Machiavelli’s The Prince, A Modern Man?
Of all the political authors and scholars of the Renaissance period, there is always one name that seems to rise above unlike no other than Niccolo Machiavelli. Many have criticized him as being someone of an “evil” person because of his published opinions over politics. However, there are also some people like Alistair McAlpine, who seems to differ in labeling Machiavelli as an “evil” person. McAlpine believes that there is no evidence to suggest that Machiavelli was an evil person. Instead, he feels that Machiavelli understood the capacity for evil that lurks in all of us. McAlpine also stated that Machiavelli did not advocate evil doing, but he was able to accept that “all human activity, and especially politics, will involve evil-doing” (McAlpine xii). The purpose of this paper will be to discuss if Machiavelli’s The Prince is a modern man, and if McAlpine would agree with this opinion. I would consider Machiavelli to be a modern man. I say this for several reason!
s that will be discussed below by using three characteristics of the modern, and conclude why I think that McAlpine would agree with this opinion.
The first characteristic of the modern that will be discussed in t
. . .
Because by an individualistic point of view, it shows we are in control and no one else. However, if you cannot have both, it would be better to be feared than loved. You want loyalty from your people, without it you do not have their continued support. If you are not one of the people, success and loyalty with them cannot be established. Another point, the quest for money by politics will not satisfy a prince, it is achieving glory that gives politics meaning. “Men in general judge more by their eyes than by their hands, because seeking is given to everyone, touching to few” (Mansfield 67 & 71). In other words, all values, rights, and duties originate within the individual. The existence of God would mean a spiritual being, and secularism only acknowledges things of the world; which God is obviously not a thing of the world. So, if what we are doing is not good for everyone, Machiavelli suggests that it is better to be cruel because it usually leads to mercy in the long run (Mansfield 65). Those who plan ahead, will more than likely be successful. This mostly comprises the thought of things of the world and not of God or religion. We manifest our own will, and we are in control of part of what we do, and fate is responsible for the rest. Machiavelli passes along the idea that we make the decision of when to be good, and when not to be based upon our environment (Mansfield 61). We also get the impression that he does agree that there are something’s we cannot control, but even then he gives no credit to God or “the Great” (Mansfield 39).
Approximate Word count =
1235
Approximate Pages =
5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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