Machiavelli and Thucydides share remarkable similarities in their thoughts about human nature and the role of the state, but differ somewhat in their ideas about leadership. Machiavelli and Thucydides share a similar view of human nature as basically selfish, and both note that rule is most often disassociated from considerations of morality. Machiavelli argues that a ruler must ultimately be concerned with his own self-interest, while Thucydides noted that self-interest often came at the expense of the state.
Machiavelli was born in 1469 in Florence, Italy to an influential but poor old Florentine family. He became involved in politics as early as 1498, when he was appointed as head of the Second Chancery, a government agency overseeing diplomacy and war. He traveled to France, Germany, and Rome, and played an important role in conquering Pisa in 1509, in addition to acting as an important advisor.
After 14 years of service, Machiavelli was accused of conspiracy in 1512 when the Medici family returned to power. He was jailed and tortured, and exiled from Florence. He wrote the Prince in 1515 in an attempt to regain political favor. He reconciled with the Medici to a degree in 1519, but remained distrustful of the government even after Medici was disposed in 1527.
To the modern American, the name Machiavelli is almost synonymous with the use of deceit for political ends.
We often refer to devious and opportunistic examples of political intrigue as "Machiavellian" in nature.
However, this overly simplistic view of Machiavelli's political thought does the great thinker a huge disservice. While Machiavelli's political thought is certainly sometimes morally dubious, it also contains a great deal of valuable insight and reflection.
In reading Machiavelli's The Prince it is crucial to consider that the work was intended as advice to a monarch. It should not be read in the light of today's democratic political system, but should be considered in the context of its intent: to provide valuable advice to a monarch who ruled in the context of Italy's fragile and...
" Parallels with business takeovers are frighteningly stark. Change. In the Prince he says "It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things" (Machiavelli). Relevancy...and Not The impact of Machiavelli's writing on politics has been accepted for some time, but the relevance of his ideas to business had to wait until
However, to interpret Machiavelli from this angle only would be to view his thoughts myopically. (Viroli, 1998) This is because the other piece of work that Machiavelli wrote at about the same time, the "Discourses on Livy" showed Machiavelli to be essentially a republican who perceived the state to be an autonomous and secular entity which depended upon mass support and human skills for its survival. According to a
Hence he advises that a prince should never rest from military thought. Especially in times of peace, a prince must engage in honing his skills and in studying military strategies. Relationship of the New Prince with the People Machiavelli realizes the importance of the new prince's relationship with the people and he has repeatedly emphasized its necessity in the Prince. Gaining Support of the People: When a new prince acquires a new
This is again an idealistic notion of human nature, going back to imagining humans as permanently ridding themselves of their bad traits. In regard to this Machiavelli acknowledges that being liberal, which is how he describes a ruler freely spending his country's resources, is a good quality to have. However he believes that this quality, if unregulated, could lead to a prince's ruin. If according to Machiavelli a prince were
" (the Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, edited by Gaillard Hunt and J.B. Scott New York, 1920, p. 329 as cited in Riemer 46) According to some historians, Madison's contribution to the consolidation of republicanism has been underrated: "Republican ideology - not economic interest, not social class, not sectional outlook - is the key to his political thought and actions. Theoretically and practically, he was always hostile to
MACHIAVELLI's THE PRINCE Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince is one of the most controversial yet enduring political manifestos regarding the differing types of military affairs, principalities, and qualities of a great leader. The Prince has been referenced by academics, directors of corporations, and politicians for centuries, as it provides general, historically proven advice for principalities and republics on how to govern and maintain relations with their most important resource and the essential
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