Political Philosophy in Machiavelli’s The Prince and...

The term political philosophy cannot be mentioned without Machiavelli’s The Prince coming to mind. This is one of the most notable books ever written on the topic of politics and one of the most well known books to come from the Renaissance, but it is not the only book from this time period that focused on politics. Machiavelli also wrote Discourses on Livy, which gives a very different view of the political world and Francis Bacon wrote about the reign of Henry VII. Each of these manuscripts focuses on the different traits that a prince ought to have, their views on how to gain political power, and their political philosophies. In The Prince, Machiavelli believes that the key to power is a combination of fear and love; in the Discourses†¦show more content†¦In chapter ten of Discourses on Livy, he talks of the importance of a prince learning from previous rulers. Machiavelli believes that if a prince were to look back on history he would be able to see which rulers are seen as successful and which rulers are seen as failures. Machiavelli states that princes who look back on the past will â€Å"observe that there are two paths open to them: one allows them to live securely and makes them famous after death; the other makes them live in continuous anxiety and†¦ leave behind an eternal reputation of infamy†(199). Though this trait may not seem important, Machiavelli believes knowledge of history will lead to successful rulers. Francis Bacon also thought that knowledge was important, but he thought knowledge of those around you was more important than knowledge of history. Bacon claimed that Henry the VII had a greater reputation outside of England than within because he was so closed off to outsiders that it caused his reputation to grow. When ambassadors would come to visit Henry the VII, he would impress them with his â€Å"universal insight into the affairs of the world†(History of the Reign of Henry the VII, 455). The knowledge that Henry the VII garnered he was able to use to win people over. He also used spies within his court to find out who may be conspiring against him (456).Show MoreRelatedMachiavelli and the Use of Antiquity in The Prince and The Discourses1838 Words   |  7 Pages Machiavelli and the Use of Antiquity in The Prince and The Discourses The Renaissance was a time of classical revival and a turning point from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern period in the course of history. Ancient texts and artifacts became sources of inspiration for intellectuals and artists alike, and the desire to emulate—or even surpass the achievements of the past prompted them to study antiquities closely and saw them as models and guidance. People were consciously distinguishingRead MoreMachiavelli’s Political Ideas and Influence1477 Words   |  6 PagesMachiavelli’s Political Ideas and Influence By: Reed Rosencrans The Renaissance took place in Italy during the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries. The Renaissance was a â€Å"rebirth† and revival of political and social ideas from the Ancient Greek and Roman eras. One social ideal of the Renaissance was Humanism. Humanism was a Renaissance idea that emphasis human potential and ability. A political idea from the Renaissance was political realism. Political realism is when a ruler accomplishesRead MoreAnalysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince 1625 Words   |  7 Pagesthinker, Niccolo Machiavelli, was one of those philosophers whose political views caused an uproar during earlier centuries. His view on effective leadership was rather harsh and not exactly adopted in the Italian society. As a Renaissance citizen, Machiavelli proved his writing skills through a number of works such as short stories, plays, and histories. His more popular works included those call the Discourses on Livy and The Prince-which will be described further m ore in this paper. Unlike fellowRead MoreEssay about Virtà ¹ in Machiavelli’s Prince1520 Words   |  7 Pagescentral works of modern political philosophy: The Prince. Given this image, it is incredibly ironic that the Italian word virtà ¹ and its derivatives appear no less than seventy-two times throughout the work. While the translator goes to great lengths to adapt this versatile word to the context of the situation, it is nevertheless clear that virtà ¹ is closely related to its English cognate virtue. This, along with the political nature of Machiavelli’s work, shapes the discourse about the nature of princedomsRead MoreNiccolo Machiavelli was One of the Leading Writers During the Renaissance Period1235 Words   |  5 PagesItalian philosopher, historian, diplomat and humanist, based in Florence and is considered to be the patron of contemporary political science, including political moral code. His most famous work was â€Å"The Prince† which was prin ted in 1532, five years after his death. The main subject of this book is the philosophy of administration (carried out by the ruling class ‘’princes’’) and how, one should make use of any means including immoral, to retain complete power. The book was criticized substantiallyRead MoreThe Origin Of Modern Political Thought1935 Words   |  8 Pagesmodern political thought has been traced back to the time of the renaissance in Europe. Many people find it hard to believe that this â€Å"modern† view on politics could be traced back almost 500 years. Some might say, â€Å"Our politics now are much more complicated that the ones that were talked about back then.† In fact, this is false. The origin of modern political thought was, in fact, introduced to the world during the time of the renaissance. In the Italian city of Florence lived the political philosopherRead MoreSt. Augustine vs. Machiavelli: a Comparison of the Good Society2831 Words    |  12 Pagesa state of complete acceptance of each man’s role and how that role fits into society like a puzzle piece. In order to examine each philosopher’s view further, we must break their thoughts into three separate categories which are: human nature, political authority, and religious beliefs. This essay will take an in-depth look at both St. Augustine and Machiavelli, compare and contrast their views, and provide evidence that on some level the two thinkers were very similar in their ideology. Augustine