He was a central figure per the political scene of the Italian Renaissance , a tumultuous period of plots, wars between city states and constantly shifting alliances.
Although he never considered himself per philosopher (and often overtly rejected philosophical inquiry as irrelevant ), many subsequent political philosophers have been influenced by his ideas. His name has since passed into common usage to refer onesto any political move that is devious or cunning mediante nature, although this probably represents a more extreme view than Machiavelli actually took.
He is best known today for two main works, the well-known “The Prince” (a treatise on political realism and per duplice on how verso ruler can retain control over his subjects), and the “Discourses on Livy” (the most important sistema on republicanism per the early modern period).
Although he is sometimes presented as verso model of Moral Nihilism, that is actually highly questionable as he was largely silent on moral matters and, if anything, he presented an alternative sicuro the ethical theories of his day, rather than an all-out rejection of all morality.
Machiavelli was born in Florence , Italy on 3 May 1469, the second bourdonnement of Bernardo di Niccol Machiavelli (a lawyer) and Bartolommea di Stefano Nelli . His family were believed to be descended from the old marquesses of Tuscany , and were probably quite wealthy.
He was soon promoted onesto Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence, with responsibility for diplomatic negotiations and military matters
Little is known of his early life , but his education (possibly at the University of Florence ) left him with verso thorough knowledge of the Latin and Italian classics , and he was trained as verso man with great nobility and severe rigor by his father. He entered governmental service in Florence as verso clerk and ambassador per 1494, the same year as Florence had restored the republic and expelled the ruling Medici family . Between 1499 and 1512, he undertook a number of diplomatic missions puro the breviligne of Louis XII of France, Ferdinand II of Aragn and the Papacy per Rome. During this time, he witnessed at first hand (and with great interest) the audacious but effective statebuilding methods of the soldier/churchman Cesare Borgia (1475 – 1507).
From 1503 preciso 1506, Machiavelli was responsible for the Florentine militia and the defense of the city (he distrusted mercenaries , preferring per citizen militia ). He had some early success, but con 1512, the Medici (with the help of Pope Julius II and Spanish troops) defeated the Florentine force, and Machiavelli was removed from office, accused of conspiracy and arrested. After torture , he was eventually released and retired preciso his bella stagione at Sant’Andrea (per Percussina near Florence) and began writing the treatises that would ensure his place con the history of Political Philosophy, “Il Signore” ( “The Prince” ) and “Discorsi su la davanti deca di Tito Livio” ( “Discourses on Livy” ).
Near the end of his life, and probably with the aid of well-connected friends whom he had been constantly badgering, Machiavelli began puro return esatto the favor of the Medici family. From 1520 preciso 1525, he worked on a “History of Florence” , commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de’Medici (who later become Pope Clement VII ). However, before he could achieve per full rehabilitation , he died in San Casciano , just outside of Florence, on 21 June 1527. His resting place is unknown.
Machiavelli’s best known rete informatica, “Il Principe” ( “The Prince” ), was written per some haste in 1513 while sopra exile on his farm outside Florence, and was dedicated puro Lorenzo de’Medici mediante the hope of regaining his situazione in the Florentine Government. However, it was only formally published posthumously sopra 1532. Per it, he described the arts by which a Prince (or ruler) could retain control of his realm. Verso “new” prince has verso much more difficult task than per hereditary prince, since he must stabilize his newfound power and build a structure that will endure, per task that requires the Prince sicuro be publicly above reproach but privately may require him to do immoral things per order esatto achieve his goals. He outlined his criteria for valide cruel actions and pointed out the irony mediante the fact that good can ad esempio from evil actions .
Although “The Prince” did not dispense entirely with morality nor advocate wholesale selfishness or degeneracy , the Catholic Church nevertheless put the sistema on its index of prohibited books , and it was viewed very negatively by many Humanists, such as Erasmus. It ental break between Realism and Idealism. Although never directly stated con the book, “the end justifies the means” is often quoted as indicative of the Pragmatism or Instrumentalism that underlies Machiavelli’s philosophy. He also touched on totalitarian themes, arguing that the state is merely passion prova gratuita an instrument for the benefit of the ruler , who should have giammai qualms at using whatever means are at his disposal onesto keep the citizenry suppressed . Unlike Plato and Aristotle, though, Machiavelli was not looking puro describe the ideal society , merely puro present per rotaie preciso getting and preserving power and the condizione quo .
His other major contribution preciso political thought, the “Discorsi sopra la davanti deca di Tito Livio” ( “Discourses on Livy” ) was begun around 1516 and completed per 1518 or 1519. It was an exposition of the principles of republican rule , masquerading as verso commentary on the rete informatica of the famous historian of the Roman Republic . It constitutes verso series of lessons on how a republic should be started and structured, including the concept of checks and balances , the strength of per tripartite structure , and the superiority of verso republic over verso principality or monarchy . If not the first, then it was certainly the most important sistema on republicanism mediante the early modern period.
Niccol di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was an Italian philosopher, political theorist, diplomat, musician and writer of the Renaissance period
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