POL200Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Girolamo Savonarola, Unthinkable, Absolute Monarchy
Punishment and crime
a.
What is virtue
b.
Modes and orders
c.
Themes
I.
Memories of old liberties means you can't hold republics well because
they will remember what freedom was like
a.
Chapter V
II.
Revolutionary figures who change people they lead
i.
Big 4 - Moses, Romulus (founder of Rome, killed his brother), Cyrus
(creator of Persian Empire), Thesis (Greek hero of Athens) --> all
founders of people
a.
Is Machiavelli hinting that he faces worse times?
i.
Best fortune is the one that gives you opportunity - looks like the
worst, rise despite times
b.
Very dangerous
i.
23 : founders of new modes and orders (framework) to found state
c.
Was Moses really any different --> established modes and orders
and used God to back it up
i.
Everyone believes Moses is truth teller, everyone else lied - rejection of
pagan gods
d.
Machiavellian vortex : everything we believe in is based on foundations
of men --> we make our own value, not created by higher purpose
e.
Armed always succeed
i.
Doesn't matter if true or false
ii.
Savonarola - should have had arms to succeed
iii.
Armed v. Unarmed Prophets
f.
Chapter VI - on acquired principalities
III.
Son of Pope Alex, gave state to son --> tries to manipulate to establish
principality that is not dependent on father --> escape unfortunate
fortunate beginning
a.
Fortune : died before he could secure himself
i.
35 : Contradiction : appointment of Julius --> big mistake
ii.
Why did Cesare fail?
b.
Chapter VII - rise with others, arms and fortune
IV.
beyond chapter 1
a.
Support of people
i.
Crime
ii.
2 new modes / ways to gain power
b.
35 : virtuous ? --> possesses virtue, but not complete - doesn't
gain glory of others
i.
Founders of new modes / orders seen as criminals before
modes/orders are accepted
ii.
Agathocles - came to power through crime
c.
Chapter VIII
V.
Tutorial 2.3
January 24, 2017
11:00 AM
TUTORIAL Page 88
War --> political life is fundamentally about warfare
○
The nature of princes, character of time
○
Themes
37 : serve some purpose (secure, not necessarily high)
▪
Utility for your subjects --> remove oppressive rule
▪
At a stroke --> do first, it will pay off later
▪
Cruelty well-used? - if can secure politically
○
Chapter VIII
2nd mode
○
One wants to oppress, other wants to avoid oppression
▪
Certain types of desires
▪
Position : aristocracy v. commoners
▪
Use great to gain power --> make new elites that owe you
▪
39 : can't secure against people --> too many, un-killable
▪
There will always be people like you who can challenge you
□
Great think they are your equal, they are smarter than people, can
outthink you
▪
Found on people, but don't trust --> might not help
▪
People and Great
○
Chapter IX - civil principality in support of citizens - Agathocles
Declaration of war against Christianity
○
Chapter X - what mode to measure forces
Modes and orders are so deep, no one can imagine that Machiavelli
will attack
▪
Unthinkable to attack --> siege papal states
○
Praise of popes - Julius and Alexander VI : turning pious people
against the Church
○
Everything he did was intended to help himself increase Church /
papal power --> instrument of Church
▪
How deep problem of Christianity is, inescapable
▪
46 : how far pope could prevail - Cesare was the instrument of his father,
any praise for him is wrong
○
No prince seems able to escape Christianity - end up helping it
○
Chapter XI - ecclesiastical principalities
Good arms = good laws --> don't need to reason about laws as long as
arms
▪
Laws and arms - kinds of military states
○
Chapter XII
Tutorial 2.4
31-Jan-17
11:00 AM
TUTORIAL Page 89
arms
Long speech how God will take care of him, along with his faith
▪
Self-reliance, not reliance on God, use enemies` arms to destroy
(Goliath's sword)
▪
56 : David - rare example from the Bible
○
Chapter XIII - auxiliary arms (loyalty not to you)
TUTORIAL Page 90
Document Summary
Memories of old liberties means you can"t hold republics well because they will remember what freedom was like. Big 4 - moses, romulus (founder of rome, killed his brother), cyrus (creator of persian empire), thesis (greek hero of athens) --> all founders of people i. Revolutionary figures who change people they lead b. Best fortune is the one that gives you opportunity - looks like the worst, rise despite times i. Is machiavelli hinting that he faces worse times? c. 23 : founders of new modes and orders (framework) to found state i. Everyone believes moses is truth teller, everyone else lied - rejection of pagan gods i. Was moses really any different --> established modes and orders and used god to back it up e. f. Machiavellian vortex : everything we believe in is based on foundations of men --> we make our own value, not created by higher purpose.