Lesson 157: Machiavelli

The Prince, 1513

1. Most lasting literary work of Italian Renaissance

2. Contrast with Medieval works on politics

3. Ancient and contemporary moralists on princes: princes must act virtuously or will be punished on the Day of Judgement

4. No mention of natural law; citations of Bible, Church Fathers

5. Machiavelli: whatever the state has to do to maintain itself, it has to do

• Raison d’état

1. Prince must always “be prepared to act immorally when this becomes necessary”

2. “In order to maintain his power” he will often be forced “to act treacherously, ruthlessly, and inhumanely”

• What about the Day of Judgement? Machiavelli does not mention it

1. “Glorious crimes” “honorable frauds” if done for a person’s country

• Must do whatever will preserve the state with no regard for what is just or unjust, cruel or merciful

1. Describes what is, not what ought to be

Christianity poorly suited to a robust republic

1. Gentleness, meekness, peace, antiwar, its commitment to a single moral code binding all

2. Machiavelli prefers the Roman ethic, in which the safety of the state is the guiding principle

3. Statecraft had to be completely independent from morality