Machiavelli Essays and Term Papers
Last update: August 12, 2014-
Machiavelli and the Prince
A German existentialist by the name of Friedrich Nietzsche believed in a race of "supermen" that would arise and be free sprits unencumbered by morality, acting "beyond good and evil." Nietzsche believed that "God was dead," and man must rise to the occasion and become godlike. In order to become these godlike men, however, we would have to get rid of all outside constraints, such as morality. In a similar manner Niccolo Machiavelli felt the
Rating:Essay Length: 1,450 Words / 6 PagesSubmitted: January 6, 2010 -
Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli, one of the great political minds of the 15th century, accomplished what many mathematicians today only dream of, having one's name used as an adjective. To be Machiavellian is to demonstrate characteristics of expediency, deceit, and cunning and as Machiavelli wrote in, The Prince, these are the qualities of a great leader. The Prince was published in 1531, creating great controversy with other political thinkers of the time. Machiavelli completely ignored the popular
Rating:Essay Length: 314 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: January 10, 2010 -
Machiavelli and the Prince
Angel DiPietro Professor Roberto Sabbadini Social Life in Medieval and Early Modern Italy Nicolo Macchiavelli and The Prince At the end of the 14th century, Italy was still politically organized by city-states. Emerging as one of the most influential writers of the Renaissance, Niccolo Machiavelli was a political analyst, whose aim was to free italy from foreign rule, as well as to unite and strengthen the Italian city states. Machiavelli believed Italy could not be
Rating:Essay Length: 1,997 Words / 8 PagesSubmitted: January 11, 2010 -
Niccol Machiavelli
Historical Background Niccolт Machiavelli was born in Florence on May 3, 1469 and died on June 21, 1527. In 1498, when Florence became a republic, he obtained a position in the government as a clerk and quickly rose through the government ranks, soon being made head of the second chancery. A chancery is a public office, consisting of a committee in charge of some the city-state's policies. The second chancery was in charge of internal
Rating:Essay Length: 4,964 Words / 20 PagesSubmitted: January 12, 2010 -
Power and Authority as Viewed by Hobbes and Machiavelli
Power and Authority as Viewed by Hobbes and Machiavelli Many medieval political thinkers observed that power and authority came first from God and then from a social mandate. In Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes proposes that power comes from the social mandate first. (Leviathan, Bk. I, Ch. 18, pp.230) He makes this assertion on the basis that it is within the human nature to secure its life through banding together with others to form a community. Each
Rating:Essay Length: 623 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: January 12, 2010 -
Machiavelli Lao-Tzu
Lao-tzu and Machiavelli are political philosophers writing in two different lands and two different times. Lao-tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher from 6th century BC, the author of Tao-te Ching, and Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher who lived 2000 years after Lao-tzu's time, author of Prince. They are both philosophers but have totally different perspective on how to be a good leader. While both philosopher's writing is instructive. Lao-tzu's advice issues from detached view of
Rating:Essay Length: 740 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: January 15, 2010 -
Machiavelli
The thirteenth through the eighteenth century brought profound changes in the political realm of Western civilization. Beginning with the Scientific Revolution and only advancing during the Renaissance, secularization and skepticism lead to changes in not only the intellectual life of Westerners, but also to their politics. At the forefront of the political debate were well-versed men such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. The influences of these men, though often criticized, can clearly be seen
Rating:Essay Length: 378 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: January 21, 2010 -
Essay on Niccolo Machiavelli
