POL 2108 Lecture 3: Lecture 3 - Machiavelli's Discourses
21 Jan 2014
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Document Summary
Origins of political societies and cycle of regime. Machiavelli describes her as a goddess that enjoys destroying men. She provides opportunities and heroes can only take advantage of these opportunities if they seduce her. Source of destruction but also a source of good. 2 metaphors fortuna as a river (p 74): rises in the spring, will necessarily strike hardest where there are no dikes to contain her. Describes italy as a landscape without banks or barriers no protection from foreign invasion. Calls for defense use peacetime as an opportunity to build strength and defenses, prepare. When circumstances change, you"ll be ready to respond. Two reasons we are no apt to change. 2- past successes limits our willingness to change. 2 individuals that use the same strategy will have different outcomes historical circumstances dictate the outcome (it"s better to be daring and bold than overly cautious) If she wants to bring about great things, she"ll pick someone bold.
