Effective Use of Political Power
In the writings of St. Catherine of Siena, she discusses the Christian faith in detail as well as writes letters to leaders in the church and papacy. During her lifetime, there were many wars, famine, and terrifying illness spread, leading people to lose faith in the church, along with its growing reputation of corruption, bribery, and infidelity. In 1378, the church divided into two, known as the Papal Schism. For most of Catherine’s life, she dedicated time to spreading knowledge and pleading for justice in the very corrupted Papacy. St. Catherine of Siena’s work expresses that effective political power is imbedded in a Catholic tradition of moral order and awareness of the common good. Meanwhile, over a century …show more content…
Around 1513, Niccoló Machiavelli wrote The Prince, analyzing political power and laying out advice on how to be an effective ruler. Focusing primarily on ways in which to obtain authority, gain an obedient following, and maintain power, Machiavelli forms an argument that it is better to be a leader that is feared than loved. In other words, Machiavelli stresses that effective political power is reduced to the manipulation of others and the preservation of a ruler’s individual power. By comparing the use of political power by leaders like Machiavelli and St. Catherine of Siena, through their egocentric versus altruistic attitudes, views on corruption, and understanding of control, the contrast between their collectivist and individualistic approaches highlight the long-term benefits of ruling for the …show more content…
Catherine of Siena’s perspectives on effective use of political power is through their views on corruption, with “corruption” defined as any dishonest or fraudulent behavior by a figure in political power. Machiavelli examines the usefulness of to being “a great pretender and dissembler” in getting men to do what a ruler wants (M 38). Not only does he promote deception but he encourages the use of violent force saying, “Cruel acts are used well...for political security...committed to a single stroke and then discontinued” (M 19). His justification for these acts is that they are methods to retain order and unify the community. St. Catherine of Siena claims that those who act the way Machiavelli describes, rule “imperfectly and corruptly”, as they are far more concerned for keeping their worldly goods and reputation than anything else (C 47). She also argues that leading in this way makes problems worse, as “one keeps covering and hiding their wrong-doing, smearing ointment on a wound which at the time needs to be cauterized” (C 41). She is describing the cycle of corruption and lies, which far too often leads to negative consequences over positive ones. Leading through corrupt practices is what has caused many of the issues within the papacy throughout history. If leaders were honest and truthful, as St. Catherine of Siena pleads for, many of the issues in society would be addressed and slowly
In the writings of St. Catherine of Siena, she discusses the Christian faith in detail as well as writes letters to leaders in the church and papacy. During her lifetime, there were many wars, famine, and terrifying illness spread, leading people to lose faith in the church, along with its growing reputation of corruption, bribery, and infidelity. In 1378, the church divided into two, known as the Papal Schism. For most of Catherine’s life, she dedicated time to spreading knowledge and pleading for justice in the very corrupted Papacy. St. Catherine of Siena’s work expresses that effective political power is imbedded in a Catholic tradition of moral order and awareness of the common good. Meanwhile, over a century …show more content…
Around 1513, Niccoló Machiavelli wrote The Prince, analyzing political power and laying out advice on how to be an effective ruler. Focusing primarily on ways in which to obtain authority, gain an obedient following, and maintain power, Machiavelli forms an argument that it is better to be a leader that is feared than loved. In other words, Machiavelli stresses that effective political power is reduced to the manipulation of others and the preservation of a ruler’s individual power. By comparing the use of political power by leaders like Machiavelli and St. Catherine of Siena, through their egocentric versus altruistic attitudes, views on corruption, and understanding of control, the contrast between their collectivist and individualistic approaches highlight the long-term benefits of ruling for the …show more content…
Catherine of Siena’s perspectives on effective use of political power is through their views on corruption, with “corruption” defined as any dishonest or fraudulent behavior by a figure in political power. Machiavelli examines the usefulness of to being “a great pretender and dissembler” in getting men to do what a ruler wants (M 38). Not only does he promote deception but he encourages the use of violent force saying, “Cruel acts are used well...for political security...committed to a single stroke and then discontinued” (M 19). His justification for these acts is that they are methods to retain order and unify the community. St. Catherine of Siena claims that those who act the way Machiavelli describes, rule “imperfectly and corruptly”, as they are far more concerned for keeping their worldly goods and reputation than anything else (C 47). She also argues that leading in this way makes problems worse, as “one keeps covering and hiding their wrong-doing, smearing ointment on a wound which at the time needs to be cauterized” (C 41). She is describing the cycle of corruption and lies, which far too often leads to negative consequences over positive ones. Leading through corrupt practices is what has caused many of the issues within the papacy throughout history. If leaders were honest and truthful, as St. Catherine of Siena pleads for, many of the issues in society would be addressed and slowly