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Machiavelli's View On Morality

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Machiavelli discusses the notions of fortuna (fortune), viru (virtue), coercion and persuasion, ideology, and human nature. Machiavelli’s understanding of fortune is one in which fortune is circumstances that humans cannot control. He does believe that it is possible to manipulate fortune into ones own will though. Specifically, by being able to adapt to whatever is transpiring in the current situation. One who relies exclusively on fortune will not be successful because he doesn’t know how to act when his fortune changes, or how machiavelli states, “A prince who relies entirely on fortune, is lost when it changes” (Machiavelli, 121). The same goes if one is in the complete opposite direction as well. A person who is too cautious all the time will be ruined when bad fortune arrives. This transpires because the hesitant individual will be too cautious to act in a way which reflects the current situation and this will lead to their downfall. Machiavelli seems to think that it is “better to be adventerous than cautious” (Machiavelli, 124) as he demonstrates that people who adapt are the ones who are truly successful. …show more content…

Machiavelli believes that ideology is not for the ruler but rather for the ruled. Meaning, that the leader should not in his heart believe the ideology for this will bring his downfall (Bronner). The ideology that the prince should follow though is the idea that the ends justify the means. This translates that one must take any action necessary in order to reach a beneficial conclusion for oneself

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The main point made by Machiavelli was that men are inherently bad, so a leader must rule in a way that takes this into account. He taught that because of man’s ungratefulness, it is safer to be feared than loved (D-4). This shows that Machiavelli believed that the power and success of a country will lead to the prosperity of its inhabitants. Both influential people believed that a country prospers the most under absolute power.

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Then for Machiavelli he talks about how a prince should show no fear instead for him to show that he is the one with power. That a prince's people should fear him. Both authors go on to talk on how their people react based on the prince and princesse act. The authors then go on to explain how they should view and run their people. Both authors also reflect the fact that the way their people are going to act towards them is mainly based off of how they treat them.

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In Niccolo Machiavelli's book, The Prince (1513), he evaluates on how a prince can be a successful leader. Machiavelli’s purpose of this guidebook was to construct his argument to the rising ruler Giuliano de Medici for when he comes to power in Florence. He adopts a casual but authoritative tone in order to convince the prince that Machiavelli’s evaluation on how to be the best prince, is the right thing for the prince to do without coming off as he knows more than the prince or is trying to intimidate him.. Machiavelli’s reference to previous rulers and whether their tactics failed or succeeded helps to benefit his credibility along with his allusion to historic text. He appeals to our logic by simply stating a prince can only do what is within his power to control, and his use of an analogy furthers his argument.

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PSA 1: Machiavelli Q1 Response: What, per Machiavelli, is the basis of political authority? Machiavelli has multiple political principles: 1. He discusses the need for a prince to be both good and feared, depending on the circumstances. He talks about making examples of individuals to control the populace rather than allowing chaos to reign which permits widespread murder and looting. 2.

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Machiavelli argues the perfect prince will be both feared and loved by his people, and if unable to be both he will make himself feared and not hated. Machiavelli believes it is much safer to be feared than to be loved because people are less likely to offend and stand up against strong characters, also people are less concerned in offending a prince who has made himself loved. Accordingly, Machiavelli believes generosity is harmful to your reputation and the choice between being generous or stingy, merciful or cruel, honest or deceitful, should only be important if it aids the prince in political power. All in all, Machiavelli believes the ruler must be a great deceiver and do what is essential to uphold power over the

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He gives characteristics of a good prince, as opposed to those of a bad prince. In the 21st century there are very few politicians that fit the description of a “Prince” in existence. If any president, prime minister, or head of state shared the characteristics of Machiavelli’s ideal ruler, he would no longer hold that position. A modern politician should be loved by the people; Machiavelli’s finds it better to be feared than loved. Machiavelli does manage to provide somewhat useful advice for anybody in a leadership position, such as, taking on big projects to earn a reputation, or choosing wise advisors over flatterers.

