PHIL1070 Lecture : Machiavelli.docx
30 Apr 2014
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Document Summary
Machiavelli liked to describe reality (my intention is to write something of use for many have imagined republics ) It is necessary for a prince to learn how not to be good. authority of the time was still the. Virtue = virility courage, bravery, manly qualities, etc. Born in florence, became a senior bureaucratic administrator (sec. of state) for 14 years. Lost position in 1512 because of external circumstances: pope in rome & french went to war & pope won but florence had sided with the, so when french defeated, pope had prerogative to change system in florence. French (didn"t actually participate) (loosely, a republic) to a dictatorship. Lorenzo d"medici (& family) was put into power basically as favor for wealth & donation. Machiavelli decides to advise medici by writing the prince in 1513 as a guide for how to lead the country. Written as a private letter, but medici distanced himself from machiavelli.
