Analysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli - 1314 Words

MACHIAVELLI’S LIVED WORLD: SETTING CONTEXT Niccolà ² Machiavelli’s The Prince was written in a time of political and civil unrest in Italy. For decades the city-state of Florence suffered several political uprisings and the establishment of new governments. From tyrannical rule to the creation of a democratic republic, and finally the re-establishment of the Medici family, The Prince comes from Machiavelli’s lived experiences in these political regimes. Machiavelli blames the division of Italy into city-states and the socio-political unrest on ecclesiastical authorities and the Church. The Church’s reliance on mercenary arms, and the influence of the papacy are blamed for the power struggle amongst the city-states. The Prince was written†¦show more content†¦Third, along with being feared, a prince can utilize violence against the people to control the state. However, violence can only be used all at once because it will be more effective. Utilizing violence will bring state success because it will force social cohesion to issues/tasks that are necessary for stability and prosperity. However, a prince must be sure not to incite hatred against him. Should a prince steal property or a man’s wife, he will be hated and from this he loses the trust of citizens. Finally, a prince is most successful when he is practicing forethought yet acting decisively (consequentialist). A prince cannot be cautious and fail to take control of situations. If he is cautious, it makes him look weak. A prince must be proactive in decision-making, and cannot leave things to chance. CRITIQUING MACHIAVELLI: THE FAULTS OF MACHIAVELLI’S HERO Machiavelli’s ruler traits may be more realistic than Plato’s as they are representative of human nature, but Machiavelli fails to give a â€Å"perfect† ideation of his prince. Machiavelli uses the example of Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI, as his hero. Borgia was instructed to control Romagna whose citizens were causing political unrest and not paying taxes. To do this, Borgia appointed a duke, Messer Remirro de Orco, to bring order to the territory through violence if necessary. De Orco goes to Romagna and commits murder to have people fall in line.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli832 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) has lived in an era when the Florence, Italy had become the battleground for the foreign forces and was suffering from political destruction. Moreover, an era of the Renaissance was in the process and being a philoso pher of renaissance era, he put forward quite controversial theories and philosophies. His comprehensive work The Prince is considered as a remarkable piece of historical writing not only for the age of renaissance but also for the contemporary age. HeRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli871 Words   |  4 PagesThe Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli From the moment a child is born from the womb, they are consistently instructed to follow the strict rules of what is classified as morally correct in order to succeed in life, and yet, The Prince, composed by Niccolo Machiavelli of Florence, goes against every word of these such instructions. The Prince is a historically controversially book written for Lorenzo de Medici, intended to assist him in improving the situations occurring in Italy at the time. In thisRead MoreThe Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli Analysis948 Words   |  4 PagesComposed nearly 500 years ago, Niccolo Machiavellis The Prince presents another perspective on the meaning of virtue. Machiavellis definition contended against the idea presented by the Catholic Church. Machiavelli did not force any opinions of his own, somewhat he composed from his experience and whatever theory that prompts activities which created successful results in the political scene of Italy and different nations. While Machiavelli contin ues to be scrutinized for his thoughts, in allRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1094 Words   |  5 Pageswhen their real personality is revealed. In the nonfiction essay, The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, Machiavelli delineates the requirements to be a successful leader over a powerful state. He suggests numerous times that a prince should govern an empire with a image that is dominant but caring for citizens while ruling ruthlessly and appealing to the people if possible. Machiavelli’s principles of a dominant and ruthless prince may not be globally accepted but they are efficient and accurate despiteRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1192 Words   |  5 Pagesthis: it was a duty to be the best. Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian Humanist, wrote  The Prince  as a guide for his own prince, Lorenzo De Medici, to promote himself into the political arena of Italy. He analyzed power and the way Italy could become its own state and keep control. His extensive explanations were driven by his own fascination with power and his desire for an independent Italy. The Prince expresses the effectual truth of t hings and the idea that a prince must not be just and fair when comingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1020 Words   |  5 PagesInterestingly, Niccolo Machiavelli in his work The Prince would disagree. Written for the Medici lords, The Prince offers advice on how to obtain and rule a principality. To do this, he must first explain the nature of man and adjust the method of ruling them accordingly. Machiavelli believes humans by nature are corrupt, so the Prince must also be corrupt to succeed. In order to prove Machiavelli’s opinion, it is first necessary to understand what he defines as success. Machiavelli believes thatRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1755 Words   |  8 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince† provides guidelines for how the leader of a state should conduct himself, and the actions he should take to consolidate and maintain power. While Socrates does not explicitly discuss what he believes a good leader should do and how he should act in either â€Å"Apology† or †Crito†, he presents his opinion on how men in general should conduct themselves, and how a government should be run. Based on the accounts given, Socrates would vehemently disagree with Machiavelli’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince 1625 Words   |  7 PagesOne well-known Renaissance thinker, Niccolo Machiavelli, was one of those philosophers whose political views caused an uproar during earlier ce nturies. His view on effective leadership was rather harsh and not exactly adopted in the Italian society. As a Renaissance citizen, Machiavelli proved his writing skills through a number of works such as short stories, plays, and histories. His more popular works included those call the Discourses on Livy and The Prince-which will be described further moreRead MoreEssay on Analysis of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli517 Words   |  3 Pages The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is about the origination of a prince. More or less how a prince can start from the bottom and become a great king or die at the feet of his people before reaching his prime. To become a prince there are many different ways which is explain in this book for example To arrive at this position depends not entirely on worth. Stating that there are a number of way you can become a prince by Favor of the people, but must maintain a healthy friendship and offer protectionRead MoreAn Analysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince 941 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli and Karl Marx developed theories concerning wealth and poverty in our society, as well as different types of governments. For instance, Machiavelli supported a capitalist economic system, unlike Marx, who embraced socialism in the society. Machiavelli wrote a book The Prince that explained how to be an effective leader. The theme of the book is the end justifies the means. A person could or should do whatever is necessary to achieve the desired goal. According to Machiavelli