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He was also accused of Atheism, again with little justification

He was per central figure durante the political scene of the Italian Renaissance , per tumultuous period of plots, wars between city states and constantly shifting alliances.

Although he never considered himself verso philosopher (and often overtly rejected philosophical inquiry as irrelevant ), many subsequent political philosophers have been influenced by his ideas. His name has since passed into common usage onesto refer to any political move that is devious or cunning durante nature, although this probably represents per more extreme view than Machiavelli actually took.

He is best known today for two main works, the well-known “The Prince” (per treatise on political realism and per direzione on how verso ruler can retain control over his subjects), and the “Discourses on Livy” (the most important sistema on republicanism in the early modern period).

Although he is sometimes presented as verso model of Moral Nihilism, that is actually highly questionable as he was largely silent on moral matters and, if anything, he presented an alternative onesto the ethical theories of his day, rather than an all-out rejection of all morality.

Machiavelli was born mediante Florence , Italy on 3 May 1469, the second cri of Bernardo di Niccol Machiavelli (a lawyer) and Bartolommea di Stefano Nelli . His family were believed to be descended from the old marquesses of Tuscany , and were probably quite wealthy.

He was soon promoted puro Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence, with responsibility for diplomatic negotiations and military matters

Little is known of his early life , but his education (possibly at the University of Florence ) left him with a thorough knowledge of the Latin and Italian classics , and he was trained as per man with great nobility and severe rigor by his father. He entered governmental service per Florence as verso clerk and ambassador per 1494, the same year as Florence had restored the republic and expelled the ruling Medici family . Between 1499 and 1512, he undertook verso number of diplomatic missions sicuro the athletique of Louis XII of France, Ferdinand II of Aragn and the Papacy sopra Rome. During this time, he witnessed at first hand (and with great interest) the audacious but effective statebuilding methods of the soldier/churchman Cesare Borgia (1475 – 1507).

From 1503 esatto 1506, Machiavelli was responsible for the Florentine militia and the defense of the city (he distrusted mercenaries , preferring a citizen militia ). He had some early success, but in 1512, the Medici (with the help of Pope Julius II and Spanish troops) defeated the Florentine force, and Machiavelli was removed from office, accused of conspiracy and arrested. After torture , he was eventually released and retired esatto his bella stagione at Sant’Andrea (sopra Percussina near Florence) and began writing the treatises that would ensure his place durante the history of Political Philosophy, “Il Re” ( “The Prince” ) and “Discorsi contro la davanti deca di Tito Livio” ( “Discourses on Livy” ).

Near the end of his life, and probably with the aid of well-connected friends whom he had been constantly badgering, Machiavelli began sicuro return preciso the favor of the Medici family. From 1520 puro 1525, he worked on verso “History of Florence” , commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de’Medici (who later become Pope Clement VII ). However, before he could achieve per full rehabilitation , he died per San Casciano , just outside of Florence, on 21 June 1527. His resting place is unknown.

Machiavelli’s best known work, “Il Monarca” ( “The Prince” ), was written mediante some haste mediante 1513 while in exile on his farm outside Florence, and was dedicated onesto Lorenzo de’Medici mediante the hope of regaining his ceto sopra the Florentine Government. However, it was only formally published posthumously sopra 1532. Per it, he described the arts by which a Prince (or ruler) could retain control of his realm. Verso “new” prince has per much more difficult task than a hereditary prince, since he must stabilize his newfound power and build verso structure that will endure, a task that requires the Prince to be publicly above reproach but privately may require him preciso do immoral things sopra order puro achieve his goals. He outlined his criteria for acceptable cruel actions and pointed out the irony con the fact that good can ad esempio from evil actions .

Although “The Prince” did not dispense entirely with morality nor advocate wholesale selfishness or degeneracy , the Catholic Church nevertheless put the rete di emittenti on its index of prohibited books , and it was viewed very negatively by many Humanists, such as Erasmus. It ental break between Realism and Idealism. Although never directly stated durante the book, “the meetme end justifies the means” is often quoted as indicative of the Pragmatism or Instrumentalism that underlies Machiavelli’s philosophy. He also touched on totalitarian themes, arguing that the state is merely an instrument for the benefit of the ruler , who should have giammai qualms at using whatever means are at his disposal puro keep the citizenry suppressed . Unlike Plato and Aristotle, though, Machiavelli was not looking to describe the ideal society , merely esatto present per guide sicuro getting and preserving power and the condizione quo .

His other major contribution to political thought, the “Discorsi circa la prima deca di Tito Livio” ( “Discourses on Livy” ) was begun around 1516 and completed con 1518 or 1519. It was an exposition of the principles of republican rule , masquerading as per commentary on the rete di emittenti of the famous historian of the Roman Republic . It constitutes a series of lessons on how verso republic should be started and structured, including the concept of checks and balances , the strength of verso tripartite structure , and the superiority of a republic over a principality or monarchy . If not the first, then it was certainly the most important rete di emittenti on republicanism durante the early modern period.

Niccol di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was an Italian philosopher, political theorist, diplomat, musician and writer of the Renaissance period

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