PHIL 1000 Lecture 2: Lecture 4
Document Summary
Machiavelli is the first modern thinker, and by modern here we mean having left behind the ancient paradigm of thinking that was created on the divine revelation as a source of knowledge and legitimacy. One becomes prince either by virtue or by fortune. The former includes natural or acquired talents, skills and abilities, but more generally refers to an excellent trait of character. Fortune is not to be understood as good luck but as a malevolent- anthropomorphized cosmological-force that is cause of political disorder. One may become prince by fortune but can hold on to it by virtue. As great examples of such prince, machiavelli names moses, cyrus, romulus, and. By virtue, machiavelli does not mean just certain abilities but a flexible disposition that enables the prince to maintain his state. 50. It is good for the prince to be considered generous, but not in a way that his generosity would harm his power.