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Reagan, Leslie J. When Abortion Was a Crime: Women, Medicine, and Law in the United States, 1867-1973. University of California Press, 2008. According to Leslie Reagan, doctors and physicians have a saying in regulating abortion. Government forces doctors to report to police if any women came to them for abortion in the 1900s.

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Machiavelli describes civil circumstances that are fit for republicanism and others that are fit for monarchical rule, possibly displaying an inherent contradiction. However, what this actually displays is the “Extraordinarily high value he attaches to political stability” (2000: p.44). This shows that Machiavelli stressed highly the necessity for a political system that guaranteed stability. Chapter LVIII of The Discourses is itself a dedication to the importance of political stability and how collective government can provide this, portraying another theme concurrent with his true political views.

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One aspect of Machiavelli’s theory which significantly contributes to his reputation as the “philosopher of evil,” is his advice to the prince on keeping their word to the public. In chapter eighteen, Machiavelli states, “a wise ruler cannot, and should not, keep his word when doing so is to his disadvantage, and when the reasons that led him to promise to do so no longer apply” (pg. 37). To simplify, Machiavelli says princes are obligated to lie in certain circumstances. He also states that while it is unnecessary for the prince to have positive qualities, such as honesty, trustworthiness, sympathy, compassion, or be religious, it is essential for the prince to be viewed so by the public (pg. 37). While many people argue that Machiavelli’s legitimization of lying and deception in politics is immoral, I argue the opposite.

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Machiavelli 's idea of morals is if you really want something you won’t care about morals in order to obtain it. In the poem The Prince it is quoted what he feels about morals,”In this case let me refer the reader to what I 'll be saying later about when rulers should, or then again shouldn 't, keep

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Niccolò Machiavelli and John Stuart Mill both speak on the terms of what makes up a great political decision-maker. Both individual being more than three-hundred years apart, yet their ideas on the type of government, and the individuals within, to make a country successful still are applicable today. Machiavelli speaks on behalf of the characteristics which a competent leader should possess, while Mill focuses on the importance of education in the world of politics and decision-making. Very little is known about the early life of Machiavelli, being born in Florence, he entered the public eye with the appointment of the second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence.

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Background info: During my student teaching experience, I had the opportunity to teach a unit that outlined the events that led to the Civil War. Throughout this unit I assessed my students three different times, I gave my students a pre-assessment, formative and summative assessment. As you analyze the spreadsheet you will notice that I only had three objectives for this unit, the reasoning being is with this unit being such a heavy content unit I opted to emphasize three major points throughout this unit. In doing this I was able to make the content more meaningful and understandable for my students. As I introduced my unit to my students this past semester I had my students fill out a self-regulated learning pre-assessment quiz(SRL) sheet

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Machiavelli believed that men will follow a ruler as long as the ruler serves their interests, and a quick to turn against the ruler unless they fear great punishment. Machiavelli would say that it is best to be feared rather than loved as long as the fear does not cause hate, which he believed to be perfectly possible.

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The statements mentioned by Machiavelli are words of advice for the prince to be as successful as possible during his time ruling. Although I myself am not a prince, I can analyze these statements using my own morals, which align with Machiavelli's point of view. When needed, the prince must take action to procure money, which could be done through raising tax prices excessively. According to Machiavelli, “This will begin to make him hateful to his subjects and, if he becomes impoverished, he will be held in low regard by everyone” (55). By this, I think he means that if the prince has not developed a good relationship with his people, he will not be accepted when he must make decisions that affect them.

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His book, The Prince uses Renaissance values and applies them to politics, intriguing most everyone. His book targets powerful men, teaching them how to gain and maintain power. “It is not al all necessary for a prince to have all the good qualities which I have named, but it is necessary to seem to have them” (Machiavelli). Although Machiavelli gained his power, not every man can, so Machiavelli is saying that in order to become an idol, you just have to project the idea of power. People with power are admired, so Machiavelli wrote a book teaching how to gain power, and become and idol themselves.

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