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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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