The Prince And Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince give the world an insight on his thought about those who rule, virtue, military power, and human nature. He elaborates on his ideal prince who must take power, but also maintain power. The Prince is extremely relevant in modern society and often looked upon as the beginning of modern political thinking. Machiavelli gives this prince an outline of the tools needed to maintain power and reinforces these ideas by giving examples of other leader’s successes and failures. Machiavelli believes that the prince must complete understand the balance between war and government. Understanding this balance and being fluent in both politics and war is crucial for maintaining power. Politicians today still use some of the tactics given by

Socrates and Niccolo Machiavelli were both incredibly influential in the development of Western philosophical thought, specifically in relation to ethics in politics. Machiavelli’s text The Prince, written during a period of political turmoil in Italy, outlines the necessary steps a prince must take to obtain both power and authority. Plato’s The Last Days of Socrates assesses the moral and ethical guidelines an ideal leader should possess through the beliefs and teachings of Socrates. While both texts had similar objectives, their opinions were quite contradictory. Socrates would have found Machiavelli’s concept of the “Prince”, and the government he creates to be both unethical and fundamentally flawed. Socrates places higher value on the maintenance and creation of justice, while Machiavelli stresses the process of obtaining and preserving power, unethical or not. Due to their differences in their ideas of virtue, knowledge, and justice it can be concluded that Socrates would not be supportive of the government in which The Prince proposes.

Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince has been both praised and reviled since its publication. In particular, the book’s seventeenth chapter, “Of Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether it is Better to be Loved or Feared,” controversially posits that an effective leader ought to value being feared over being loved (Machiavelli 43). Though many have questioned the veracity of Machiavelli’s claim, an examination of some of the world’s most effective leaders shows that they led through fear. Alexander the Great, the leaders of the Mongols, and even Hammurabi used fear to maintain their authority and the security of their domains.

Machiavelli wrote The Prince trying to ingratiate himself with the Medici princes who had recently taken over the government in Florence in the early sixteenth century. He envisioned this book to be a short, concise handbook for princes who have acquired power and wished to keep it. Accordingly, it begins by dividing all governments into two kinds: republics and "principalities" (those ruled by a "prince," or single ruler). Machiavelli swiftly dismisses the first kind of government as being outside the scope of his argument. He then goes on to subdivide the latter kind. Principalities, he writes, are of two kinds: there are those which have been ruled by a family for a long time, and those which are newly conquered. It is this last kind, obviously,

The prince is a twenty-six-chapter handbook that was written by Niccolo Machiavelli to teach the rulers of his time how to obtain and maintain power. Above and beyond, he did not like the way politics were being run and he was troubled by the problems so he made it clear on how a ruler should be in its state. He mentions that with virtue one must possess the skills, strength, and wisdom, to be a successful ruler. On the other hand, the good and bad represent fortune. Machiavelli was the son of an attorney born in the year of 1469 in Florence, Italy. When in fact, Florence was ruled by the Lorenzo di Medici. Even more, Machiavelli was raised around politic and political fortune so he knew a lot about it so his upbringing helps him advance within

Principalities, to the general population, seem unintelligent and inefficient. However, Niccolò Machiavelli, a Renaissance philosopher, thought it could be possible to create a functional principality under the right guidance and influence. He proved he differed from philosophers and political theorists of his time with the novel, The Prince. In The Prince, Machiavelli states his opinion on how principalities should be obtained and managed through the use historical references and scenarios. At the time of his work, Machiavelli ideas were radical and a first of their kind. Machiavelli had many interesting views such as his opinions on justice, morals, and human nature. He believed justice was non-existing, morals shouldn’t play a role in a

Prince Giacomo Ronzoni has just selected me to help him with his disputes in his city-state. I find myself honored and nervous to take on such a vital task. This makes me a key player in his rule, but if I misguide him the residents of the city-state may behead him and in turn behead me as well. The patrons of the city-state are upset with Prince Giacomo Ronzoni political rulings and there is a risk of a war with our neighbor Modena. However, I think I can offer some sage advice because of my recent reading of Machiavelli’s book, The Prince. Knowing our time is short before a rebellion or a war could break out I must prepare a concise understanding of the book for Prince Giacomo Ronzoni. When I have my advising hearing with the prince I have decided to focus on six main principles: free will, cruelty, arms, history, generosity and the unification of Italy.

The political leader of a state deals with an extensive amount of responsibilities and practices when involved in international relations. Leadership is considered one of the most important aspects of handling a state. In our early readings of The Prince, Machiavelli presents us with his ideology and recommendations for being an appropriate leader of a state, specifically discussing how to be a successful prince. His opinions are followed by many political figures of our present day.

