Lucrezia Borgia

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…

Opposing Visions of a Leader and the Ways in Which a Political System Should be Run In times of war, violence, political upheaval, and uncertainty, revolutionary thinkers often emerge to question how rulers can be effective, and what responsibilities they have to the people they rule. Socrates, who fought in the Peloponnesian war and lived during the thirty Tyrants period questioned authority. He challenged societal norms; and tried to change the values of the public. Machiavelli, lived…

▪ 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…

Throughout history, there has been an enormous amount of leadership figures—both good and bad. One of the most famous is Martin Luther King Jr.--the leader of the African-American civil rights movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent disobedience. Although there have been a significant amount of honest leaders who care for the well being of his/her people, there never ceases to be an evil commander who is self-absorbent, selfish, and corrupt.…

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.…

Having established Nicias’ motivation as being that of self-interest, one can begin to investigate how this selfish nature affects his ability to be persuasive. This becomes self-evident when one compares the ethos of Pericles in his second speech and that of Nicias in his first speech regarding the Sicilian Expedition. Both orators draw a connection between the success of the state and the success of the individual. The contrast, however, lies in the directionality in which they argue this…

In the written work “The Prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli the author elaborates on how a prince can only be a strong leader if he engages in duplicity. Machiavelli focused on a more realistic and immoral strategy to keep the people of his time unified, realpolitik a system based on practical rather than moral considerations. The author, Niccolo Machiavelli, goes through great depths to explain why it takes rulers who are “cruel, dishonest, duplicitous, and manipulative.” There are many great…