Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was a Florentine Renaissance man, statesman, and writer. He was a diplomat and government official in the Medici period of the Florentine Republic.[2][3] Machiavelli is best known for writing about political philosophy. He also wrote poetry, plays, carnival songs, history books, military science books, and some of the best-known personal letters in the Italian language. His best known book is The Prince from 1513. It was not published until 1532, which was five years after he died.
Niccolò Machiavelli | |
|---|---|
 A portrait of Macchiavelli, by Santi di Tito | |
| Born | May 3, 1469 Florence, Republic of Florence |
| Died | June 21, 1527 (aged 58) Florence, Republic of Florence |
| Period | Italian Renaissance |
| Genres | Non-fiction, novellas, plays, poetry |
| Subjects | Classics, history, military science, philosophy, politics, royalty, virtue |
| Spouse |
Marietta Corsini (m. 1502) |
| Known for | Realism theory |
Philosophy career | |
| Signature | |
 | |
Many people use the word Machiavellian to mean "evil" because his ideas have been viewed by some as wicked.[4][5] Many historians today still have debates on what he really thought. Nevertheless, Machiavelli is remembered for being an important realism theorist. Machiavelli's ideas are focused mostly on a unique understanding of virtue, statesmanship, and fortune (Latin: Fortuna).[2]
Thoughts
changeThere are many interpretations of his thoughts. Some examples of his thoughts were:[2][6]
- Virtue doesn't always come from being morally good. A stable country or government also doesn't come from being morally good.
- Free will controls almost half of human life, and the rest is controlled by chance or fortune (Latin: Fortuna).
- A leader needs useful leadership virtues rather than ordinary virtues. Ordinary virtues can often be wrong for leaders.
- Weaker virtues are less needed than stronger ones. Fortune (Latin: Fortuna) only respects strong virtues, and so do soldiers.
- Greatness and excellence are the best examples to follow.
- When people look at the past as it should have been and give up on the past as it was, they are giving up on survival.
- Being hated is always worse than just being feared.
- Relying less on things you can not control is a virtue. It is always best to know what limits you (including morals).
- Knowing when to be good and when to be bad is a virtue. A leader should only use cruelty when they have to.
- Trying to always be morally good usually ends badly. For leaders, it is better to be well liked.
- A leader should not try to oppress people or interfere with their women and belongings. Otherwise things will end badly for them.
- Leaders will not even listen to advice unless they are partly wise.
- In times of peace, it is best to prepare for upcoming danger. It can be wise to choose situations where people's hard work is needed for survival.
The Prince
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The Prince is a political book by Niccolò Machiavelli. He first shared the book privately in 1513. But it was not published until 1532. The book gives instructions for how a prince or ruler should conduct himself in politics.[7]
Machiavelli is often seen as promoting the idea that a ruler should use any methods necessary to build and maintain power. This idea is often summarized by the saying "The ends justify the means," which some people associate with his work The Prince.[8] Machiavelli suggests that rulers may need to use tricks, lies, and even violence to succeed. For example, a ruler might need to get rid of political opponents, control the population, and remove anyone who might try to take their place. In one part of The Prince, Machiavelli advises that a ruler should act like both a fox, to avoid traps, and a lion, to defeat enemies. This became one of his most famous ideas. Many people believe that Machiavelli’s main point in The Prince is that gaining and keeping power sometimes requires actions that are considered wrong. Because of his advice, the word "Machiavellian" came to describe such political acts.[9]
Other books
change- The Discourses on Livy online 1772 edition Archived 2012-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
- The Seven Books on the Art of War online 1772 edition Archived 2012-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
- History of Florence online 1901 edition
- Reform of Florence online 1772 edition Archived 2012-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
- The Private Correspondence of Niccolò Machiavelli, ed. Orestes Ferrara; 1929. online edition Archived 2009-06-23 at the Wayback Machine
- Machiavelli, Niccolò (1985), Comedies of Machiavelli, University Press of New England Bilingual edition of The Woman from Andros, The Mandrake, and Clizia, edited by David Sices and James B. Atkinson.
Other websites
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References
change- ↑ Najemy, John M. (2010). The Cambridge Companion to Machiavelli. Cambridge University Press. p. 259.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Honeycutt, Kevin. "Niccolò Machiavelli (1469—1527)". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- ↑ Mansfield, Harvey. "Niccolò Machiavelli". Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ↑ Strauss, Leo, "Thoughts on Machiavelli" pg. 9
- ↑ Harvey Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov, "Introduction to the Discourses". In their translation of the Discourses on Livy
- ↑ Machiavelli, Niccolò (1532). The Prince. Translated by Bull, George. London: Penguin (published 1999).
- ↑ Grafton, Anthony (1999). Introduction. The Prince. By Machiavelli, Niccolò. Translated by Bull, George. London: Penguin. pp. xv–xxviii.
- ↑ "Niccolo Machiavelli | Beliefs, Books, The Prince, Philosophy, Accomplishments, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "Definition of MACHIAVELLIAN". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2025-01-01.