Niccolò Machiavelli wrote “The Prince” as an essential guideline for how to obtain a kingdom and even furthermore ensure the continuance of the kingdom. In doing so, he put forth his ideas that would earn a ban from the Catholic church due it challenging their ideals and often seen as tyranny. While the work is written as a basic guideline for the many aspiring rulers, Machiavelli discusses his wishes for the unity of Italy which somewhat contradicts his ideas in the way a person would be able to obtain a kingdom. Instead of believing in the possibility of the popular utopian society, Machiavelli believed that we should instead treat and govern people for how they really are which can stray far from the utopian mold. Machiavelli was one of the first to publicize the

Niccolo Machiavelli, was an Italian diplomat and writer, born on May 3rd, 1469 in Florence, Italy. In his younger years, Niccolo became a diplomat after the downfall of the Medici family in 1494. Machiavelli earned the reputation of vicious since he enjoyed tormenting his associates. In 1512, the Medici family came to power once again and Machiavelli was accused of conspiracy thus was tortured, jailed and nonetheless banished from getting involved in politics and from Florence (Niccolo Machiavelli Bio). After he was exiled to his father’s small property he wrote one of his major works, The Prince. The book emphasizes on the description of how a leader ought to lead his country effectively.

Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince can be seen as one of the first modern works in political philosophy. It is meant to be read as a guide on how to be a good ruler, and could be interpreted as manifesto dedicated to his patron, Lorenzo De’ Medici (de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic). Machiavelli however, is also attempting through the Treatise to emphasize that the effective truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal. Thus, it could be understood that Machiavelli has had enough of these imagined Republics and of these political writers describing how one ought to live. The Prince, therefore, could be viewed as a satirical critique of Plato and Aristotle and their views of an ideal Republic centered around the good of

By many, Niccolò Machiavelli is infamous for being one of the most controversial political philosophers during the period of 1494-1564. Machiavelli is a realist whose lack of idealistic optimism is the root of his cynicism towards human nature and human weakness. He is a perpetuator of the idea that “the means justifies the end.” Although an ample amount of individuals criticize his principles, many rational thinkers embrace the political realities he so adamantly acquaints his readers with in his writings. His views, though misunderstood, are what built the bridge between the Greek, Roman, and Medieval outlook with that of the modern world.

When looking into the terminology of politics, the words ‘power’ and ‘justice’ often come to mind. In many cases, the leaders of politics toe the line of abusing their political power in order to achieve a state of ‘justice’ for the state. While enacting on these actions, some leaders may encroach on the civil liberties of an individual. Without the interpretation and in-depth thought provided by both Socrates and Machiavelli, I believe the state of politics would be vastly different. Throughout Plato’s The Last Days of Socrates, the reader is able to learn the life and teachings of Socrates, a man highly regarded in the political field. Throughout The Apology, Plato uses Socrates’ experiences as a guide to explore the true meaning of power and justice. Similarly, to The Apology, Machiavelli wrote The Prince as his interpretation of power and political stability during his experiences of civil war and constant political turmoil. In The Prince, there is also an exploration of power, however, Machiavelli distinguishes his work by boldly separating politics and ethics. Machiavelli and Socrates are both similarly interested in the relationship between the state and the individual in regards to the social contract, yet Machiavelli is far less concerned with the moral principles attached to the individual when in power. On the other hand, Socrates cements a firm bond between the individual and the state so much so, that he deeply believes it is impermissible to ever stray from

There are two doors in front of you. One leads to prosperity, the other to happiness. Which do you choose? The philosophies of Socrates and Machiavelli are like these two doors. Both lead to positive futures, but the sociopolitical structures constituting those futures are very different. When a nation is experiencing turmoil, a government is needed that can do more than just preserve the status quo. It must be a beacon lighting a path forward to a better future. A government must have the ability to mitigate and overcome a nation’s difficulties. Socrates and Machiavelli both lived in uncertain times, characterized by corruption and brutality. They each had the goal of creating a government that could endure and surmount inevitable problems, but they differed in how such goal could and should be achieved. Machiavelli’s “The Prince” recognizes and takes advantage of man’s self-interested nature in forming an effective government. Socrates, however, would not support the type of system that Machiavelli proposed. One major distinction between these two important philosophers is that Machiavelli accepts the world as it is, while Socrates preaches about a virtuous ideal. This essential difference is the foundation for why Socrates would be unable to condone the system of government Machiavelli designs in “The Prince.”

When Socrates was executed by hemlock poison in 399 BC, he believed that his death would prove his point. His final public discourse to the trial that would serve as his criticism of Athenian democracy and morals and thus, made him immortal while the men who condemned him were forgotten by the pages of history. When he spoke these words which are now upheld as one of the greatest monologues in recorded history, we can see the inspiration from his apology in the work of Niccolo Machiavelli’s seminal work, the Prince. Though they lived many centuries apart, their works were written in eerily similar contexts. Socrates’ Athens was marked by discord, with tyrants coming and going and the fragile democracy fighting only to protect their reputations. Machiavelli lived in a world of city-states and intrigue, with a fractured Italy struggling to regain its once glorious reputation as the home of the world’s greatest empire. Both of these men were visionaries of their time, rejecting the established order and trying to build a new one. However, the world that these two men imagine are starkly different from one another. One is optimistic, believing that philosophy and justness is king, while the other is a realist who is willing to bend morals and obfuscate the truth in order to ensure stability. If Socrates had been alive to see the vision of the Prince that Machiavelli had written of, I do not believe that he would have been impressed and it would have contrasted greatly with his