Machiavelli Essay -- essays research papers

Niccolo Machiavelli, one of the considerable political capitulums of the 15th century, accomplished what many mathematicians today only ideate of, having ones name used as an adjective. To be Machiavellian is to demonstrate characteristics of expediency, deceit, and cunning and as Machiavelli wrote in, The Prince, these ar the qualities of a great attractor. The Prince was promulgated in 1531, creating great controversy with other political thinkers of the time. Machiavelli completely treat the popular religious teachings of the era and erased the moral and ethical considerations from the leadership comparability the actions of a ruler should be governed solely by necessity. Since I particularise to write someaffair useful to an understanding reader, it seemed better to go after the unfeigned truth of the matter then to repeat what peck have imagined (221). The loom theme of The Prince is that it is the responsibility of any leader to secure and maintain the political pow er of their state by any means necessary. One pot consider many leaders in history who took this to heart, some into mastery and some into infamy. Using the cold light of pure reasoning, Machiavelli analyzed benevolent behavior and concluded that man is not hot. Therefore, it is necessary for a leader who wishes to remain in power to see to it how to not be good and to use this behavior and knowledge and bring it to bear on the eat uping he is fashioning. Hence a Prince who wants to keep his post must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires (222). Machiavelli not only wanted people to let go of the idealistic fact that man is not pure at heart, provided to take it a step further and compact this assumption. Those who do embrace this assumption as a fundamental given volition be the ones with the power to manipulate and control the masses. Men atomic number 18 so naive of mind and so ofttimes dominated by their i mmediate needs, that a inconstant man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived (228). Decades of thought about religion and politics are intertwined in this thought. The common man willing to give up their tolerant will to that of a higher power and many a deceitful theologian willing to exploit that ignorant passivity for their own purposes.why does Machiavelli has such a low view of man? Was he unspoilt cynical ... ...orals have no place in politics because they counter the ruler from doing what must be done to maintain control. No prince should mind being called cruel for what he does to keep his subjects united and loyal he may make examples of a very few, but he will be more merciful in reality than those who, in their tenderheartedness, suffer disorders to occur, with their attendant murders and lootings (225). Getting a large, mostly Christian populace to avert ethics and morality for the greater good is no small task. Machiavelli was making a statement abo ut how society really functions rather than how people choose to perceive it. While still very controversial in a timeless way, Machiavelli makes some excellent points and his logic does produce results and much food for thought. However, there is one aspect Machiavelli failed to consider, are results the only thing that are important to a society? What is sacrificed to achieve his ultimate end? And is that price worth paying?Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Morals of the Prince. 50 Essays A takeout Anthology. Ed. Samuel Cohen. NY, MA Bedford/St. Martins, 2004. 221-229