Bridget Moran Hum2230 Are the Political Ideas of Machiavelli still relevant in Today’s World? Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence. Machiavelli was considered one of the most controversial political philosophers of his time. Machiavelli began working in the Florence government at a young age, employed as a clerk and later as an ambassador to the “Holy Roman Emperor Maximilan, the King of France and Pope Julius II.” Throughout his employment with the government of Florence, Machiavelli began noticing the effects that one person had over an entire country. In 1513 Machiavelli wrote what would be one of his most renowned works “The Prince,” in which Machiavelli expresses his political ideas of ruling a …show more content…
Although some leaders today would deny that fact that they act under Machiavelli’s way of thinking or behavior. Some would argue the fact that Machiavelli’s political ideas are in fact still relevant. In Scott Erb’s, “Reading Revolutions: Great Minds, Great Thoughts Machiavelli and Power Politics,” Erb states that if we could bring Machiavelli to the year 2005, “would Machiavelli have gone to war with Iraq?” Scott goes on to state that this would be a case where “Machiavelli would have relied on deception, delusion, and secret deals, perhaps even with Saddam Hussein.” Erb also pose another questioned in which he asks, “How would Machiavelli assess the war in Iraq?” He states that “it’s pretty obvious that Machiavelli would have assessed it as a dismal failure. He’d argue that if you are to fight a war, and you are a major power, you must come at it with everything you need to totally dominate. He’d be appalled at the way the US has allowed itself to be weakened and humiliated by not having enough forces to control the country, but yet enough to create dissent at home and chaos in Iraq. He’d also think the idea of spreading democracy or nation building was absurd; better to simply put an authoritarian leader in power that will be friendly to us.” If we take a look at the Patriot Act, would we say that would have been something that Machiavelli would have approve. What about protecting the country by any means necessary from terrorism? Would
Niccolo Machiavelli was a unique politician, philosopher, and writer who lived in Florence, Italy during the European Renaissance period of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is most famously known for writing his ruthless handbook for rulers, The Prince, during his time in exile in 1513. This contentious piece of literature has been fondly referred to as “the guidebook for tyrants and totalitarians,” according to the documentary, Machiavelli: The Prince by director Jett Rink. However, the document has also been credited with positively paving the way for ethnic and religious toleration, individual rights, and modern democracies all throughout history; and it inevitably set the stage for future governments to come. In this way, it is
Niccolò Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance. He was born into nobility so his childhood was quiet; he received the standard humanistic education popular during the Renaissance, but he always desired to obtain political office. Going into his young adult life, he witnessed the removal of the Medici family and the political conflict that was to follow. At this time, Italy was in political chaos; a number of city-states including Florence, Milan, Venice, and Naples all fought for control of Italy, along with Spain, France, and the Holy Roman Empire. Each one attempted to manipulate one another as to get the upper hand, they resorted to malicious practices such as blackmail and crude violence. These acts heavily influenced Machiavelli’s attitudes toward government, creating the foundation for The Prince.
Niccolò Machiavelli, an Italian writer and politician, was born in 1469 in Florence, Italy, to a wealthy family. Besides that Machiavelli knew Latin and Greek, and attended some lectures, little is known of his education. At age twenty nine, Machiavelli became in charge of foreign affairs. The Prince was dedicated to the ruler of Florence, Lorenzo Di Piero De Medici. The book is written as a collection of advices and reflections on what a prince should be. (Encyclopædia Britannica)
Niccolo Machiavelli was born in the city of Florence, on May Third, 1469. He came to power and was exiled by the Medici family. While he was exiled, he wrote The Prince to inform other leaders how to maintain power unlike himself. In his signature book, Machiavelli explained how a leader must always have war on his mind, never be hated, and be surrounded by truthful ministers. Leaders who shared a similar mentality as Machiavelli are Hongwu and Suleyman because of his harshness with government officials, and him being a patron of the arts, respectively.
To fully understand the context of Machiavelli and his purpose of The Prince an overview of the notable events of his life is needed. Born in 1469, he was a citizen of Florence, Italy. The political climate of Machiavelli’s home of Florence had changed dramatically following his return from his decade in Rome as a young adult. He served his native Florence in various capacities from 1494 to 1512 (Wiethoff, 1974: 99) but much of this time there was turbulence in government. Florence was facing the invasion of King Charles VIII of France, leading to the banishing of the entire Medici family from Florence.
