Wednesday Wisdom

Who?

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was an Italian Renaissance political philosopher, historian, and writer. In 1494, the Medici family, rulers of Florence, were overthrown, and Machiavelli entered public service. He held various government positions, including working as a diplomat and ambassador for the Republic of Florence, where he visited many European courts.

After the Medici family returned to power in Florence in 1512, Machiavelli's political career came to an end. He was accused of conspiracy, imprisoned and tortured. After his release, he was exiled from political life, so Machiavelli turned to a writing to earn a living.

What he produced

The Guttenberg press was invented in 1490 and books of ancient Romans become available during Machiavelli's life. He was influenced by Roman historian and writer Titus Livius whose historical works sought to create a moralistic and patriotic history that emphasized Rome's virtues and traditions. Livius wrote about early historical periods of Rome, including the foundation of the city by Romulus and Remus, the establishment of the Roman Republic.  

"Discourses on Livy" (Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio) was written by Machiavelli between 1513 and 1517 and was heavily influenced by Livius and Roman statesman Cicero. This work explores the history of Rome and discusses political theories. Machiavelli also wrote an historical account of Florence ("The History of Florence" (Istorie fiorentine) between 1520 and 1525. It covers events from the city's foundation to the death of Lorenzo de' Medici in 1492.

The Prince (Il Principe) is his most famous work was written in 1513 but published posthumously in 1532. It was passed on to friends and colleagues and has also been characterized by many as a job application or a way to gain favor with the Medicis. In The Prince, Machiavelli explores the nature of political power and the strategies rulers should employ to maintain and consolidate their authority. Machiavelli's political philosophy is often characterized by realism. He believed that rulers should prioritize pragmatism over moral considerations, acknowledging the often-harsh realities of politics. Machiavelli's approach to politics was largely secular, focusing on the practical aspects of governance without relying heavily on religious, moral or ethical principles.

While Machiavelli's ideas have been controversial, they have had a lasting impact on political thought, influencing discussions on power, leadership, and governance. The term "Machiavellian" is often used pejoratively to describe political cunning, deceit, and manipulation in the pursuit of power. He is often associated with the idea that "the ends justify the means" when it comes to ruling and that collateral damage is justified for a prosperous society.

was this really Machiavelli's intention or message?

2023 why do we care?

Machiavelli’s other works explore the foundations and histories of republic of Rome and Florence, highlighting the strengths of this type of government over monarchies and rulers. Many scholars argue that Machiavelli's views were more nuanced and reflective of the challenges rulers face while others have made the case that The Prince was more ironic or satiric.

Erica Benner’s Be Like the Fox: Machiavelli’s Lifelong Quest for Freedom explores Machiavelli’s works and sees many instances of contrary beliefs to those outlined in the Prince. Ms. Benner delves into Machiavelli's experiences and examines how he navigated the turbulent political landscape of Renaissance Italy. It argues that Machiavelli's famous work should be seen as a critique of tyranny rather than an endorsement. Benner contends that Machiavelli, far from being a cynical opportunist, was a passionate advocate for republicanism and sought freedom for his beloved Florence. She argues that Machiavelli emphasized the role of fortune or luck in politics, recognizing that external circumstances and events beyond a ruler's control could significantly impact their success or failure. Most importantly she believed he understood the dangers of authoritarianism and looked for ways to curb them even though independent speech had become impossible.

Ms. Benner quotes Machiavelli “victories are never secure without some respect, especially for justice” and “A people who can do whatever it wants is unwise, but a prince who can do whatever he wants is crazy.” She believed Machiavelli put an emphasis on the importance of virtue, skill and political wisdom over a reliance on fortune or luck.

Regardless of the accuracy of Benner's interpretation, "The Prince" remains a significant historical work because it highlights power and influence and ethical conduct. It underscores the necessity of virtue and ethics to balance the social contract between government and the protection of individual liberties.

And now you know...

Philosophy is the art of thinking, the building block of progress that shapes critical thinking across economics, ethics, religion, and science. 

METAPHYSICS: Literally, the term metaphysics means ‘beyond the physical.’ Typically, this is the branch that most people think of when they picture philosophy. In metaphysics, the goal is to answer the what and how questions in life. Who are we, and what are time and space?

LOGIC: The study of reasoning. Much like metaphysics, understanding logic helps to understand and appreciate how we perceive the rest of our world. More than that, it provides a foundation for which to build and interpret arguments and analyses. 

ETHICS: The study of morality, right and wrong, good and evil. Ethics tackles difficult conversations by adding weight to actions and decisions. Politics takes ethics to a larger scale, applying it to a group (or groups) of people. Political philosophers study political governments, laws, justice, authority, rights, liberty, ethics, and much more.

AESTHETICS: What is beautiful? Philosophers try to understand, qualify, and quantify what makes art what it is. Aesthetics also takes a deeper look at the artwork itself, trying to understand the meaning behind it, both art as a whole and art on an individual level. A question an aesthetics philosopher would seek to address is whether or not beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

EPISTEMOLOGY: This is the study and understanding of knowledge. The main question is how do we know? We can question the limitations of logic, how comprehension works, and the ability (or perception) to be certain.2