ENG 0822 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: The Prince
28 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Italian philosopher, best remembered as a political theorist. Il principe (the prince) was banned by the catholic church and reviled by many contemporary humanists. In a soliloquy from henry vi, iii. ii, richard iii claims that, by his ability to act out whatever role he desires, he will set the murderous machiavel to school. Morality of a prince differs from morality of the private individual; a prince may be justified in acting immorally if it achieves his desired ends. An effective ruler is better off feared than loved. Brute force and deceit are effective and justified means of achieving political ends; violence is a justifiable means of eliminating political rivals and enemies. Politically realist rather than idealist. some might call this cynicism. Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are. If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
