Machiavelli: The Realist Essay

Machiavelli revolutionized the way the manviews administration. However, when we read his writings today, the ideas dont seem very revolutionary. This is beca phthisis his thoughts came to embody political structure. Machiavelli is known for being the first political philosopher to fool realism to politics. Machiavelli wanted to find a solution to his dark reality. Machiavellis The Prince presents us with the reality of the political bena, and provides us with the tools to work with hu valet de chambre nature and its shortcomings. The Prince was write as a guide for Lorenzo deMedici of Florence to stay in precedent. However, Lorenzo did not agree with Machiavellis assumptions. Machiavelli wants to restore pride and honor to Italy (Lerner, 1950). He offers a guide of how to pass this in the Prince. Machiavelli wrote the Prince when Europe was engulfed in civil wars. Machiavelli ch allenged the idea of divine honorable (Lerner, 1950). Machiavelli proposed the evolution of a new ruler, not chosen by divine right or heritage, merely by military conquest. Previous to the publication of The Prince, Machiavelli had witnessed devastation in Italy (Lerner, 1950).Machiavelli witnessed how major power struggles and contradicting principles lead to the destruction of his nation. He wanted to offer a solution to his reality in The Prince. A nation wants perceptual constancy, security, and prosperity. If the prince can provide all three while maintaining the common wealth of the people, then the ends justify the means. During the measure at which Machiavelli wrote The Prince, these were revolutionary thoughts. Machiavellis writing was revolutionary for humanists in this era. He chose not analyze rule with divine foundations (Lerner, 1950). He rejected the notion of devotion and divine right. Machiavelli decided to take a unique route. Machiavellis work is based on political realism. Machiavelli was the first to openly distinguish what we intend man to be, and w ho he really is. By acknowledging what human nature truly is, he was able to analyze the ways in which Princes can manipulate the people and their power to create a stable nation. This realism had never before been brought into politicalthinking.Machiavelli argues that an ordinary citizen is the exceed person to analyze the ruling beginy. He argues that his birds eye view is the reason he is best suited for such analysis, For the aim of the people is more honest than that of nobility, the latter desiring to oppress, and the former merely to keep off oppression (Santoni, 112). Machiavelli acknowledges what Politics are rather then what then what we want them to be. Machiavelli does not claim that politics can do everything and he does not say that politics can solve all societies problems. In The Prince, Machiavelli lays down the foundation for what a ordainor can do to maintain security, prosperity, and stability. Machiavelli does however, acknowledge that he cannot let off h uman nature, however when rather the patterns that lie within it. Machiavelli acknowledges that he is an priser in The Prince. He uses an analogy of a man on a hummock to explain the nature of his observation (Lerner, 1950). The man on the hill has the best view of the landscape. As a citizen he has discovered the patterns in decision-making made by politicians and was able to interpret them.Politics cannot answer all the questions in our society. Political thinking can only help to provide us with the framework with which we govern and are governed. The conflicting ethical principles are what cause the controversy. Machiavelli acknowledges this fact and shows that ethics are not what define politics, but are rather a component. Machiavelli argues that a Prince must be able to manipulate the attitudes of the people. Machiavelli speaks of the state. He speaks of internal stability. He acknowledges that citizens and in that location beliefs are components of the state. The poli tical realism emphasized in The Prince does not plainly mean to accept reason of the state as legitimacy and letting liberties be crushed (Lerner, 1950). The realism urges leading to strive for coercion of principles. A leader unified under his people is most powerful.In The Prince, Machiavelli offers a solution to the unsuccessful development of states. The Prince run intos territory by victory and sets solid foundations for the territory to pageant upon, One, however, who becomes Prince by favor of the rabble, must maintain friendship, which he result find easy, the people asking nothing but not to be oppressed(Santoni, 1950). Machiavelli believes that a good nation with just laws will develop from an efficient military. He is not arguing that you request a war to create a state,but rather a successful victory can create a solid foundation of the state. Machiavelli understands human nature and decides to work with it rather than disregard our flaws. He knows we are not all good, but acknowledges that there is potential for us to change (Lerner, 1950). Machiavelli does not argue that the goals of politicians are always good.Machiavelli acknowledges that politicians ruthlessly strain power (Lerner, 1950). They do not care how it will affect the people. This is where a politicians career crumbles. As noted in The Prince, you cannot rule a populace who hates you. They will overthrow you. Therefore, a prince must unite the people under his rule in order to obtain success. Human nature is the evil that is unconquerable. slew will never stop having selfish motives. Therefore, we must learn to coordinate these desires. The Prince must give the people stability, security and prosperity. If he does this, then the people will dare not challenge him. Machiavelli does not provide us with an explanation of basic human nature but rather a framework, which we can use to govern and be governed.Machiavelli wants to improve politics. In the Prince he offers a plan of how to govern and how the people should be governed. He accepts that human nature is flawed. He knows that rulers are power hungry (Lerner, 1950). He also acknowledges that a ruler will not have a populace to rule if the populace hates him. Machiavelli accepts what our politics is, and tells us of what it should be. Just because human nature is flawed, doesnt mean we are hopeless. Humanity can achieve prosperity, security, and stability if achieved within the right framework. This framework is presented in The Prince. Machiavelli is entirely providing genuine insights