Machiavelli’s Political Ideas and Influence - 1477 Words

Machiavelli’s Political Ideas and Influence By: Reed Rosencrans The Renaissance took place in Italy during the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries. The Renaissance was a â€Å"rebirth† and revival of political and social ideas from the Ancient Greek and Roman eras. One social ideal of the Renaissance was Humanism. Humanism was a Renaissance idea that emphasis human potential and ability. A political idea from the Renaissance was political realism. Political realism is when a ruler accomplishes goals in the interest of state and does not mind resorting to violence if necessary. A major author and political figure from the Renaissance who embodied political realism was Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli was a Florentine born in 1469 and†¦show more content†¦Also if a prince is well liked by his subjects it is much easier to accomplish tasks with the interest of the state. By ruling with interest a prince can be forced to leave power by his subjects. Machiavelli’s third topic is his biggest concern for Italy. After working as an ambassador he noticed that the â€Å"barbarians† or countries from Northern Europe had large armies with well-trained soldiers. Since Italy relied on mercenaries to do most of the fighting Italy would be taken over by these large, barbaric, armies if there was ever a war between them. So Machiavelli emphasized that a prince should have a free standing army. In The Prince he said, †Mercenaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious, and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies†. . If a prince were to have mercenaries do all the fighting his enemies can overtake him. But if a prince has a large and powerful army he can intimidate his opponents. Other than being the author of The PrinceShow MoreRelatedThe Purpose Of This Work Is To Explor e Machiavelli’S Political1623 Words   |  7 Pagesof this work is to explore Machiavelli’s political philosophy through the lens of discord. In terms of discord, Machiavelli presents the two main rivals, who are the nobles and the people. He sees the two different humors of the nobles and the people as the cause of discord. He observes that conflicts caused by the two diverse humors create salutary effects. His praise of tumults has inspired scholars not only to relate the notion of humors to the discussion of political freedom, but also to findRead 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 continues to be scrutinized for his thoughts, in allRead MoreEssay about Niccolo Machiavelli1653 Words   |  7 Pagessolemnly of important political matters. Again, he asked them who they were and where they were going. ‘We are the damned of Hell’ was their answer. Machiavelli later remarked that he would be far happier in Hell. This story was from Viroli’s Niccolo’s Smile (â€Å"The Mask and The Face†). The crowd of noble people from his dream included philosophers like Plato, Plutarch, and Tacitus. His conclusion was that he would rather be in Hell, an unpleasant place, and be with other political theorists like himRead MoreMachiavelli And Socrates1713 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates and Niccolà ² Machiavelli were both political philosophers who lived through corruption, violence, and political restlessness. These circumstances prompted them to develop th eir own solutions for their respective societies. This included the creation of a stable political system with a strong and effective leader through the examination of the faults of said societies. To Machiavelli, this leader is known as the â€Å"Prince.† He believes that the Prince should be pragmatic in his actions, andRead MoreCompare And Contrast Socrates And Machiavelli1419 Words   |  6 PagesMachiavelli: The meaning of truth As philosophers, both Socrates and Niccolo Machiavelli developed theories in response to the warring political environment around them. However, the theories and principles developed by the two philosophers are vastly different in regard to the concept of truth, Socrates would hate Machiavelli’s model prince due to Machiavelli’s manipulative view of truth. While Socrates desired a state that focuses on fundamental truth and ethical decisions, Machiavelli advocatedRead MoreAnalysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince 1625 Words   |  7 PagesThe fifteenth century was a period known as the Renaissance, or the new birth, of many philosophers. One well-known Renaissance thinker, Niccolo Machiavelli, was one of those philosophers whose political views caused an uproar during earlier centuries. 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 o f works such as short stories, plays, and histories. His more popularRead MoreSimilarities Between Socrates And Machiavelli1649 Words   |  7 PagesMachiavelli both existed during times of political unrest. Both men sought different means of political leadership, and could be seen as activists of their times. During times of war and unrest, it was a bold choice that both men made to stand up for their beliefs and speak out against the system. However, Socrates wouldn’t have agreed with Machiavelli’s means and concepts of the Prince and his ideas for how a political establishment should function. Machiavelli’s means may have been justified by hisRead MoreThe Machiavelli s Political Philosophy1575 Words   |  7 PagesRevisiting Machiavelli’s Political Philosophy Precede It is fundamentally important to preface the discussion hosted in this essay by addressing ourselves to the most mundane question-why consider Machiavelli in the context of philosophy, least of all, political philosophy? This question dominates any philosophical inquiries of the Machiavelli’s political ideologies. Put differently, do the contributions by Niccolà ² Machiavelli to the various salient discourses in the Western thought, most notablyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1314 Words   |  6 PagesMACHIAVELLI’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 intoRead MoreThe Political Philosophy Of Niccolo Machiavelli And Socrates1444 Words   |  6 Pagesand notorious philosophers, Niccolo Machiavelli and Socrates laid the groundwork for western political philosophy and modern day politics. Though both lived through times of political transition and war, the fragility of their politics, violence of their wars, and the leaders they lived under influenced the development of their differing ideologies about the governing of principalities. From Machiavelli’s experience, came, â€Å"The Prince,† a guidebook about the importance of self-preservation when leading