Allyson Blume
Professor Mavrikos-Adamou
PSC 125
6 December 2017
The Prince’s Position
Niccolo Machiavelli, now remembered as an esteemed scholar and political mind, desired to become a political activist. He yearned for the opportunity to climb the ranks of political office. When writing Machiavelli: The Prince Machiavelli had hoped he would impress The Medici family; his writing was a plea to regain his political position. At the time, his works were interpreted not so political, but as a legacy and sought out rule of human affairs. The book was not so highly regarded until its publication, after his death. Machiavelli is infamous for his rapport that validated political instruments such as utilizing brutality and repression as political means, so, it is to no surprise that one of Machiavelli's most prominent statements regarding politics is employed as the controversial idea that to maintain a political position, leaders must learn to be bad to be successful, and use this manner as so (Nederman).
Machiavelli's claim that to be a ruler of good standing one must learn to” be not good all of the time”, still stands the test of time today. Machiavelli was a realist political thinker and a prominent public figure. He introduced the power theory that human behavior often still reflects. The contradiction over Machiavelli's works only aid in illuminating his theories and principles. The argumentation aids in the conformance of his ideas of power, each connecting to each other, but being adapted in different ways. Though there is discussion over Machiavelli's position on power, his theory holds true to the test of time in a multitude of circumstances and extremes. Since human behavior is repetitive it is important to understand the meaning of Machiavelli's position on power as it is still situationally relevant today.
Machiavelli believed in a fault in the creation of man, that man was capable of evil, or to not be good. Opposite the catholic church, and going off of some of Augustine's beliefs in the flaw of the human (Bartleby). Machiavelli opposed the writings of the Bible regarding mankind and society, and instead took the fault of humankind as a guidance for his writings on power. He strayed from the divine and took the human flaw as a necessary opportunity to gain and savor power (Abrams). His sourcing of power was backed by the idea to incorporate a flawed human characteristic that is grave in to rule.
Machiavelli’s view on governance was the first of his time. He wrote The Prince as an axiom to power for all rulers to follow as a roadmap to rule. Theorists and Political thinkers before him had not represented their ideas constituting fear and intimidation as rules to abide by. Machiavelli's position on power is often thought as crude and relentless, one that is still being explored as to how it has lasted this length of time.
Machiavelli was a powerful, prominent figure in politics. If Machiavelli lived by his own theories, his theory of character would stand to be efficient. Machiavelli was a realist. A profit whom did not believe in the what ifs or could bes but instead focused solely on the achievable and practical and depicted the ways to ensure a long lasting, successful political reign..
Machiavelli believed that people are so bad that they require someone erudite to rule. It is the only way that people will listen if they can relate, contrarily even if they do not relate those will fear so strongly they will still follow their lead.
Machiavelli’s The Prince, a guide to hold rule, asserts the issues regarding moral and ethical code, refuting the ideas along with those, collecting “success by any means”. Machiavelli incorporated the teachings of ruthless ruler Cesare Borgia in his work, noting Borgia’s rule as his picture of an ideal prince. Well-known that The Prince scribed after deceitful ruler, Cesare Borgia, Machiavellian ideals have been well noted as callous and merciless (Cavallo).
Machiavelli holds the belief that all people have some bad in them, therefore, only those that use it, when it is called for, will reign. Hence, “it is necessary to a prince, if he wants to maintain himself, to learn to be able not to be good, and to use this and not use it according to necessity?” (Machiavelli Ch. 22). Machiavelli continues on to discuss if one ruler did not step up and utilize the “bad” they hold, someone who is willing, would. Any ruler willing to enact the horror within would soon overtake the good willed ruler. In form, only temporarily saving the people from “evil rule”. Being bad is seen through the eye of the beholder, what may seem bad to some and inflict harm to some may actually be in the best interest of everyone. It is potenent for a ruler to seem gentle and kind but rule as cruel when necessary, for if someone were to rule with a weak heart they will not be capable to make the decisions necessary for good rule. Contrarily, if a ruler shows a stern face the people will not respect the ruler. They must be cruel when deemed necessary and warming in the public, so people will not give the ruling a difficult time, instead, respecting them and not threatening their rule, but also capable to make decisions of cruelty since good is not always the correct choice of action (Peplum).
