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MACHIAVELLI LECTURE PART 2

MACHIAVELLI LECTURE PART 2. Readiness for war. War should be the main concern of the ruler Think of war during peaceful times The ruler must himself know the “art of war”. From The Prince, ch . XIV

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MACHIAVELLI LECTURE PART 2

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  1. MACHIAVELLI LECTUREPART 2

  2. Readiness for war • War should be the main concern of the ruler • Think of war during peaceful times • The ruler must himself know the “art of war”

  3. From The Prince, ch. XIV A prince must have no other objective, no other thought, nor take up any other profession but that of war, its methods and its discipline, for that is the only art expected of a ruler (cf. Ebenstein & Ebenstein, p. 303). [W]hen princes have given more thought to fine living than to arms, they have lost their states. The first cause of losing them is the neglect of this art, just as the first means of gaining them is proficiency in it (Ibid.).

  4. Practical Advises for the prince • The Prince should learn how not to be good and when not to use this (Ch. XV) • The Prince better be “feared” than “loved” (Ch. XVII) • Act like a Lion and a Fox: feared and wise in spotting traps

  5. Necessary deceptions • Merciful • Faithful • Humane • Frank • Religious

  6. From The Prince, Ch. XVIII But he should preserve a disposition which will make a reversal of conduct possible in case the need arises. It must be understood however, that a prince– especially a prince who has but recently attained power – cannot observe all of these virtues for which men are reputed good, because it is necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion in order to preserve the State (cf. Ebenstein and Ebenstein, p. 307).

  7. More advises for the PRINCE • Avoid contempt and Hatred (Ch. XIX) • On the importance of fortresses (Ch. XX) • Proper selection of ministers (Ch. XXII) • Avoid flatterers (Ch. XXIII)

  8. Machiavelli’s Political Realism • Begin the analysis of politics with what “is” and not with “what ought to be” • Plato  Medieval World, the starting point has been “what ought to be” • NM assumes that power is an end in itself, not just a “means” to an end • As an end, everything else must be ensured in order to ACQUIRE, RETAIN and EXPAND power

  9. On Morality • Immoral? • Amoral?

  10. Nemenzo: dual morality/two systems of morality The standard of morality for the ruler is not the same with the standard of morality for the ruled; at times they contradict

  11. Ruler: greatest responsibility is to keep his realm intact; and achieve order and stability – the rest are subordinate to this • Ordinary citizens: subjects to moral codes • Opened up a dilemma for political theory: where is the dividing line

  12. The Military and Politics • Renaissance Italy: mercenaries are hired • Fortresses for protection

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