3. Establishes the notion of amorality in politics, i.e., politics unfettered by questions of right and wrong 4. Points to the modern secular state, with its disregard and disdain for earlier Christian ideals and theorists

Machiavelli, unlike the great thinkers before him--pagan and Christian--did not seem to regret the state of affairs in which he found himself

Instead, he embraced the secular worldview and advocated power politics. In this regard, he broke with the classical tradition of lamenting the excesses and wrongs of contemporary society

From Chapter 2:

"It is easier to maintain and keep hereditary kingdoms (principates)."

From Chapter 3:

"The prince (or ruler) should establish himself (colonization) in the new territory by becoming part of it as did the Romans."

From Chapter 15:

"Hence, if a prince wishes to maintain himself, he must learn how to be not good, and to use that ability or not as is required."

From Chapter 16:

"I assert that it is good to be thought liberal."

"You can be a free giver of what does not belong to you or your subjects, as were Cyrus, Caesar, and Alexander,

because to spend the money of others does not decrease your reputation but adds to it."

From Chapter 17: "All this gives rise to a question for debate: Is it better to be loved than to be feared, or the reverse?

I answer that a prince should wish for both. But because it is difficult to reconcile them, I hold that it is much more secure to be feared than to be loved, if one of them must be given up."

From Chapter 18: [About the mythological beast Chiron] "To have as teacher one who is half beast and half man means nothing else

than that a prince needs to know how to use the qualities of both creatures. The one without the other will not last long."

"So a prince needs to be a fox that he may know how to deal with traps,

and a lion that he may frighten the wolves."

From Chapter 18: "A prudent ruler, therefore, cannot and should not observe faith when such observance is to his disadvantage and the causes that made him give his promise have vanished.

If men were all good, this advice would not be good, but since men are wicked and do not keep their promises to you, you likewise do not have to keep yours to them."

From Chapter 18: "I mean that he should seem compassionate, trustworthy, humane, honest, and religious, and actually be so;

but yet he should have his mind so trained that, when it is necessary not to practice these virtues, he can change to the opposite, and do it skillfully."

Nature of Ultimate Reality

Machiavelli is not concerned to address this question theologically or philosophically, but he does indeed assume the existence of God as did his society generally.

Nature of the World

We can find the answer to this indicator arising out of the text itself when, clearly, Machiavelli assumes the reality of the created order and acknowledges the presence of good and evil

Humanity

As we discussed earlier, Machiavelli's view of humanity was not an optimistic one. He acknowledged the fallenness of humanity and the need for a strong ruler to keep this fallen and rebellious society in check--even if such control is exercised merely for the ruler's own retention of power

Basis for Morality

A striking feature of Machiavelli's The Prince is its plea for the amorality of the prince or ruler. The end will always justify the means; there is no foundational moral law governing every aspect of life and rulership.

Purpose of Society

With regard to society--as distinct from humanity, Machiavelli seems more optimistic. He seems to believe that with the right power and control, society can be made to be orderly, productive, and useful to human beings. He seems to be hoping for the so-called "secular city."