Machiavellian Folly in The Prince Essay -- Machiavelli The Prince Essa

Machiavellian Folly in The Prince In the register of history, many individuals have contributed great works of literature, waxing philosophically on the meaning of life, death, and love. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote not on love or life, but on power How to capture it, how to consolidate it, and how to defend it against all comers. His work has been talked about and dissected to the extent that his subject matter and methods have earned their take in moniker Machiavellian. Nonetheless, this great philosophers works did not meet with unanimous approval. His own student, Thomas Hobbes, presented a very different account of politics. This essay offers a Hobbesian critique of some of Machiavellis arguments, focusing in and around the ninth chapter of The Prince. Although Machiavelli and Hobbes handle many of the same views - like the deterrent example depravity of the human function and the absence of natural justice - Hobbes differs from Machiavelli in three key regard The positio n of glory and honour, the role of competition, and the function of the state. Hobbes and Machiavelli share the same discretion of human character. Machiavelli wrote during a time when people believed in absolute moral virtue. But as Machiavelli struck pen to paper, he rebelled from this norm. Having criticized Christian article of faith in Discourses on Livy, Machiavelli proceeds in The Prince to outline a sinister, ruthless understanding of virtue. Hidden deep within this dark design is his great contribution to modern politics Rationalism.1 Machiavelli was the first philosopher to employ a genuinely pragmatic approach to politics. He examined human beings in light of their motives, their desires, and their fears. piece other philosoph... ...ts of the citizenry. BIBLIOGRAPHY Curley, Edwin Ed.. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. Hackett Publishing Company, United States of America 1994 Mansfield, Harvey C. Trans.. Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. University of Chicago Press, Chic ago 1998 1 Sometimes referred to as Realism. 2 Pangle, Thomas. Class Lecture. Jan. 25, 1999 3 Mansfield, Harvey C. trans Machiavelli, The Prince. Ch. XVII. P. 66 4 Curley, Edwin ed.. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. P. 58 5 Mansfield, Harvey C. trans Machiavelli, The Prince. P. x 6 Curley, Edwin ed.. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. P. 76 7 ib. P. 78 ** Emphasis added in translation. 8 Good here refers to the conventional, scriptural and Aristotelian understanding. 9 Mansfield, Harvey C. trans Machiavelli, The Prince. P. 62 10 Ibid. P. 71