The church was more powerful than organization or governance and anyone who dared speak against the church or pope would be punished severely. Then, during the 14th and 15th centuries, the conciliar movement sought to limit the popes power by instituting a council (council of cardinals). The council and the pope represented a system of checks and balances. With this and ecclesiastical law (cannon law), we begin to see the decline in the pope’s power around the 1400’s. This sets the scene for Machiavelli’s views. Machiavelli thought highly of the roman republic and wanted a republic of Italy (nation state). He was a tough minded realist that incorporated warfare language into politics which hadn’t really been seen before. Unlike Plato, who wrote of proportion and Aristotle who wrote of moderation, Machiavelli writes of power and state craft. He writes of this new science of state craft as an apparatus of reason, balance, force and coercion. He writes of republicanism and the citizens, focusing importance on virtu, patriotism and vitality as I will discuss in depth later on. The new road Machiavelli sets out on concerns all of this, as well as the factors that pertain to keeping a republic going, which greatly concern not necessarily conflict resolution, but conflict mediation.
Overall, I agree with Machiavelli that a leader cannot be seen as weak, but I do not believe a leader has to be feared by its people. I believe that a leader can also be loved by his people. I don’t agree that Machiavelli’s opinion on being feared rather than loved applies to many current day leaders. For example, this wouldn’t apply to the president of the United States because the United States is a democracy. However, this would apply to a communist
The policy that Machiavelli imposed were self-centered to lead a state or community with the idea that the people of the town should fear the ruler is disappointing. There were many ideas that die because the people feared the rulers and did not want to go against his teaching. The though of a government that thinks being moral displays weeks needs be reformed because the governor is the voice of the people. A leader that is ruthless, cold-blooded, and dishonest will divide a nation not only a state. There needs to a check and balance in place because when their is a leader who acts on impose or ego needs guidance. Machiavelli had it wrong with his leadership
What’s better than the sweet taste of power? According to Machiavelli, nothing seems to compare to the high power brings. Many leaders throughout history perfectly embodied some of his truths and remained in power. Though their tactics were questionable and brought plenty of tragedies one could argue that they produced great leaders.But are Machiavelli’s ideas still relevant? Yes, they’re arguably more relevant than they've ever been. Machiavelli’s tactic, though extreme, are relevant in the modern age because they appear in foreign nations, early age influences, and American politics.
Niccolo’ Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 and died in 1527. Although we do not know much about his early life, we know that he was educated according to the humanist ideals of the Renaissance. He was trained at an early age by a latin teacher named Paolo da Ronciglione. He spent his youth in the
Machiavelli’s writings could be related, in contemporary times, to the current issues facing political leaders around the globe with ISIS. These leaders must make decisions based upon the benefits of their countries and the protection of the majority of their population. Like Machiavelli, they must decide how to address the
Machiavelli was born May 3 of the year 1469 in Florence, Italy. Machiavelli was born into a wealthy and well known family. His father’s name was Bernardo and his mothers was Bartolomea de' Nelli. Machiavelli attended the University of Florence studying Humanistic Psychology; after the down fall of the Medici family in 1494. Machiavelli mastered the way of a political life; he later worked his way up to a political career and became chairman for 14 years. His mother dies on the year 1496 and his father on the 1500s.
Perhaps what makes Machiavelli so famous, was his work “on Principalities” [1512], or as it is now titled, The Prince. The well-known book announced a dramatic shift in a new way of thinking in terms of political power. The political doctrine laid out moral and religious systems of thought. Machiavelli is also know for stating his thoughts on the truth of politics, how the world “ought” to be rather than how it “is”. Machiavelli being a realist adopted the that one should fear their leader instead of love him, as subjects love at their pleasure while they fear at the pleasure of the leader in power. He also insisted on violence and cruelty to keep the order in a state, as it creates fear in terms of the leader however it helps avoid
In the article, Machiavelli’s Advice to Rulers, by Judith Lloyd Yero, the author informs readers about Machiavelli's journey and how he came with the book The Prince which describes what he had noticed about the political leaders that he observed. The article starts off with providing brief information about Cesare Borgia. After he died, many people viewed Borgia as a very cruel and wicked leader. Niccolo Machiavelli thought he was an astounding figure because he found no correlation between morals and being a successful leader. In the novel, The Prince, he also stresses other important and beneficial ideas that he must see in leaders to classify them as an ideal ruler. As Machiavelli was growing up, he soon entered public service at the
Niccolo Machiavelli is considered the father of modern political science. Living in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth-century's, Machiavelli was a citizen of the city-state of Florence where he served as a secretary to the city council and as a diplomatic envoy for 14 years. The Prince was published five years after his death and is regarded as his most famous work. The Prince is an articulate and precise explanation of the way to use the lesson of history in politics as an example to learn and build ideas from. The Prince can be broken up into four parts. Firstly, Machiavelli explains how a prince gets a state. Secondly, he explains how a prince holds on to a state. Thirdly, he