into social organization as the foundation for Politics (Lerner, 1950). He is clear and logical. Emotion and ethics are only a small part of Machiavellis framework, Everybody sees what you appear to be, few feel what you are, and those few will not dare oppose themselves to the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them (Santoni, 123). Machiavelli provides guidance for leaders for tasks such as dealing wi th newly set aboutd territory, choosing administrators, how to conduct diplomacy, and warfare (Lerner, 1950).Machiavelli gives specific examples of the way to govern newly acquired territory. He uses various situations by which a Prince couldacquire new territory and how he should govern the territory. Machiavelli is sensitive to the principles of the people of the newly acquired territory. He acknowledges that the people will overthrow the leader if he crosses them, One who by his own valor and measures animates the mass of the people, he will not find himself deceived by them, he will find he has laid his foundations well (Santoni, 114). To be a Prince you must be feared by your people, but not hated. Hatred will lead to destruction. Machiavelli wants the prince to form an atmosphere in which the people fear him, but also highly respect him (Lerner, 1950). The fear comes from the potential use of force by the Princes military against them. Machiavelli argues that a princes sole o bligation is to comfort the nation a prince is in control of the military and is in charge of national security.By proving military dominance, you gain power (Lerner, 1950). With this power, you can manipulate the interests of the people. Machiavelli believes that existence are in control of their actions that curb their destinies. Machiavelli also argues that humans do not have control over all events. A prince must only take into account what benefits the state when making decisions concerning the state. Machiavelli acknowledges that it is not morality of divinity that will get Italy out of this terrible mess (Lerner, 1950). Machiavelli argues that self-interest and self-protection, hence national interests, should be pursued ruthlessly. A prince can only commit inhuman treatment if his ends justify his means, A prince, therefore, must not mind incurring the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and faithful(Santoni, 113). If he is being cruel for the benefit of the nation, then so be it, In the actions of men and especially of Princes, from which there is no appeal, the end justifies the means (Santoni, 123). Many criticized Machiavelli for being Anti-Christ and attempting to redirect our society towards immorality (Lerner, 1950). These people could not come to grasp with reality. They did not want to believe his words were true. It is apparent that Machiavellis ideas were far beyond his time.All humans have part of them that is ethical and normative, but we are also stubborn (Lerner, 1950). This willpower results in two sides of political thought. Those who pursue some passionate ideal and those who accept reality and look for solutions to our shortcomings. The prince embodies the foundations for Politics the struggle between ethical or realistic reasoning. Machiavelli does not adhere to theideas of reformers or idealists. He is a realist. He gives concrete examples of ways in which a prince should govern and how a people are to be ruled. Ideals and ethics are not powerful techniques in politics. A successful statesman is an artist (Lerner, 1950). He knows how to manipulate the attitudes of the people by providing them with stability and prosperity. Religious leaders can raise moral, but they have never proven to be more powerful then a statesman (Lerner, 1950). in time in the development of the American colonies, men of god who were brought to power learned how to use their power corruptly (Lerner, 1950). Today, and during Machiavellis era, we are faced with a world of conflicting principalities. The struggle we face today is how much to integrate our principles to help obtain peace (Lerner, 1950). How far can we integrate before liberties are baffled? What are we willing to sacrifice? Machiavelli explains that he is an observer of politics. He cannot add an ethical context to the patterns he has observed in history. He simply observed the patterns and interpreted conclusions that can be gained from t hem. Thus Machiavellianism provides structure, but does not provide an adequate philosophy for a way of life (Lerner, 1950). Machiavelli sought to prove what politics really is, not what we believe to be. We fear Machiavelli because he speaks the truth. Machiavelli acknowledges that leaders do not always act according to the virtues they said they would act upon. Machiavelli argues that leaders seek power ruthlessly (Lerner, 1950).He acknowledges that it is easy to be ruled but hard to rule ourselves. He also acknowledges that those in different forms of government need to be dealt with differently (Lerner, 1950). Rulers of Machiavellis time despised him because he let the world know how their authority works. In modern society we hate Machiavelli because he is making us face the dilemma we have created (Lerner, 1950). He made visible all that which we chose to ignore. Deceit and ruthlessness are present in all governments. Machiavelli causes us to face our major issue of adapting o ur democratic techniques to the demands of the world (Lerner, 1950). Machiavellis thoughts are not unpolitical. They are in fact extremely political. Machiavelli was able to observe patterns in government and provide a solution to the devastation these institutions created.In The Prince, Machiavelli listed the tactics that need to be used by a leader to gain control of the people. Machiavelli recognized that ethical principlesare important to the citizens, and the happiness of the citizens is a component of a states stability. As a citizen he was able to get the best view of the effects of policy. Machiavelli was a realist. He knew that power was the center of politics. Machiavelli did not set out to explain human nature or to provide his lector with a way of life. He wrote The Prince to explain the dynamics of the state and they ways in which the state can be successful. Machiavelli was a revolutionary thinker who capable our eyes to the reality of the political arena.Works Cited 1.Santoni, Ronald. Social and Political Philosophy. New York Random House, Inc., 1963. Print. 2.Lerner, Max. Machiavelli the Realist. Random House, Inc.. (1950) Print.