Machiavelli’s The Prince: Realism vs. Idealism Dr. Bretton Rodriguez

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) Santi di Tiro, 16th Century

Machiavelli’s World: European Renaissance Humanism Adaptation of the classics Focus on the individual Move from sacred to secular Printing Press (1440) Global Exploration Americas (1492) Indian Ocean (1498) Circumnavigation (1517-1522) Protestant Reformation Martin Luther (1517)

Europe in 1500

Italy in 1500

Personal Biography Youth (1469-1494): Political Career (1494-1512): Born in Florence in 1469 Member of the nobility Political Career (1494-1512): In charge of the Second Chancery Ambassador to the Papacy, France, and the Holy Roman Empire Literary Career (1512-1527): Imprisoned and tortured Retired from public life an estate in the countryside Re-entered literary society around 1520

Literary Works The Prince (1513) Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livy (1514-1519) The Golden Ass (1517) The Girl from Andros (1517-1520) The Art of War (1519-1520) Florentine Histories (1520-1525)

The Prince Dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici Composed: 1513 First Printed: 1532 Language : Italian (Florentine dialect) Genre: Medieval Mirror of Princes Political Treatise / Political Philosophy

Machiavelli’s Conception of History: “Didactic History” Great figures of the past are models to be emulated or avoided Accounts of the past teach us about the present “Medieval” history “Humanist History” Humans are the cause of events “Renaissance” history

“No one should be surprised if, in talking about states completely new in their rulers and constitutions, I make use of the very greatest examples. Men almost always prefer to walk in paths marked out by others and pattern their actions through imitation. Even if he cannot follow other people’s paths in every respect, or attain to the merit [virtú] of his originals, a prudent man should always follow the footsteps of the great and imitate those who have been supreme. His own talent [virtú] may not come up to theirs, but at least he will have a sniff of it.” (Ch.6)

Main Themes: Political Realism vs. Idealism: Any and all means should be adopted for gaining and holding power. Morality is less important than effectively wielding power. One must treat the world as it is, not as one would want it to be.

“A great many men have imagined states and princedoms such as nobody ever saw or knew in the real world, and there’s such a difference between the way we really live and the way we ought to live that the man who neglects the real to study the ideal will learn how to accomplish his ruin, not his salvation. Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires … For if you look at matter carefully, you will see that something resembling virtue, if you follow it, may be your ruin, while something else resembling vice will lead, if you follow, to your security and well-being.” (Ch.15)

Cesare Borgia Anonymous, 16th Century

Main Themes: Political Realism vs. Idealism Virtue (Virtú) The range of personal qualities possessed by a prince for maintain and expanding their power. Initiative, skill, talent, strength, or ability Capable of taking any necessary steps to maintain or increase power. Divorced from any moral qualities.

“A new prince taking charge of a completely new kingdom will have more or less trouble in holding onto it, as he himself is more or less capable [virtuoso]. And since this transition, from private citizen to prince, presupposes either skill [virtú] or luck, it would seem that either one or other of these two qualities might ease some of the difficulties … These men and men of this sort, who becomes princes through their own strength of character [per vie virtuose] may have trouble in getting power, but they find it easy to hold onto.” (Ch.6)

Mester der Magdalenen-Legende, 16th Century Ferdinand II of Aragon Mester der Magdalenen-Legende, 16th Century

Main Themes: Political Realism vs. Idealism Virtue (Virtú) Fortune: Relying on Fortune is less certain than relying on virtue (virtú). Although it is outside of human control, one can be prepared to deal with Fortune. Fortune responds to boldness and force.

“When simple good luck raises private citizens to the rank of prince, they have little trouble in rising, but plenty in holding onto their positions. They have no troubles along the way, because they are practically flying: all the problems arise when they are in place … The new rulers do not know how to hold what they have been given, and they could not do it if they did know. They don’t know because, unless they are men of great shrewdness and vigor [virtú], they cannot be expected to have the knack of command after living all their lives as private citizens.” (Ch.7)

German Woodcut, 15th Century Wheel of Fortune German Woodcut, 15th Century

Main Themes: Political Realism vs. Idealism Virtue (Virtú) Fortune Statesmanship: Enemies People should either be treated well or destroyed completely. A prince should not create enemies who are able to hurt him.

“Upon this, one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.” (Ch.3)

Main Themes: Political Realism vs. Idealism Virtue (Virtú) Fortune Statesmanship: Enemies Friends New benefits do not lead people to forget old enmities or crimes. You must never trust those you have harmed in the past.

“Anyone who thinks that recent benefits makes great people forget old injuries is simply deluding himself. Thus the duke made a mistake and it was the cause of his final ruin.” (Ch.7)

Main Themes: Political Realism vs. Idealism Virtue (Virtú) Fortune Statesmanship Enemies Friends Subjects Question: Is better to be loved or feared? Love is something that you cannot control, and people often break bonds of love. A prince can control fear, and it is not as easily broken.

“To be feared is much safer than to be loved “To be feared is much safer than to be loved. For it is a good general rule about men that they are ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers; fearful of danger and greedy for gain. While you serve their welfare, they are all yours, offering their blood, their belongings, their lives, and their children’s lives, as noted above – so long as the danger is remote. But when the danger is close at hand, they turn against you … People are less concerned with offending a man who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared. The reason is that love is a link of obligation which men, because they are rotten, will break any time they think doing so serves their advantage; but fear involves dread of punishment, from which they can never escape.” (Ch.17)

Main Themes: Political Realism vs. Idealism Virtue (Virtú) Fortune Statesmanship Enemies Friends Subjects

Machiavelli in the Popular Imagination Political Realism Machiavellian Misquotations: “Politics have no relations to morals” “The ends justify the means” “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”

Fin