How Machiavellian was Machiavelli How Machiavellian was Machiavelli? an analysis of The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli This template can be used as a starter file to give updates for project milestones. Sections Right-click on a slide to add sections. Sections can help to organize your slides or facilitate collaboration between multiple authors. Notes Use the Notes section for delivery notes or to provide additional details for the audience. View these notes in Presentation View during your presentation. Keep in mind the font size (important for accessibility, visibility, videotaping, and online production) Coordinated colors Pay particular attention to the graphs, charts, and text boxes. Consider that attendees will print in black and white or grayscale. Run a test print to make sure your colors work when printed in pure black and white and grayscale. Graphics, tables, and graphs Keep it simple: If possible, use consistent, non-distracting styles and colors. Label all graphs and tables.

How Machiavellian Was Machiavelli? Title of a lecture given by Quiten Skinner at the University of York (2/21/2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH-NxQmf87k The following is a summary of the lecture. What is the project about? Define the goal of this project Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort? Define the scope of this project Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects? * Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

Humanism Machiavelli is a Civic Humanist Focus upon logical argument As all humanist of the time he seeks to define the virtues of human Machiavelli stresses the concept of Virtù 60 times this is used in The Prince pivotal to his argument and to an interpreter to understand the meaning of this word So what does this word mean? he doesn’t define the concept * If any of these issues caused a schedule delay or need to be discussed further, include details in next slide.

Characteristics of Virtù Skill/ability/judgement to offset luck (Chapter 24 is highlight of this idea) you can never get rid of luck; it’s always there Quality to see and seize power (Romulus, Cyrus, and Moses); no opportunity wasted (Ch 6) Quality to be able to maintain their state (standing/status/power/condition as a ruler) Maintain the state/jurisdiction of course coincides with this idea Notion of state could be a principality or republic Hiro of Syacuse is perhaps the ideal example of this concept of Virtù You can obtain power in many ways but the only way to maintain power is Virtù The quality of virtue will enable you to obtain the ultimate goal veneration Duplicate this slide as necessary if there is more than one issue. This and related slides can be moved to the appendix or hidden if necessary.

Contemporary Thoughts Other writers of the time talk of key values of society justice/keeping your word (taken from Cicero/Roman laws); perhaps more accurately taken from Seneca (wrote 2 treatises to princes)…tutor to Nero Liberality Clemency (goes beyond justice, its mercy) “I’m well aware others have written on princes and virtues/I fear I depart massively from these other people” Chapter 16: Concerning Liberality, then cruelty, clemency, keeping of word (justice) He brings up 1400-1500 literature and then counters their arguments Duplicate this slide as necessary if there is more than one issue. This and related slides can be moved to the appendix or hidden if necessary.

Key Issue addressed in Machiavelli’s Argument Follow the key humanistic virtues but you SHOULD NOT follow them if they get in your way. No such quality absolutely forbids you from acting in a certain way.

Judging Actions based upon the Consequences For any action: Will this help me to maintain my state? The princely virtù therefore is judging when to apply or not to apply the humanistic virtues Liberality: A prudent prince will not mind being a miser (Ch 16) if the consequence is beneficial Clemency can be badly used (Ch 17) Cruelty can help you to succeed Justice: Always keeping word will turn against you. Will keeping promise help or endanger the keeping of the state. DO modern politicians follow this advice? Chapter 18: How Far? (How far will you keep/how often will you keep your promise) For the day this was a shocking idea; again a humanist idea Famous image of the FOX; minimize when people see you not keeping your promise Our idea of playing politics

Ultimate Message of the Book Do evil so that ultimate good will come of that action. This is at least what Machiavelli wants to say about Justice.   However is that the idea he expresses for Liberality and Clemency?

Rhetorical Traditions: Thucydides and History of the Peloponnesian War Moralistic View Point Thucydides (A history; Part 3) When civil war breaks out, first casualty is moral language for their partisan purpose Example: making excuse calling things courageous, bravery (that are not) good actions can be called cowardice

1st Rhetorical tradition Later generations pick this moralistic idea apart. Aristotle instead says you can/should try to change what is being said. More interested in how you can manipulate moral language and excuse the vice Always furious; always frank Extravagant; generous Modesty; cowardice Deliberation; lack of decisiveness Roman Idea (Quintillion): Act of excusing vices by describing virtues

2nd Rhetorical Tradition: The other Rhetorical tradition is the moralistic view point of Thucydides Rhetorical Trick is to point out what people are doing Point out that they are manipulating the language Point out that they are corrupt, etc. Roman Rhetorical Tradition often looked to this idea  During this time/common to learn Rhetoric in university from one basic text (Sixth Form?)/this culture knew this text and followed Thucydides idea of pointing out corruption

Chapter 16 and 17 (Liberality and Clemency) “What passes in our society for liberality is in fact the vice of extravagance” (paraphrased a quote in the book)   “when people get praised in our times” The Florentines in order to avoid being called cruel…congratulated themselves on their clemency this was over indulgence. How is this clemency, they left corrupt people in power and it caused great trouble. The town was destroyed and it could it have been stopped Scipio (Great Hero of Roman Republic), revered for clemency. This “clemency” was a corruption by the society. He forgave a mutiny. City destroyed, he didn’t punish anyone in order to avoid not being called cruel. (He is lax/overindulgent according to Mach.) Machiavelli calls all this out he does not rename We live in a corrupted society that just renames We live in a corrupted society in which liberality and clemency are renamed True virtue of liberality: Louis XII was very parsimonious: abut yet fought many wars. No rapacious demands upon the people. (did not over burden his people) True virtue of Clemency: Cesare was called cruel at outset but in the end was far better because it brought order. Better than the Florentines TRUE Liberality and Clemency will always HELP the state. In a corrupt society these virtues are constantly renamed

How Machiavellian is Machiavelli? The virtue of Justice? VERY “Machiavellian” Always keeping word will turn against you Act as the fox The Virtue of Liberality? Muddled Compared to other Humanists The Virtue of Clemency? Machiavelli argues that: TRUE Liberality and Clemency will always HELP the state.