Cesare Borgia

Machiavellian is a term that the greater population associates with deceit, manipulation, and hunger for power. In contrast, the word Socratic illustrates a nature that is reliant on aconstant questioning of society to bring about knowledge that the entire world should understand. Niccolo Machiavelli gives his definition of what a successful ruler would look like in his renowned work, The Prince and readers can infer Socrates notions towards leadership in Plato’s works, Apology and Crito.…

What makes a book stand the test of time, and also remain as a notable perspective within politics; having been written over five-hundred years ago? As for Machiavelli’s The Prince, scholars and politicians continue to find themselves drawing back to many of his perspectives on politics, and the qualities a good ruler. His insights on political leadership has sparked much debate over time, which is exactly why many continue to pursuit an understanding on his viewpoints, and their applications to…

What does it mean to be Machiavellian? This could be defined in a number of ways but to begin I will start out with a simple definition. According to the Oxford English dictionary Machiavellian is defined as: Cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one’s career. Another site (dictionary.com) defines it as being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli 's “The Prince”, in which political expediency is placed above…

In The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli’s understanding of virtue and effective rule emphasizes the maintenance of political power and the disregard for morality, differing from the ideology of the classic political philosophers. Machiavelli’s concept of virtue is centered around the glorification of a ruler, facilitated by behavioural traits such as bravery, cleverness, deceptiveness, and ruthlessness. Effective rule requires these attributes, as the successful application of these characteristics…

What role would an oppressive ruler take in a society where loyalty is fundamental? An analysis of Creon, a king with an iron-fisted rule in Sophocles’ Antigone, reveals how he not only helps develop the plot but also affects other characters through his dialogue and decisions. By using Creon, Sophocles writes about pride as a catalyst for downfall, conflict in the midst of oppression, and the aspects of human law. In Antigone, Creon’s main functions are portrayed through his contributions to…

As the Rational Choice Theory was developed in the eighteenth century as an Italian man by the name of Cesare Beccaria created rational classical criminology. As a philosopher, he assessed the social thoughts of people and came to the conclusion that they were ultimately “egotistical and self centered” and that the main determining factor to avoid crime results from a fear of punishment (Siegal, 103.) The Rational Choice Theory is based on the assumption that decisions with criminal intent are…

▪ Summary of the main ideas Machiavelli started his book by glorifying the Prince Lorenzo De Medici that he is writing for, he wanted to present him the most valuable thing he owned; his accumulated knowledge and experiences from his long years working in their contemporary affairs and his continual studying to history before his exile. The book is concerned of how to establish a despotic regime? how to consolidate and maintain this regime after establishment? ▪ In the First part, the Author…

In Machiavelli’s The Prince, Machiavelli is viewed as a callous and resourceful leader who emphasizes the pursuit of power and longevity, even if it advocates the use of violence preceding one’s own morals. This power-violence-morality trifecta illustrates the importance of balance in a leader’s pallet of desired qualities, while ultimately highlighting the impact a successful leader can have on a secular society. However, Machiavelli’s viewpoint of leadership expands beyond power, violence, and…

In the book The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli discussed how certain characteristics were needed in order to make a leader successful. It has been argued that these same characteristics could be use to describe any successful leader in modern society no matter the population or the field in which they are working in. I agree with Machiavelli, the characteristics that he discussed are all needed in order to become a great leader. Machiavelli stated that leaders should have the support of the people,…

In the Italian cities, there was much conflict and arguments amongst the Borgia family who were focused on trying to seize and maintain power. Machiavelli in response, devised a text, The Prince, which illustrates how to run an effectual government. In The Prince, he also describes how the good and effective rulers have to learn “not to be good,” and that they have to be prepared and willing to put aside ethical concerns of justice and kindness, in order to preserve the balance of the state.…