Relevance of Machiavelli’s The Princeto Today's World Essay

On May 3rd, 1469, in Florence, Italy, Niccolò Machiavelli was born. He was known as the originator of modern political science. He is also known for a diverse list of careers such as; a philosopher, politician, humanist, writer, diplomat and an Italian Renaissance historian. In Italy’s Florentine Republic, he was a diplomat for fourteen years. While he lived as a diplomat the Medici family’s exile was taking place. During these times, Machiavelli flourished becoming a Florentine Republic senior official. He also held military dealings, continued his diplomatic responsibilities, and wrote poetry and songs. As all good things come to an end, in 1512, the Medici family regained their power. As soon as the Medici family returned to power, Machiavelli was removed from office and accused of plotting against

In the prince, Machiavelli explores a world of governments and presents the many different ways in which a ruler must adapt in order to run an efficient government. Machiavelli provides a number of applications in which a ruler can acquire and maintain the leading position of a government. While many of these applications are just and moral, there is no denying that some of the Machiavelli’s tactics are cruel and immoral. However, as we advance deep into the meaning behind Machiavelli’s choice of words, we learn that these unjust ways are meant to advance the power of the prince. We learn that Machiavelli’s goal isn’t to make a good prince, one that is loved by the people and makes everyone happy, but a great prince. Machiavelli begins

Machiavelli concentrated more on the way things should be and how to manipulate them for his own personal gain rather than for the betterment of the state. He was well-known for being a political thinker who believed that outcomes justified why things happened. A key aspect of Machiavelli’s concept of the Prince was that “men must either be caressed or annihilated” (Prince, 9). What Machiavelli meant by

Niccolo Machiavelli, the author of The Prince, believed that anything should be done to keep the security and stability of a country. Although Machiavelli's theory on how to govern a country might have been accepted in the time he lived in, his theory does not fit in the present world. Back in Machiavelli’s era, some ideas and actions that were used to create security and stability are not accepted in present day. Machiavelli’s idea that anything should be done to create security and stability in a country does not fit in today’s world because this concept can lead to the loss of innocent lives, it can be considered inhumane, and it can be prevented through the concept of peace.

“It is much safer to be feared than loved.” This quotation was just a specimen of the harsh and very practical political annotation of the legendary historian, Niccolò Machiavelli – philosopher, patriot, diplomat, advisor and statesman. He was born as the son of a poor lawyer in 1498, but he never let boundaries restrict him. He still received an excellent humanist education from the University of Florence and was soon after appointed as the Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence.2 His political importance to Florence would soon give him the opportunity to write what is disputed as one of the most significant works in history, The Prince.

Unlike many others of his time, Machiavelli based his political views on the practical world instead of the ideal world. He recognized that he did not live in an ideal world and that world would never and could never exist. In an ideal world there would be no power, it would be unnecessary. However, he was pessimistic about men and their intentions. He believed that anyone would behave immorally when the time occurred where it would benefit him or herself. He used this judgement to write his book, The Prince. He wrote is as a guideline for leaders and future leaders to do good and be successful.

Despite the fact that Machiavelli was forced to give up politics, he remained heavily involved and active in keeping up with the politics of the city of Florence. Machiavelli’s work contradicted the political theories of the medieval theorists prior to his time. His most famous treatise, The Prince, reflects the disastrous political state of Florence and the majority of Italy. Machiavelli’s work communicated his theory that political power was to be acquired to benefit the interests of the state, not the the people. What he witness through his years of observation, were Italian rulers operating on moral compasses as opposed to working towards the benefit of the state. This method of ruling, to him, was unrealistic and unprogressive. A general

Next, the prince must delegate the dirty work to others and leave the favorable acts for himself. Citizens are important to government, and so are their approvals of government. The support of the people can elevate the power of the prince. Machiavelli discredits the presence of morality in politics. In fact, he encourages amoral actions for the prince.

The government was so corrupt and was comprised of several independently operated city-states. What further complicated matters was that this is where the pope lived. He was leader of the Catholic Church, controlled his own territory, and had more influence than any prince of any of the other city-states in Italy. Machiavelli was suspected of being an enemy of Medici and was thrown into prison until he was able to prove his innocence. These were the circumstances which inspired him to write The Prince.

In “The Prince,” Niccolo Machiavelli argues that the successful political leader must not make decisions based on Christian morals, use any means necessary to achieve power, and know the best methods of fighting. Machiavelli backs his stance using historical events of various political leaders, ideas of how human nature is defected, and the idea of how leaders must fight with law and force. He illustrates that leaders should reject Christian morals through Cesare Borgia. He was a great leader who rejected virtue, “his cruelty had brought order to Romagna.” Machiavelli demonstrates that princes should strike fear into their people’s eyes to earn their loyalty. This shows that if the outcome is desirable, then all methods are justified. Machiavelli

Niccolò Machiavelli was brave enough to give the leaders of his day a how-to guide. In this work, The Qualities of a Prince, we are given a point-by-point description of what a leader should do to effectively lead his country. Machiavelli explains that, because leadership is (obviously) a position of command, "[war] is the only profession which benefits one who commands. " (p. 33)

First let us discuss the ideas of Niccolo Machiavelli in is piece “The Prince”. Machiavelli has a very independent controversial way of thinking and portraying his ideal form of governance in this text. The ideal and most effective from of governance for him is not in that of a republic but instead he insists in an autocratic regime. He argues that republics and other forms of government are too weak because of the corruptness of human nature. This book is written as a guide on how a prince should run his state or nation based on how and when he would come into this power. One of his main concerns in which he has been criticized for is his disregard to follow moral values so as to properly run the state, as well as

The Prince is a study of how to obtain and maintain political power, this book which has 26 chapters can be categorized in four parts; the types of principalities, the type of armies, the character and behavior of the prince and Italy's political situation. Machiavelli describes the kinds of states at the first of the book, arguing that all states are either republics or principalities. Machiavelli explains some key points in what it takes to be a successful Prince. He is giving us an exact image of the cold-hearted reputation he has carried through the years. He explains his thoughts on taking over a Free State or republic and how to overcome and rule with the people loyalty and respect. He also argues

Niccolo Machiavelli based his position of individual power on his book The Prince. The Prince extends Machiavelli’s analysis of how to acquire and maintain political power. There are four types of principalities discussed: hereditary principalities, that are inherited by the ruler through fortune and family royalty, mixed principalities, territories that are annexed to the ruler’s existing territories, new principalities, namely the Papal States belonging to the Catholic church, and new principalities, those states that may be acquired by one’s own power, by the power of others or by the will of the people. There is simplicity for a prince that inherits a state through fortune or the efforts of others due to easy ascent to power, but maintaining the power is more difficult. For a prince that conquers a state through force and power has difficulty conquering the state but has an easy time maintaining the state.

Niccolo Machiavelli’s abstract work of The Prince discusses politics and government and focuses in not only acquiring power, but also how to maintain it. Throughout his work, one of the most prevalent yet disputed themes is between the acquirement of states between principalities and republics. The Prince shows a predominant and constant debate on which group will excel in acquiring power. However, despite Machiavelli’s harsh criticisms on principalities, his work does not solely praise or focus on the excellence of republics. In fact, as Machiavelli continues to speak and provide examples about the successes and failures of both republics and principalities, it becomes clearer that the lone purpose of The Prince is to merely provide tactics in political governance, instruction on how to maintain power once it is acquired, and most importantly, advice on how to become a great leader.