Niccolo Machiavelli “the Prince”
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Around 1513 Niccolo Machiavelli while writing “The Prince” would not be considered a theologian. When thinking of Machiavelli many people confuse him together with the names of rulers who have abused his writings. It also seems other people confuse Machiavelli with the rapper who took his name. Either- way people confuse Machiavelli it seems they fail to look at his true message, bettering the state and the greater good. Machiavelli may seem evil to some but his political theory properly applied is optimal for founding a state, establishing and then maintaining order.
Machiavelli being a consequentialist believed actions should be judged by their consequences. Machiavelli because of the way he thought believed you could calculate a consequence. Thinking this way is a great way to justify actions some would consider to be immoral. The question though was Machiavelli really justifying immoral actions or was he simply being rational? The answer is not obvious though and matters who you are speaking to.
Machiavelli can be considered evil seeing that he does in a manner justify it. Does Machiavelli justify all evil and is he totally separated from good? The answer to that question relies whether or not you are speaking to a utilitarian. Another problem occurs though is there such thing as a pure utilitarian? For the sake of simplification when applying utilitarian it will be though as someone who is not purely utilitarian seeing that it is almost impossible to be purely utilitarian. Returning to the initial question of whether he is separated from all that is good, a utilitarian would say no. Machiavelli does
justify actions some consider immoral. What is morality though? Some consider morality to be a distinction between right and wrong. Is not the betterment of society no matter how many it hurts, as long as it does not hurt the majority moral? When thinking of right and wrong would it not be right to save more even though you have to hurt some?
Machiavelli is not against all that is good. Machiavelli, although thought to be, is not against religion. Machiavelli believes religion is a great unifier. A fact many have overlooked in his philosophy. Also it seems there is a hint of belief or acknowledgement in God in his passage “Although one should not reason about Moses, since he merely executed what God Commanded, yet he must be praised for the grace that made him worthy of speaking with God. But let us consider Cyrus and the others who acquired great kingdoms: they were all praiseworthy, and their actions and institutions, when examined, do not seem to differ from Moses, who had such a mighty teacher.” This quote too could be Machiavelli simply covering his tracks so he does not seem blasphemous and the punishment that would come with being blasphemous. It is interesting though why he would even mention Moses when he could have been as easily left out?
Machiavelli believed for a prince to be successful he must found a state that will not need a prince once he dies. This belief was stretched over The Prince and The Discourses. The question though is how can a prince make himself obsolete or should he make himself completely obsolete? The answer is no he can not make himself completely obsolete. A Prince should establish a republic but still have a way to return to an authoritarian government with a prince if the state is in crisis. Machiavelli learned this philosophy from the Romans who called this position office of dictator.
Why would Machiavelli after writing on how a prince should conduct himself then believe in a republic. The reason, Machiavelli knew a prince was not the best form of government because he was aware of the limitations to a prince. First a prince if handed the position through heredity will sooner or later be a moron. As clearly displayed and discussed in class by the Nazi arm band wearing Prince Harry. Machiavelli also was aware that a prince who obtained power through force would always be threatened by others who helped him become prince. Next Machiavelli was aware that when ruled by a single individual the country is limited to that individuals thoughts. So if a country has a republic it has the opportunity to apply multiple thoughts hence the ability to possibly speed up the progress of the society and then strengthen the society. Lastly Machiavelli was aware that people will feel limited under a prince and become unhappy. When the people are unhappy there is no way to guarantee the safety of the state because no one will want to defend the state or they may choose to destroy it.
How can a prince make himself unnecessary to usher in a republic? The prince must be a successful prince. What makes up a successful prince? To Machiavelli the qualities he believed to being a successful prince were a little different than those of his fellow beings beliefs at that time. Many people in his time believed that a princes decisions should be fueled by morality and religion. Machiavelli steered from their ideas of a successful prince because he was aware that these ideas would never create a successful prince. Machiavelli knew a successful prince would worry about the pursuit of the national interest along with the pursuit of the states wealth, security, and power.
How does a prince ensure that he will protect the state? An example Machiavelli believed that a prince must have the support of his people. Machiavelli believed this support if not love for the prince must be fear. “Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved” This fear is to ensure the safety of the state not for personal gain. Machiavelli believed the prince must know history so he would not repeat it unless it was desired. The prince also should be able to imitate great rulers before him. Machiavelli knew a prince must know history, and war so shown by this quote, “A prince should therefore have no other aim or thought, nor take up any other thing for his study but war and it organization and discipline, for that is the only art that is necessary to one who commands.” Machiavelli believed that men in powerful situations tend to abuse it hence the prince must know war for he might be challegened by an equal. A prince must be a man-beast, with the intelligence of a man with the courage of a lion and the cleverness of a fox. A prince must be flexible to adjust with the ever changing situation. A prince must have virtu. Virtu though was the ability to accomplish great things not its definition today. A prince must have courage, the greatest of all political virtues. The prince must be intelligent, and have access to resources. The prince also needs fortuna to be on his side he needs