About Machiavelli

1. Niccolo Machiavelli

3. Points to be covered on Machiavelli
• Machiavellism
• The Root of Machiavellism
• On Human Nature
• On Rulers
• On Morality and Religion
• On Government

4. Machiavellism:
What Machiavelli has said/advised to the rulers
• “The ends justify the means” [Mansfield, Harvey C. (1998). Machiavelli's Virtue.
University of Chicago Press]
• Fraud and deceit are necessary for a prince to use [The Prince, Chapter
XVIII, "In What Mode Should Faith Be Kept By Princes"]
• Violence is necessary for the stabilization of power and political
institutions
• Force to be used to eliminate political rivals, destroy resistant
populations, and purge the community of other men who will
inevitably attempt to replace the ruler [The Prince. especially Chapters 3,
5 and 8]
• Machiavelli believed that, for a ruler, it was better to be widely
feared than to be greatly loved; because, a loved ruler retains
authority by obligation, while a feared leader rules by fear of
punishment [ Machiavelli, Niccolò (1532). The Prince. Italy. pp. 120–121]
Fraud
Deceit
Violence
Force
Elimination
Destroy
Terror

5. The Root of Machiavellism
The political turmoil in Italy during Machiavelli
• Political Condition of Italy
Venice, Florence, Naples, Sicily, and the Papal State of Rome
• Economic Condition of Italy
Bourgeoisie economy
• Social Condition of Italy
Bastard and Adventures
• The Renaissance
Fall of church, empire, feudal lord, absolute monarchies etc.

6. On Human Nature
The Discourse
Number of traits are inherent in human nature
 People are generally self-interested
 They are content and happy so long they are not victims of something terrible
 They may be trustworthy in prosperous times, but they will quickly turn selfish,
deceitful, and profit-driven in times of adversity
 People admire honor, generosity, courage, and piety in others, but most of them
do not exhibit these virtues themselves.
 Loyalties are won and lost, and goodwill is never absolute

7. On Rulers
See Machiavellism

8. On Morality and Religion
• Religion: the cause, principle or system of beliefs practised with ardour and faith. It connects
human beings to sacred realities or supernatural agencies
• Morality: a subject matter that tells us what’s right or wrong. A way of maintaining the conduct
of individuals in communities.
What Machiavelli thought:
Machiavelli had a strictly utilitarian attitude towards religion. According to him, religion
was a social force with no spiritual connotation. He admired qualities like courage,
fortitude, vitality, self-assertiveness, intelligence, ambition, fame, and strength, which
every religion should advocate.

9. On Government
• According to Machiavelli, governments are either republics or
principalities.
• Machiavelli does not offer a formal definition of his terms, but, we can
summarize that republics are ruled by a group of people, chosen for their
positions because of their abilities and that citizens under a republic have
some freedom to influence politics.
• In contrast, principalities are ruled by a single individual who holds
exclusive or near-exclusive power. The position may be hereditary,
elected by a council of advisors, or with successors being hand-picked by
previous princes

10. Any Question?