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Soc. Sci. 410 (Introduction to Philosophy ThroughPhilosophy)

Redel C. Viernesto Dr. Vima A. Olivares

MAT SocSci Student Professor

Niccolo Machiavelli
(“The Prince” and "Discourses on Livy")

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (1469 - 1527) was an Italian philosopher, political theorist,
diplomat, musician and writer of the Renaissance period. He was a central figure in the political scene of the
Italian Renaissance, a tumultuous period of plots, wars between city states and constantly shifting alliances.
Although he never considered himself a philosopher (and often overtly rejected philosophical inquiry
as irrelevant), many subsequent political philosophers have been influenced by his ideas. His name has since
passed into common usage to refer to any political move that is devious or cunning in nature, although this
probably represents a more extreme view than Machiavelli actually took.
He is best known today for two main works, the well-known "The Prince" (a treatise on political
realism and a guide on how a ruler can retain control over his subjects), and the "Discourses on Livy" (the
most important work on republicanism in the early modern period).
Although he is sometimes presented as a model of Moral Nihilism, that is actually highly questionable
as he was largely silent on moral matters and, if anything, he presented an alternative to the ethical theories
of his day, rather than an all-out rejection of all morality. He was also accused of Atheism, again with little
justification.

Philosophy about Politics: “The Prince” and "Discourses on Livy"

Machiavelli's best known work, "Il Principe" ("The Prince"), was written in some haste in 1513 while in
exile on his farm outside Florence, and was dedicated to Lorenzo de'Medici in the hope of regaining his status
in the Florentine Government. However, it was only formally published posthumously in 1532. In it, he
described the arts by which a Prince (or ruler) could retain control of his realm. A "new" prince has a much
more difficult task than a hereditary prince, since he must stabilize his newfound power and build a structure
that will endure, a task that requires the Prince to be publicly above reproach but privately may require him to
do immoral things in order to achieve his goals. He outlined his criteria for acceptable cruel actions and
pointed out the irony in the fact that good can come from evil actions.
Although "The Prince" did not dispense entirely with morality nor advocate wholesale selfishness or
degeneracy, the Catholic Church nevertheless put the work on its index of prohibited books, and it was viewed
very negatively by many Humanists, such as Erasmus. It marked a fundamental break between Realism and
Idealism. Although never directly stated in the book, "the end justifies the means" is often quoted as indicative
of the Pragmatism or Instrumentalism that underlies Machiavelli's philosophy. He also touched on totalitarian
themes, arguing that the state is merely an instrument for the benefit of the ruler, who should have no qualms
at using whatever means are at his disposal to keep the citizenry suppressed. Unlike Plato and Aristotle,
though, Machiavelli was not looking to describe the ideal society, merely to present a guide to getting and
preserving power and the status quo.
His other major contribution to political thought, the "Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio"
("Discourses on Livy") was begun around 1516 and completed in 1518 or 1519. It was an exposition of the
principles of republican rule, masquerading as a commentary on the work of the famous historian of the
Roman Republic. It constitutes a series of lessons on how a republic should be started and structured,
including the concept of checks and balances, the strength of a tripartite structure, and the superiority of a
republic over a principality or monarchy. If not the first, then it was certainly the most important work on
republicanism in the early modern period.

Reference:
https://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_machiavelli.html