Machiavelli Essay -- essays research papers

Niccolo Machiavelli, ane of the great political minds of the 15th century, well-behaved what m all mathematicians today just now dream of, having ones recognise wontd as an adjective. To be Machiavellian is to demonstrate characteristics of expediency, deceit, and cunning and as Machiavelli wrote in, The Prince, these are the qualities of a great leader. The Prince was published in 1531, creating great logical argument with other political thinkers of the time. Machiavelli completely ignored the popular religious teachings of the period and erased the moral and ethical considerations from the leadershiphip equation the actions of a ruler should be governed solely by necessity. Since I intend to write roughthing useful to an intellection reader, it seemed better to go after the real truth of the matter because to repeat what people have imagined (221). The predominate theme of The Prince is that it is the responsibility of any leader to secure and maintain the political causation of their state by any means necessary. One can consider gayhoody leaders in history who took this to heart, some into success and some into infamy. Using the shivery light of pure reasoning, Machiavelli analyzed hu earth behavior and concluded that man is not good. Therefore, it is necessary for a leader who wishes to remain in power to learn how to not be good and to use this behavior and knowledge and bring it to bear on the decision he is making. 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, but to take it a rate further and embrace this assumption. Those who do embrace this assumption as a fundamental given al humble for be the ones with the power to manipulate and check into the masses. Men are so simple of mind and so some(prenominal) dominated by their imme diate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived (228). Decades of thought astir(predicate) religion and politics are intertwined in this thought. The common man willing to give up their free will to that of a higher(prenominal) power and many a deceitful theologian willing to influence that ignorant passivity for their own purposes.Why does Machiavelli has such a low view of man? Was he just cynical ... ...orals have no place in politics because they prevent 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 gentle in reality than those who, in their tenderheartedness, allow disorders to occur, with their attendant murders and lootings (225). Getting a large, mostly Christian populace to suspend ethics and morality for the great good is no small task. Machiavelli was making a state ment about how society really functions rather than how people choose to perceive it. age 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 salaried?Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Morals of the Prince. 50 Essays A Portable Anthology. Ed. Samuel Cohen. NY, MA Bedford/St. Martins, 2004. 221-229