Please read Chapters 15-19 of Machiavelli's The Prince (either pp. 84-104 of the Signet edition or at the link below).Add a comment or two here giving your impressions of Machiavelli. Try to say something that would help another students trying to prepare on essay on Renaissance achievements.
http://www.fordham.edu/HALSALL/basis/machiavelli-prince.html
Machiavelli's The Prince wasn't wrote to please people. I find it to be brutally honest and he didn't care if it made anyone upset. In it Machiavelli describes how a prince should act. All that really matters is the public image of the prince. Take generosity for example. Machiavelli says that true generosity is not a bad thing, but eventually the prince would lose all of his money. But he needs to public reputation of being generous, so he must ensure that when he is generous that everyone knows about it. He also talks about how humans are selfish and cannot be relied upon in a time of need. He then says that a ruler is better off ruling out of fear then love. Then he would be able to control his people. He also says that if a prince doesn't have the qualities he's listed, then appearing as if the prince had the qualities would suffice.
ReplyDeleteEverything above tells me a lot of Machiavelli. I believe him to be somewhat ruthless of a writer. He doesn't care who's toes he steps on, but he says it how it is and doesn't sugarcoat it one bit.
Machiavelli was a Italian renaissance historian politician diplomat and also a writer. HE is called the founder of modern political science.He also influenced a lot of big things in the renaissance era some of them included the treaties on the affairs of France and Germany, and also worked for the Emperor Maximilian. And Also one of the final big things he worked on was commissioned by Leo X to reform the state of Florence.
ReplyDeleteso he played a big role in influencing the renaissance era and changing the course and style of ruling an city states and nations.
Machiavelli was mostly known from his famous piece, The Prince. He was a ruthless writer to say the least. His harsh reputation came from The Prince. Known for pushing his political ideas across the table in a different way than many others agree with now a days, that was the way things were 500 years out of the 21st centuries liberal views.
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression of machiavelli as someone who spoke their mind and challenged others to think about political views in a different way than what was the social norm.
This is my (Ian Smith) analysis and commenting on machiavelli.
DeleteMachiavelli argues the strength of states and principal of the correct behavior of the prince. he seems focusing on rules rather than theoretical. there was different philosophy rather than the present age. However his idea is like absolute monarch seems treating inhumanely. He always focus how men should live rather than how men actually live. So he said prince need acting so as to achieve the most practical benefit. When he arhues about benefit, it's like he predicted the present age that chase the money.
ReplyDeleteMachiavelli had a harsh reputation which came from his most popular piece The Prince. He often pushed his views of politics in many ways. Most of which are often not agreed with in today's society. He worked for Emperor Maximilian during the Renaissance era. Most of his views or teachings paved the way for today's political science, which he is thought to be the father of.
ReplyDeleteMachiavelli is an Italian renaissance historian politician diplomat and also a writer. He was known for his famous piece, The Prince. He was a ruthless writer. Machiavelli challenged others to think about political views in a different way. He played a big role during the Renaissance era.
ReplyDelete