How Is Castiglione Related To The Courtier

From the 14th century into the 17th century of European history, a cultural revolution took place. The renaissance came to Europe and pushed out old middle age ideals and brought in new humanistic ones. The renaissance brought new cultural ideas, new ways of learning, new art, and new standards of how to rule a Kingdom. Kingdoms were coming and going fast at this time, rulers were slipping under the pressures of expanding rule and it seemed that a new kingdoms were continuously being conquered. The guidelines set up in Machiavelli’s The Prince, help to define what makes up a good and bad leader in terms of the new Renaissance ideals.

(p.40) Machiavelli then goes onto say “I know I will admit that it would be most laudable for a prince to be endowed with all the above qualities that are reckoned good; but since it is impossible for him to possess or constantly practice them all, the conditions of human nature not allowing it, he must be discreet enough to know how to avoid the infamy of those vices that would deprive him of his government…he need never hesitate, however to incur the reproach of those vices which his authority can hardly be preserved”. Machiavelli claims to understand the conflict a prince faces when having to make a decision, and the people that would be affected in a bad way. However, Machiavelli justifies the actions of the ruler with the actions of the people, and says that it is done in order to maintain peace and a prosperous state.

Machiavelli recommends the rulers to follow the good qualities, unless needs to protect himself from a vice who would not lose the state for him or be prudent enough to escape a vice who would lose the state for him.

Machiavelli is considered the first modern historian and he wielded the past as a crystal ball. Events of the past greatly influenced his writings. He had discovered that if you could examine the past closely enough you could also predict the future with some certainty. He could best craft the ideal state because he observed the previous empires and

Machiavelli’s interpretation of human nature was greatly shaped by his belief in God. In his writings, Machiavelli conceives that humans were given free will by God, and the choices made with such freedom established the innate flaws in humans. Based on that, he attributes the successes and failure of princes to their intrinsic weaknesses, and directs his writing towards those faults. His works are rooted in how personal attributes tend to affect the decisions one makes and focuses on the singular commanding force of power. Fixating on how the prince needs to draw people’s support, Machiavelli emphasizes the importance of doing what is best for the greater good. He proposed that working toward a selfish goal, instead of striving towards a better state, should warrant punishment. Machiavelli is a practical person and always thought of pragmatic ways to approach situations, applying to his notions regarding politics and

In 1513, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote “The Prince,” in which he discussed the characteristics that qualify a leader to have control of his people. Machiavelli claimed that a leader ought to associate with vices that have a positive impact to his rulings to avoid embarrassment, thus building a strong leadership. This claim is policy because it delivers the message of ruling. Machiavelli’s audiences are former rulers or anyone aspiring to become a leader.

Niccolo Machiavelli, a political philosopher and diplomat during the Renaissance, wrote based on his belief as result of incidents he had actually experienced. "His works often contrast two forces: luck (one's fortune) and character (one's virtues)."p.35 Machiavelli's writings on "The Qualities of the Prince" focus on advise for monarchial leaders to follow in order to keep their power. Machiavelli's main theory is that princes should retain absolute control of their territories, and they should use any means, and do what ever it takes to achieve this goal. The adjective "Machiavellian" has become despised and it is used to describe a politician who manipulates others in an opportunistic and deceptive way.

Machiavelli, sees this as an impractical and impossible way to lead. Machiavelli has the stance that “the conditions of human life make it impossible to exercise all those qualities” (Machiavelli 33). Machiavelli’s expresses his rational thought process on how government can be ruled. His experience working for the Florentine republic and then the Medici government allowed him to see what works and fails in effective leadership as both those governments saw failure. Machiavelli recognition that the leaders are only human and cannot be perfect.

“ On the contrary, Machiavelli has a contrasting response to how a country should be led. Though Lao-Tzu sees it fit to have the illusion of the people leading themselves, Machiavelli perseveres to convey the point that people need to be controlled. He mentions learning how not to be good and when to use said knowledge on page 224 when declaring, “Hence it is necessary for a prince who wishes to maintain his position to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge or not to use it according to necessity.” He’s putting forth his opinion on how a leader/prince should know when to use his power for selfish reasonings opposed to using his power to better the people. Machiavelli later expresses another point on page 225 when he claims, “He need not worry about incurring the bad reputation

According to Machiavelli's view of how to be an effective leader, a ruler should be one who is feared but not hated. Machiavelli states that fear is better than love because love is unreliable. All of the reasons that Machiavelli gives relate to how human nature controls men and drives them to commit crimes in order to reach their goals and satisfy themselves.

For example, he mentions many virtues that are good for princes (or leaders in general) to possess; these are things such as parsimony, pity, and compassion. However, Machiavelli further explains that “[i]t is not necessary, then, for a prince really to have all the virtues mentioned above, but it is very necessary to seem to have them all” (1064). Basically, he is arguing that the appearance of virtue is of greater value than virtue itself. From Machiavelli’s perspective, others’ opinions and view of the leader matter more than who the leader truly is. He later says, “men in general judge more by their eyes than by their hands” (1068).

Niccolò Machiavelli was an activist of analyzing power. He believed firmly in his theories and he wanted to persuade everyone else of them as well. To comment on the common relationship that was seen between moral goodness and legitimate authority of those who held power, Machiavelli said that authority and power were essentially coequal.9 He believed that whomever had power obtained the right to command; but goodness does not ensure power. This implied that the only genuine apprehension of the administrative power was the attainment and preservation of powers which indirectly guided the maintenance of the state. That, to him, should have been the objective of all leaders. Machiavelli believed that one should do whatever it took, during the given circumstance, to keep his people in favor of him and to maintain the state. Thus, all leaders should have both a sly fox and ravenous wolf inside of him prepared to release when necessary.10

Lao-Tzu believes a ruler should see the good in all of his people and trust in them that they will do the right things. However, Machiavelli comes from a completely different view on this subject. He advocates the need for a successful leader, or prince, to take control of his endeavors, and the skills or qualities necessary to maintain power. He suggested this method of becoming a powerful prince through the history of Kings that have lived and lead in the past. Machiavelli uses a ruthless amount of power; he does not worry about his reputation to the people, unfortunately, he just does what he thinks is

One of famous Machiavelli's words is: “A man who wishes to make a vocation of being good at all times will come to ruin among so many who are not good.” In 1513, he published a treatise called The Prince in it, Machiavelli recommended a very practical course of action for a ruler; secure power by direct and effective authoritative means. Machiavelli constantly tells us that he is describing the world as it really is, not as it should be. Throughout the years Machiavelli’s view of human nature has come under much criticism. Some would argue, like one famous chinese philosopher and writer named Lao-Tzu that "The best leaders are those the people hardly know exist."

Machiavelli in his work informs the prince that even if he does possess certain qualities he shall always appear to his followers as retaining all of these qualities as shown in the following quotation “A prince, therefore, need not necessarily have all the good qualities I mentioned above, but he should certainly appear to have them… He should appear to be compassionate, faithful to his word, kind guileless, and devout… He should not deviate from what is good, if that is possible, but he should know how to do evil, if that is necessary” (Machiavelli 57). Machiavelli highlights that image is extremely crucial for rulers and they must alter the perceptions of their people in regard to him in order to appear in control at all times for the purpose of maintaining and sustaining control. This idea is overturning