Essay on Niccolo Machiavelli Niccolo Machiavelli recommends a very practical course of action for the prince: obtain power by direct and effective means, which is necessary. In the story “The Qualities of the Prince” by Niccoli Machiavelli, the concept “The ends justify the means” is saying that a prince should hold absolute control of their territories, and they should use any means of resort necessary to accomplish this end, including violence and deception. In this
Rating:Essay Length: 610 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: January 23, 2010 -
Machiavelli
Throughout history, it can be argued that at the core of the majority of successful societies has stood an effective allocation of leadership. Accordingly, in their respective works 'The Tao-te Ching' and 'The Prince', Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli have sought to reach a more complete understanding of this relationship. The theme of political leaders and their intricate relationship with society indeed manifests itself within both texts, however, both Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli approach this issue from almost
Rating:Essay Length: 281 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: January 27, 2010 -
Machiavelli Vs. Castiglione
Ideas on the same topic always seem to differ from person to person. This holds true to the ideas of Machiavelli and Castiglione. The Prince, written by Machiavelli, and The Courtier, written by Castiglione, are both somewhat how-to guides for nobility, royalty, and princes. However, there are many distinct differences among the ideas of Castiglione and Machiavelli. Castiglione's philosophy leads down the path of a well-rounded person; a more peaceful manner. Machiavelli's philosophy is more
Rating:Essay Length: 881 Words / 4 PagesSubmitted: January 27, 2010 -
Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli is a great influence on many poloticians, philosophers, and leaders alike. His name has also come into our grammer as Machiavellian or Machiavellism meaning a brutal or realist view of something perhaps not the most moral of methods but it is effective. In Niccolo Machiavelli's day and age he was one of the few that could read and write literacy was left primarily to preists and poloticians. He was oviously a very skilled
Rating:Essay Length: 949 Words / 4 PagesSubmitted: January 29, 2010 -
The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli
In The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli presents a view of governing state that is drastically different from that of humanists of his time. Machiavelli believes the ruling Prince should be the sole authority determining every aspect of the state and put in effect a policy which would serve his best interests. These interests were gaining, maintaining, and expanding his political power.1 His understanding of huan nature was a complete contradiction of what humanists believed and taught.
Rating:Essay Length: 1,060 Words / 5 PagesSubmitted: February 2, 2010 -
Machiavelli and Morality
When reading Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince, one can't help but grasp Machiavelli's argument that morality and politics can not exist in the same forum. However, when examining Machiavelli's various concepts in depth, one can conclude that perhaps his suggested violence and evil is fueled by a moral end of sorts. First and foremost, one must have the understanding that this book is aimed solely at the Prince or Emperor with the express purpose of aiding
Rating:Essay Length: 1,613 Words / 7 PagesSubmitted: February 6, 2010 -
Analysis of Cesare Borgia in Machiavelli’s the Prince
Using the model of Cesare Borgia in The Prince, Machiavelli proposes a new theory of virtue that is consistent with no moral standard other than what is called for by necessity. To do this, Machiavelli first discusses Cesare's virtue, and then proceeds to suggest how Cesare's virtue falls short. His interpretation of the rise and fall of Cesare's virtue in Chapter VII serves to demonstrate that Machiavellian virtue has a telos - it looks toward
Rating:Essay Length: 1,496 Words / 6 PagesSubmitted: February 6, 2010 -
Machiavelli Quotes
Machiavellian Philosophy… It is in the interest of the weak to design societies that encumber the strong. The essential difference between the terrorist and the noble conqueror is the quality of the army Justice is elegant revenge. And revenge is justice for those who cannot afford elegance. The most effective way to make a threat is to present it as a secret plan to those you know to be untrustworthy. This adds credibility and deniability.