A person whose desire is to stand as a prominent political figure must learn to not be good all of the time. Machiavelli may respond to opposition by continuing on with his work “the prince” being quoted as saying it is better to be feared than loved. Machiavelli explicitly believed that a ruler must learn to be bad, utilizing the fault of humankind, if it is not required to be bad, there is no reason to be unruly bad. “It is better to be feared than loved” to ensure order (Machiavelli). It is better to be feared and loved, but, impractically so, it is best to be feared because love is not reliable. Fear brings upon the idea of authority, simplifying the task of holding order within a region. A person should be in a balance between the two ideals. The theories of goodness and being loved coincide. A person who is feared will have an easier time of getting things done, where as someone who is loved will not be held at the same feeling of rushed regard to complete a given task. Someone who is bad will most likely turn the character in to that of being feared. If a ruler is too merciful, he will be taken advantage of.
Machiavelli’s idea of not being good at all times still heavily exists today. Many theorists consider his work to be outrageous, while in the business world it is considered to be the guide map for obtaining and holding power. Machiavelli's idea regarding holding power has withstood time and is apparent in aspects of the modern day leaders. Machiavelli's ideas have been made present in Presidential elections and campaigns. Following the 2012 elections, an article titled ““Machiavelli Reigns: Dirty campaigns beg the question: ‘Is everything fair game in American politics?’” was published, following the slamming of political opponents Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. More recently, the unveiling of “dirt” or defamation has been present in the 2016 election involving Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Politicians today justified Machiavelli's idea that “the ends justify means”, by defaming each others character. They choose to not be good for the time being in order to advance in the elections and achieve self fulfillment. Neo-Conservative writer Michael Ledeen noted that “This conflation of war and social relationships permeates all aspects of society with Machiavellian choices… Kill or be killed”. Realism is a part of modern Machiavellian beliefs, formulating the tendencies of society to follow Machiavellis principles. Tony Pellum states “ It is a view that lends itself to pithy formulations: ‘Might makes right”, “Do or be done to”, “It’s a dog-eat-dog world’, and Machiavelli’s own contribution, ‘Men must either be caressed or extinguished’”.
Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea, has followed Machiavelli's rules of power to the extreme. North korea wants to consolidate power, so the dictator goes to the extreme to starve his own people. Machiavelli’s said to use this behavior when it is necessary, the leader of North Korea is ruthfully harming his own people for none other than total and complete power. He utilizes power for evil and the intimidation of fear to hold the power so there is no doubt in the citizens minds regarding his success.
In hoping to impress the Medici family, Machiavelli wrote his theory of power which has withstood the test of time. He mentions what a prince must do in order to maintain power. Machiavelli's stance regarding utilizing poor character when called for in order to hold power withstood the test of time. His principles and multitude of works are still highly regarded today. The presence of poor character is seen in present day elections and rulers. Machiavelli's power theory ties in to his theory that “ends justify means”. Niccolo Machiavelli will stand as a prominent political thinker, whose ideas have been implemented into society and will continue to aid leaders in power, withstanding the test of time.
Works Cited
Abrams, Mike. “Machiavelli: The Elements of Power.” Machiavelli and Power,
www.emachiavelli.com/Machiavelli%20on%20power.htm.
Block, Thomas. Machiavelli in America. Algora Publishing, 2014. EBSCOhost,
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Cavallo, Jo Ann. "On Political Power and Personal Liberty in the Prince and the Discourses."
Social Research, vol. 81, no. 1, Spring2014, pp. 106-132. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1353/sor.2014.0013.
“Excerpts from Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1513) .” Wright State University,
www.wright.edu/~christopher.oldstone-moore/Machiavelli15.htm.
Machiavelli, Niccolò, and David Wootton. The Prince. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co, 1995.
Print.
Nederman, Cary J. Machiavelli : A Beginner's Guide. Oneworld Publications, 2012. Beginner's
Guides. EBSCOhost,
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Peplum, Tony. “Why Machiavelli's Wrong.” Machiavelli,
japrufrock.tripod.com/machiavelli1127.html.