The Prince, by Machiavelli

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The Prince, by Machiavelli
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Why are we reading this?

• Classic - a piece of writing, a musical
  recording or a film which is well-known and of a
  high standard and lasting value.

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• Machiavellian using clever but often dishonest
  methods which deceive people so that you can gain
  power or control. Cambridge English Dictionary

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Is this true?

• Shakespeare The murderous Machiavelli
• Leo Strauss The teacher of evil.

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• The book
• The man and his time.
• Our time.

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Our Times

• Scenario You are the political leader of a
  powerful country and have to decide if you go to
  war against another.
• You think your country should go to war to
  protect its security, but many people are not
  convinced?
• Do you lie to them to exaggerate your case?
• You also think that extreme measures are needed
  to fight the enemy, including the killing of
  civilians, but also the harsh treatment of those
  you believe are your enemies, even after they are
  captured?
• Are those measures justified? If so, under what
  conditions and to what limits, if any?
• Does Machiavelli have anything useful to say on
  this?

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Our Times
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Our Princes
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• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vlSieUhqIR6kfeature
  related
• B in P

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• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vEYI7JXGqd0ofeature
  related
• BR clip

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The Man
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Machiavelli (1469-1527)

• 1480s -humanist education at the University of
  Florence
• 1498-1512 - Diplomat during the Republican
  regime, travelling extensively and meeting
  political leaders of Europe
• 1513 accused of plotting against the Medici,
  tortured and jailed for a month
• 1513 Possible composition of The Prince
• 1518 writes Mandragola
• 1519 writes Discourses
• 1520 writes The Art of War (published 1521)
• 1525 completes The History of Florence

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The TimesRenaissance

• Cultural climate explosion of activities in
  arts, sciences and humanities
• Rebirth of classical antiquity values after
  middle ages

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Political Climate

• External conflicts all over Europe and internal
  conflicts particularly among and in Italys city
  states
• Threat of war constant and real

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Basic Concepts

• Fortuna fortune, or fate, that which happens
  irrespective of human will
• Virtu virtues, qualities possessed by man
• Honour and glory worldly aims

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Basic concepts

• Middle Ages, heavily influenced by Christianity
• Fortune Providence (i.e. God himself), the all
  powerful being in the universe
• Virtu no human quality capable of overcoming
  the Wheel of Fortune (Boethius, The
  Consolations of Philosophy)
• Honour and Glory neither attainable, nor worthy
  aims for men to pursue. Men should be worried
  about his afterlife, for with only faith in God
  is relevant.

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Basic concepts

• Renaissance, revival in the power of humans
  (humanism)
• Fortune a Goddess, i.e. a woman, thus
  difficult, but not untameable
• Virtu the true man (vir), with true manly
  qualities (virtutis), is capable of taming
  Fortune
• Honour and Glory legitimate aims in life the
  reward for the virtuous, who are able to tame
  Fortune.

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Humanism, free will

• There was a strong attack on astrology (Pico de
  la Mirandolla)
• Shakespeare famous passage of Cassius to Brutus,
  if we fail, the cause must lie not in our stars,
  but in our selves.

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Machiavelli, a son of his time

• Fortune, says Machiavelli, can rule only over
  half of mens lives the other half is ruled by
  Virtu
• Fortune like nature (river) and women.
• Those few men who manage, through virtu, to tame
  Fortune can achieve honour and glory, which, for
  a ruler, is the maintenance of his state

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Why Machiavelli?

• Tradition of advice-books for Princes
• Castiglione, Pontano, Patrizi?

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What is virtu?

• Cardinal virtues
• Wisdom
• Courage,
• Temperance
• Justice.
• Princely virtues
• generosity
• Mercifulness
• Honesty.

• Being virtuous is not only morally required, but
  also the best policy for the ruler.

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The Machiavellian Revolution

• Machiavelli turns the classic concept of virtue
  on its head
• But how? What is virtu? Is it clear what virtu is
  in The Prince?

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The Book

• Three main parts
• Chapters I-XI typology of states
• Chapters XII-XIV how should rulers behave
  towards foreign powers (War)
• Chapters XV-XIX central chapters, on how the
  ruler should behave towards its allies and own
  people

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Part I chapters I-XI
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Personal Motives

• Machiavelli was out of work and eager to come
  back to public service
• Book is dedicated to Medici
• Thus his concern (accidental), with
  principalities that came to the ruler by the
  favour and power of others (Spanish King)