Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli:
Background Materials
Introduction
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (Italian; 3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist and writer of the Renaissance period He has often been called the father of modern political science.
The 500 year old precepts of Machiavelli are very relevant today. They provide a framework for understanding yesterday and today’s politics. The philosophies and moral codes of the individual are not applicable for nation states.
As an introduction, our first link (as usual) will be to Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
Machiavelli’s most prominent work is The Prince and I would recommend reading it at your leisure. However we will work tonight on the basis that it is not required reading so we can engage more generally into his times and ideas and their relevance throughout the ages.
The Prince’s problems are still debateable and interesting as they are the eternal problems between the rulers and the ruled. The Prince deals with the great principles which still guide nations and rulers in their relationships with each other and their neighbours.
The school of life youtube channel has an entertaining synopsis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOXl0Ll_t9s (7 mins)
I also found an interesting BBC documentary narrated by Peter Capaldi (about an hour long if you have the time).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsMs-DuGy1o
I have attached below a link to the Cliff Notes so that people can get an overview of the book to their preferred level of detail.
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/the-prince/book-summary
Of course, all his books are out of copyright and freely available in numerous places on the web. I have attached a copy of the Prince to the bottom of the email, for those who may be interested.
Finally a quote from the introduction to my copy of The Prince.
”…whatever other nations found in in his works, Italy found in them the idea of her unity and the germs of her renaissance among the nations of Europe.”
“the harsh construction of his doctrine which this sinister reputation implies was unknown to his own day, and that the researches of recent times have enabled us to interpret him more reasonably. It is due to these inquiries that the shape of the “unholy necromancer” which so long haunted men’s visions has begun to fade.”
Niccolo Machiavelli favoured people free under a Republics not to be ruled over by a Prince. The Prince should be read with The Discourses on Livy and are seen in these enlightened times as advocating the benefits of a democracy.
Topic Discussion: Some of you have come across Machiavelli previously. Feel free to put forward your experiences.
Machiavelli’s times
Machiavelli times (1469-1527) were those of renaissance Italy, there was a great burst of human creativity and discovery across a wide range of the arts. Great contributions were being made by men, beyond the clergy. It was also a time where the church was both incredibly powerful and corrupt. Pope Alexander VI acknowledged fathering a number of children (including the infamous Cesare Borgia) and ruled states and military campaigns.
Italy was comprised of a number of different principalities of different strengths and the focus of the ambitions of European Kings, Popes and Princes.
These times also saw the rise of printing press in Europe and without this his books and philosophical ideas would not have spread so widely.
For their dissenting moral lessons and for attacks on the church, Machiavelli’s works were put on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (“Index of Forbidden Books”) when it was first drawn up in 1564 and nothing makes a book more sought after and enduring than having it banned.
Renaissance Humanism
Machiavelli is considered the father of modern political science. He is part of the school known as renaissance humanism.
Renaissance humanism was a response to the utilitarian approach and what came to be depicted as the "narrow pedantry" associated with medieval scholasticism.[2] Humanists sought to create a citizenry able to speak and write with eloquence and clarity and thus capable of engaging in the civic life of their communities and persuading others to virtuous and prudent actions. This was to be accomplished through the study of the studia humanitatis, today known as the humanities: grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and moral philosophy.
Humanism was a pervasive cultural mode and not the program of a small elite, a program to revive the cultural legacy, literary legacy, and moral philosophy of classical antiquity. There were important centres of humanism in Florence, Naples, Rome, Venice, Genoa, Mantua, Ferrara, and Urbino.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_humanism
There is no more beautiful example of Renaissance humanism than the Raphael’s School of Athens commissioned by Pope Jul. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_of_Athens
Discussion topics: The Prince is required reading for every Italian student. Machiavelli drew strongly on the examples of rulers from ancient times. Do we lack focus when it comes to the lessons of ancient history?
Discussion topics: Machiavelli was a believer in republics over autocracies. How important is the “Civic Life” to a healthy republic and to vibrant cities. Are aspects of citizenry under attacks today.
Breaking up his ideas
What I thought was a relatively isolated topic is actually a rich and deep area of study. I thought to make it manageable I would break it up and focus on three (arbitrary and artificial) divisions.
In respect of the Individual
The Prince’s moral code that was far removed from the Church teachings at that time. It is amusingly set out in the youtube clip below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQlnmWCPgA (5 Mins)
Machiavelli’s ideas were subversive, advocating a morality invalidating the teachings of the ten commandments and the golden rule. Proclaiming that the core church teachings, that moral code based on striving for the rewards of eternal life was a path to inevitable failure.
[Discussion topic: the golden rule and personal betterment is still a primary focus of a wide range of philosophical schools and secular moral codes. Is the realism of Machiavelli appropriate for mass consumption? Should the principles of Machiavelli be taught to young people in ethics classes?]
[Discussion Topic: The Prince was dedicated to the 20 year old Lorenzo Di Piero De Medici. How do you develop a moral code and make decisions that extends beyond the golden rule? What happens when being good isn’t enough?]
In respect of the group
The influence of Machiavelli’s works are with us in modern popular culture. We see them in hugely popular dramas such as House of Cards (UK version especially) and Game of Thrones. The links between these series and the father of modern political science is recognised by the authors. Our fascination with the dark art of the affairs of state is timeless.
Another “industry” where we see the political principles of Machiavelli applied is in criminal enterprises such as the mafia, drug cartels, and outlaw motor cycle clubs. The abandonment of society’s laws leads to violence, the uneasy truces between rival groups and the internal struggles are all foretold in the writings of Machiavelli.
[Discussion Topic: do you see any other areas of society where the same raw principles of political science are playing out today]
In respect of the Nation States
Machiavelli recognised and wrote about the differences between free republics and those states ruled by princes. Indeed his most fruitful years in public life were when Florence was a Republic. When the Medicis were returned to power he was tortured and exiled.
The differences between Democracies and Authoritarian states are usually dramatic. In some ways democracies move the same Machiavellian strategies to the party room. The regular cycle of elections ensures that the disruption of the process of government is regular, orderly and bloodless. However democracies are fragile.
Machiavelli’s work provides an accessible entry point into the rich an interesting world of political realism.
[Discussion Topics: Democracy has grown across the world in the last four decades, why do you think this is and do you think the trend will continue?]
A Machiavellian that you admire.
Finally as time permits feel free to talk about a character from history who you think best represents Machiavellian ideals.
Machiavellianism
Finally a couple of points that I don't expect to get to but I'll stick here for interest. Our interests tonight are in discussion the birth of political theory and its applications. These are quickly pointed out so that they can be avoided.
Machiavelianism is still today used as a shorthand for pursuing power through malevolence and moral bankruptcy.
It is most often used to have a negative connotation and usually in the context of the political realm. However such a view is not held in an academic review of Machiavelli.
Psychologists have appropriated the term to refer to a specific personality order. One of the dark triad of personalities. Here is a description of the malady.
https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/machiavellianism-psychology.htm