Rating:Essay Length: 425 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: February 8, 2010 -
Conduct of War: Thomas More and Niccolo Machiavelli
Conduct of War: Thomas More and Niccolo Machiavelli Thomas More, in his creation of Utopia, brings to life a world where the best and worst qualities of a society are to be found. Looking at their conduct of war, More paints a picture of society that sees war as being incredibly below humans, even with his claim that "humans are more addicted to it than any of the lower animals." Throughout the narrator's, Raphael, explanation
Rating:Essay Length: 370 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: February 10, 2010 -
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Italian Renaissance is known for its birth of many notable philosophers, including the famous Niccolo Machiavelli. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest political thinkers to have ever existed, and his ideas and beliefs have been an inspiration and motivation for many famous leaders. Although he has known to have been a positive influence on mankind, Machiavelli has also distinguished a bad reputation that has been unfairly given to him because of
Rating:Essay Length: 1,253 Words / 6 PagesSubmitted: February 11, 2010 -
Machiavelli’s View of Humans
In The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli presents a view of governing a state that is drastically different from that of humanists of his time. Machiavelli believes the ruling Prince should be the sole authority determining every aspect of the state and put in effect a policy which would serve his best interests. These interests were gaining, maintaining, and expanding his political power.1 His understanding of human nature was a complete contradiction of what humanists believed and
Rating:Essay Length: 972 Words / 4 PagesSubmitted: February 16, 2010 -
Machiavelli Vs. Lao-Tzu
In comparing and contrasting the governmental philosophies of the great thinkers Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli, I have found a pleasant mix of both of their ideas would be the best for America today. Lao-Tzu’s laisse-faire attitude towards the economy, as well as his small scale military is appealing to my liberal side, while Machiavelli’s attitude towards miserliness which causes low taxes appeals to the right wing. These great thinkers contradict the popular saying “all great thinkers
Rating:Essay Length: 1,135 Words / 5 PagesSubmitted: February 21, 2010 -
The Prince -Machiavelli’s Philosophy -Opinion Piece
Machiavelli has a certain philosophy that I personally don’t agree with. He believes that “the end justifies the means.” In other words, as long as you reach your goal, everything that you did to get there is justified. It isn’t right to not care about how many people you torture, or how many homes you destroy, as long as you get people to bow down to you and call you king. This philosophy of Machiavelli’s
Rating:Essay Length: 323 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: February 22, 2010 -
Why the Need to Study Machiavelli's Ideas
WHY THE NEED TO STUDY MACHIAVELLI’S IDEAS Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), the writer of the book The Prince (1532), was both a public servant for the state of Florence, Italy and a political theorist. The book which gained a bad reputation when it was written now serves as a guide book for most politicians and heads of state (princes) around the world. The Prince (II Principe) is a book which contains practical examples and factual information
Rating:Essay Length: 801 Words / 4 PagesSubmitted: February 27, 2010 -
Niccolo Machiavelli
Throughout the course of time, history has witnessed countless thinkers, philosophers and intellectuals. These men of learning have contributed in the psychological evolution of mankind, by posing innovative theories on subjects as diverse as life, religion, spiritualism and systems of governance. Some of these men were praised; others were maligned and slandered, whereas a few were out-rightly condemned as heretics. However, the fact remains that all of these men, no matter how controversial in their
Rating:Essay Length: 362 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: March 2, 2010 -
The Way a Prince Should Act According to Niccolo Machiavelli
The Way a Prince Should Act According to Niccolo Machiavelli Niccolo Machiavelli was a bright political philosopher who questioned how power could be controlled within its own state. He had come up with various unique ideas that may compel or move people within the Renaissance or even in society today. The book Niccolo Machiavelli wrote, The Prince, focuses on how a monarchy should be organized in order to be successful. Some of his ideas are
Rating:Essay Length: 1,193 Words / 5 PagesSubmitted: March 11, 2010 -
Machiavelli: A Cynic?
Many writings argue that human kind is born capable of evil things or that they are born either good or evil. Machiavelli argues simply that man is self-centered and only after self preservation. He argues that mankind is immoral and greedy. His opinions are apparent as he states, “It may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain,” in the eighteenth paragraph
Rating:Essay Length: 691 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: March 12, 2010 -
Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. He eventually became a man who lived his life for politics and patriotism. Right now, however, he is associated with corrupt, totalitarian government. The reason for this is a small pamphlet he wrote called The Prince to gain influence with the ruling Medici family in Florence. The political genius of Niccolo Machiavelli was overshadowed by the reputation that was unfairly given to him because
Rating:Essay Length: 554 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: March 15, 2010