Understanding The Rationale Behind Machiavelli's The Prince

Machiavelli’s scientific and rational perspectives are blunt and harsh. His book The Prince is a look into the world of running a state and the basis for gaining respect as a leader. He writes that a state is only created if people cooperate and work to maintain it. Putting faith and trust in the people to really work and understand that everyone has to give to receive is similar to that of a utopian society yet different. Here Machiavelli explains that a state needs to take precedence over everything. This is the same idea for a utopian society. However, in a utopian society everyone is equal and gets no more than the next person. In a Machiavellian society the state is most important and everyone must work for it’s maintenance but everyone is not equal and certain leaders and people can excel further.

Maintaining sovereignty should be the focus of a leader and the people of the state. If one does not work on sustaining the sovereignty of a state it will surely fall apart and be taken over. Further the leader would appear to be weak and cause the state to quickly boot him out of his position. Machiavelli believes strongly that a state should be found

Theory: cruelty needs to play a part in order for a leader to accomplish his goals. The question? To what extent should cruelty be implemented in order to accomplish one’s goals? According to Machiavelli the sovereign must take whatever action is necessary to maintain order. Will order be maintained if at first chaos is created? If action causes an equal and opposite reaction, then wouldn’t you say that by instilling cruelty at some point a revolt or equal cruelty will be given? Machiavelli believes that time will prove this cruelty to be the most compassionate choice. He backs up his belief by stating the example of Cesare Borgia maintaining order in Romagna by using cruelty. Machiavelli also shares that King Louis allowed for conflict to develop in order to avoid war, and ended up not avoiding war but rather postponing it. Cruelty is a way for leaders to demand respect or else. It instills fear into the people and brings a sort of underlying respect that should not be disturbed.

One of Machiavelli’s most profound strength’s in this work lies in the concrete meaning of the quote, “prince’s decisions should be based on contemporary and historical examples…prince should not act on moral standards but that which is best for the state.” The truth that lies in this theory is overwhelming. In every aspect of life, whether one is a prince or a pauper, one can and should learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others. However, to say that a certain decision will work for all is inconclusive. You must apply what is learned through experience to each situation differently. To act blindly could consequently backfire. Research is key, and trusting that which worked in the past is a much safer route. To have one’s state in mind and to act on behalf of that state is of utmost importance over moral standards. Morals should not be lost but rather put on the back burner when making quantitative decisions for the good of others.

According to Machiavelli, “man is historically: ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers…they shun danger and are greedy for profit; while you treat them well they are yours… they would shed their blood for you…but when you are in danger they turn against you.” Humans are of a ra

Some topics in this essay:
Machiavelli Machiavelli, King Louis, Prince Machiavelli’s, According Machiavelli, Cesare Borgia, utopian society, controls half, moral standards, machiavelli believes, according machiavelli, power” machiavelli, loved feared, cruelty machiavelli, avoid war, machiavelli explains,