Machiavelli's Conception of Virtu and Fortuna

In The Prince, Machiavelli describes the different methods of acquiring the power over a state. The first he mentions is if the principalities are acquired through one’s own arms and virtue. They “acquire their principality with difficulty but hold it with ease.”(23) The second, “Of New Principalities That Are Acquired by Others’ Arms and Fortune.”(25) Someone gives these to the prince either for money or by the favor of whoever gave it. “Those who become princes from private individual solely by fortune become so with little trouble, but maintain themselves with much.”(25) The next, “Of Those Who Have Attained a Principality through Crimes.”(34) Acquired through crime, the states

In the year 1531 the famous political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli’s wrote a treatise entitled The Prince. It explains the proper guidelines for a prince to successfully lead a republic. Although this sixteenth century politician’s main purpose was to unite a separate Italy, his political theories have been taken into deep consideration and are commonly exercised in politics today. If Machiavelli were alive today he would agree that qualities of the current president Barack Obama coincide with his prince-like standards and make him the ideal candidate for the 2012 Presidential Election.

Niccolò Machiavelli was a noticeable figure during the early sixteenth century. He is most famously recognized as the author of The Prince, a handbook for politicians which inspired the term “Machiavellian”. His writing also solidified his position as the father of modern political theory. His political view stemmed from observing the division of Italy into small city-state systems during the late fifteenth century. According to Machiavelli, the success of the city-states was dependent on the effectiveness of the autocrats who headed these states. Through observation, he saw what was necessary for an authoritarian state to be successful. He was bursting with theories, the first being that he believed that the state and its laws were a creation of man that must be protected by the prince. He also argued that conflict could be useful under the organization of a ruler. Another idea that Machiavelli strongly professed, was his thought that men are not equal. His belief was that some men

The base of Machiavelli’s guide for rulers is the prevailment of practicality over idealism. The philosopher writes in chapter fifteen, “the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation. . .” (Machiavelli 54). This is a profound statement which still holds true today. People constantly reap benefits from their lack of ethics while the kind ones are left behind. Machiavelli often uses anecdotes from the reign of his contemporary Cesare Borgia to support this. In chapter 7, Machiavelli discusses Borgia’s reconciliation of the divided factions in the ruler’s newly acquired territory of Romagna. Borgia appointed the tyrannical

This was reflected in his positivity of Cesare Borgia and the bloody deeds that he committed. Through his diplomatic duties Machiavelli had extensive contact with Borgia before his exile. He saw Borgia as a prime example of a great military and political leader. Borgia is often said to be the model that The Prince is based on, “if not the ‘hero’ of the work as a whole” (Zuckert, 2013: 494). For Machiavelli says that a smart leader will “set out to follow a trail blazed by someone who was truly great, someone really worth imitating”

Chapter seven in “The Prince”, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, talks about the difference between a person using virtue and fortune to maintain their power. In lecture, Professor Van Den Abbeele defined virtue as, “Whatever it takes to stay in power”. Machiavelli states that a prince who uses his own prowess, or virtue, to will be able to solidify a strong foundation and maintain his power, unlike a prince who uses fortune to rise through the ranks. In the chapter Machiavelli mentions Cesare Borgia, also known as Duke Valentino, as an example of a person gaining power through the fortune of his father, Pope Alexander VI. However, Cesare Borgia would later use his own prowess and intelligence to secure and solidify a strong foundation for him

Niccolo Machiavelli is a very pragmatic political theorist. His political theories are directly related to the current bad state of affairs in Italy that is in dire need of a new ruler to help bring order to the country. Some of his philosophies may sound extreme and many people may call him evil, but the truth is that Niccolo Machiavelli’s writings are only aimed at fixing the current corruptions and cruelties that filled the Italian community, and has written what he believed to be the most practical and efficient way to deal with it. Three points that Machiavelli illustrates in his book The Prince is first, that “it is better to be feared then loved,”# the second

Phuc Pham Amalia Herrmann Humanities Core H1AS 28024 11 December 2014 Synergy to Success The key to success is not intelligence alone, but virtue. Nothing in the world is able to take the place of virtue; not talent, determination nor fortune. In The Prince by Machiavelli, the term virtue implies valor, courage, character, power, and masculinity.

“We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either” This quote by Niccolo Machiavelli, Italian statesman and author, shows that if you are very lucky and end up with one or more advantages, it is reasonable to say that fortune is the reason for your prosperity. If you end up with one or more advantages it is because of your virtues that you can rely on your prosperity. Government and writing are two things that Machiavelli has experience in. Machiavelli’s importance blossomed when he became ruler and secretary of the second ruler of the florentine republic. Later in life, he wrote several books including the book for which he has gained renown, The Prince.

Machiavelli has long been required reading for everyone intrested in politics and power. In The Prince Niccolo M

Machiavelli believes that historic events are the consequence of fortune and circumstance. For proof of circumstance, he brings up Italy, “...an open country without barriers and without any defense. For if it had been defended by proper valor... either this invasion would not have made the great changes it has made or it would not have come at all,”(121). If the circumstances for Italy would've been different with better protection , the invasion against Italy would not have occurred. For proof of fortune, he says, “Because men are seen... to get there by various methods; one with caution, another with haste; one by force, another by skill; one by patience, another by its opposite; and each one succeeds in reaching the goal by a different method. One

First of all, Machiavelli is the Italian political philosopher who is best known for his book, “the principe”. He emphasised the words “prowess” and “fortune” to describe two distinct ways in which a prince can come to power. This can be seen in modern American society, such as Trump who is the president of US. Not only his ability his talent (prowess) were important to become a president. More over, he was blessed with good fortune. For example, the US adopt “winner-take-all” which is the system that a candidate who got the biggest number of votes in each state can get all the votes of the citizens who live there.

Niccolo Machiavelli was the first to clearly decipher politics from ethics by studying politics in such depth and thought. He created the basis of what politics should be and how they are runned for today. His book The Prince is primarily a handbook for all rulers to follow to be the most successful in their reign. His book is considered political realism which means he speaks about only the truth of politics, so it can be used for the practice of governing. Machiavelli’s book is the handbook for obtaining and maintaining power even for today’s modern politics.

Speaking of such qualities as ruthless and mercy, Machiavelli argues that every ruler would like to be regarded as merciful and not cruel. Another thing is that often in order to retain power the ruler has to show cruelty. If the state is threatened with chaos or mess, the task of the prince is to prevent this even if it is necessary to arrange some reprisals. After all, with respect to the rest of the citizens, these executions will become a noble deed since riots and chaos would bring suffering to them (Machiavelli 24). Machiavelli provides an example of Cesare Borgia whose cruelty led to peace in the state. In that way, the

When reading Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, one can’t help but grasp Machiavelli’s argument that morality and politics can not exist in the same forum. However, when examining Machiavelli’s various concepts in depth, one can conclude that perhaps his suggested violence and evil is fueled by a moral end of sorts. First and foremost, one must have the understanding that this book is aimed solely at the Prince or Emperor with the express purpose of aiding him in maintaining power. Therefore, it is essential to grasp his concepts of fortune and virtue. These two contrary concepts reflect the manner in which a Prince should govern while minimizing all chance and uncertainty. This kind of governing demands violence to be taken, however this