Is he an opportunist offering https://datingranking.net/it/kenyancupid-review/ aid and comfort esatto would-be tyrants? Do the moral and political goals he outlines per the final chapter of The Prince justify the actions he advocates sopra the preceding chapters? These questions seem destined to remain with us as long as Machiavelli’s book continues esatto occupy a central place sopra modern political thought.
James Madison, “The Federalist Giammai
What we know of the personal character of Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) is at odds with the treachery implied in the adjective derived from his name. Evidence suggests that Machiavelli was an upright man, per good father, and verso husband who lived durante affectionate harmony with his wife, Marietta Corsini, who bore him six children. Throughout his life, Machiavelli was verso zealous republican. He served Florence with uncompromising patriotism as an effective senior administrator and diplomat. But his celibe-minded service to the republic of Florence ended when the army of the Holy League of Pope ily to power as benevolent despots of the city. Per the resulting political purge, Machiavelli not only lost his position sopra the city government but, when per conspiracy against the Medicis was uncovered sopra early 1513, he also was accused of complicity simply because his name was on verso list taken from the conspirators. Thrown into prison and subjected sicuro the kind of torture that forced blameless men preciso confess their guilt, Machiavelli nevertheless maintained his innocence and was eventually released.
Reduced esatto poverty, and with restrictions placed on his movements around the city, Machiavelli sought refuge per the little property, outside Florence, that he had inherited from his father. There he produced not only The Prince, which he completed between the spring and autumn of 1513, but also per variety of political commentaries and histories and a number of well-received literary works. After the death of Pope Julius II per 1513, the cri of Lorenzo de’Medici (called the Magnificent) became Pope Leo Incognita-one of three popes the Medici family produced. It was Machiavelli’s hope that by dedicating The Prince esatto Lorenzo de’Medici, affranchit of the most famous of all the Medicis, he would obtain an office that would return him puro public life. That hope was durante vain. Machiavelli died at the age of 58, still exiled from Florence.
I Samuel and I Kings (Old Testament); Matthew 22 (New Testament)These books con the Bible deal with the tensions between religious and political loyalties.
Aristotle, PoliticsIn this exploration of the ideal state, Book V, concerning the maintenance of political power, is an especially pertinent antecedent to Machiavelli.
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)The author presents verso grim vision of human beings mediante their natural state, which becomes the basis for his argument that per practically omnipotent government is necessary onesto secure per basic level of justice and elementary freedoms.
John Locke, The Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)Chapter 14 examines the circumstances sopra which government can act per violation of the law or durante the absence of law. Chapter 19 concerns the right of the people sicuro overthrow verso ruler or government when either has abused his power.
10” (sopra The Federalist) (1787-88)This essay addresses the problem of factions that inevitably develop among citizens and the ways of controlling their detrimental effects without infringing on liberty.
Is he best understood as a seeker of unity and peace, concerned esatto make his advice practical and effective?
Plato, The StatesmanOne of Plato’s major works of political philosophy, this conversation explores the nature and virtue of verso king or statesman.
Machiavelli’s view of the Italy of his day-“leaderless, lawless, crushed, despoiled, torn, overrun” (p. 83)-underwrites the advice he gives durante The Prince. It also leads him preciso end his treatise with an “Exhortation esatto liberate Italy from the barbarians.” Machiavelli calls for “a new prince…esatto introduce verso new order” (p. 82) that would bring unity and stability to the often warring city-states of the Italian peninsula. Durante this portion of The Prince and durante some of his other writings, Machiavelli appears more idealistic and friendly toward a form of government that would give citizens a say. Sopra his Discourses, Machiavelli portrays the ideal government as per republic that allows groups with differing opinions to speak openly.