Niccolò
Machiavelli 1469-1527
 Niccolò
di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was the Florentine-born son of
a lawyer. He attended the University of Florence where he
studied logic, mathematics, astronomy, music
and philosophy.
He is best known for his notoriously influential work of
political theory Il Principe (The Prince).
His contribution to philosophy is mostly that he was the
first political thinker and writer to separate morality and
the science of politics and to advocate the pursuit of power
for its own sake.
Perhaps too, he was the first writer to indicate an
unpleasant truth about the human condition.
From Discourses: "It is necessary for
anyone establishing a state and setting down its laws to
presuppose that all people are evil, and that they will always
act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they
get the chance."
In The Prince, his treatise on the art of
leadership, he argues that it's the primary duty of
political leaders to secure and maintain power and to set
aside moral considerations in order to pursue whatever
strategies it takes to achieve that end. The phrase 'the end
justifies the means' can aptly be applied to Machiavelli's
political theory.
For example, concerning strategies that can be employed,
Machiavelli felt that ruthlessness may be exercised in order
to achieve the desired end.
The leader (the prince) "should not keep faith when by
so doing it would be against his interest" and he must
"learn not to be good; he should not worry if he incurs
reproach for his cruelty so long as he keeps his subjects
united and loyal. It is far better to be feared than loved if
you cannot be both."
When considering whether it is better for a prince to rule
by mercy or cruelty, Machiavelli argued that the excessively
merciful prince, by tolerating disorder would often bring
greater harm to the community than the cruel prince who
creates harmony through fear.
Machiavelli has been considered by many to be an amoralist
who had no interest in whether leaders behaved morally, only
whether they were able to secure and retain political power
and glory.
In fact, even today he still has a shaky reputation. In
many dictionaries the term 'Machiavellian' means to be
politically cunning, power-seeking and unscrupulous.
Unfortunately many people have misinterpreted Machiavelli's
views on politics because they base them only on his one work.
His complete political philosophy can be found in his work Discourses
on the First Ten Books of Titus Livy which is a
defense of the principles of republican government and where
he states that the purpose of politics is to promote the
"common good."
Machiavelli was not a great philosopher but simply a
realistic political theorist. His philosophy, which was a
reflection of his life, times and circumstances, was meant to
be a scientific one leaving no room for sentiment, compassion
or even morality. |
