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Machiavelli and the birth of modern politics

Machiavelli and the birth of modern politics. “Machiavellian” has made its way into the English language as an adjective that means: characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty.

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Machiavelli and the birth of modern politics

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  1. Machiavelli and the birth of modern politics • “Machiavellian” has made its way into the English language as an adjective that means: characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty. • After a careful reading of an excerpt from The Prince and as well understanding more about Machiavelli’s personal history and the reality of Italian politics of the 1400s, do you think this definition accurately describes Machiavelli’s political philosophy?

  2. Leadership • In your groups, on a piece of paper identify at least 8 positions that call for leadership qualities. Think broadly- a coach, a president, leader of a corporation etc…

  3. Group 1 (Aces) and Group 3 (Queens) • Brainstorm what characteristics you would like to see in a leader • Groups 2 (Kings) and 4 (Jacks) • Come up with a list of skills, traits, or powers that you think help a leader get ahead or get things done.

  4. Now each group write what they came up with on the white board.

  5. Introduction: “Break with Medieval Political Theory” • What is politics (or the state) to Machiavelli? • What should “The Prince” or any other leader be concerned with? • What do you think the Church might have thought of Machiavelli’s writings? Why? • Discuss in your group and answer each question in at least one complete sentence (this will be turned in)

  6. Niccolo Machiavelli • The original in Italian : “siguarda al fine” • Often translated as “the end justifies the means.” • But also can be translated as •  "and in the actions of all men, and especially of princes, where there is no impartial arbiter, one must consider the final result."

  7. Everyone sees what you appear to be , few feel what you are, and those few will not dare to oppose themselves to the many

  8. For the vulgar is always taken by appearances and the issue of the event; and the world consists only of the vulgar, and the few who are not vulgar are isolated when the many have a rally point in the prince.

  9. ...one ought to be both feared and loved….but it is much safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.

  10. “and in the actions of men, and especially of princes…the end justifies the means.”

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