The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince Authors : Niccolo Machiavelli Publisher : University of Chicago Press ISBN

The assignment for this class is supposed to be an interpretation of the relevant text(s) based on your careful reading of those texts. You defend your interpretation by providing the relevant textual evidence and analyzing it in order to build up a logical case for your interpretation. You should not use secondary sources (i.e., sources other than the philosophical text we are reading). The assignment must not have any extraneous material in them, for example, praise of the author and his importance to western philosophy, or historical examples that buttress the argument. Your assignments are not supposed to be opinion pieces or personal philosophical statements. The goal of the assignments is for you to think critically about the arguments of the author in question based on your own reading of the text.

Write a 1000-word paper (~3-4 pages, double-spaced) on one of the following topics:

1. Consider the following quote: “And furthermore, one should not care about incurring the reputation of those vices without which it is difficult to save one’s state; for if one considers everything well, one will find something appears to be virtue, which if pursued would be one’s ruin, and something else appears to be vice, which if pursued results in one’s security and well-being” (Machiavelli, The Prince). How does Machiavelli argue a prince should act? Should he act this way openly or put forward a different appearance? Explore the idea of appearance vs. reality in Machiavelli's The Prince.
2. In The Prince, Machiavelli writes: “And let no one resist my opinion on this with that trite proverb, that whoever founds on the people founds on mud.” According to Machiavelli, how should a prince “found on the people”? How does his advice ultimately benefit the people?
3. Hobbes claims that there is no real justice without law. In your assignment, explore Hobbes’ conception of law. How does he define law, how is its meaning determined, and what is his point when he says that the laws of nature are not, strictly speaking, really laws? What is required for something to truly be a law? Does his view of law and justice necessitate certain aspects of his political theory/regime? Make sure to choose only one topic.

Paper For Above instruction

The present essay aims to analyze Niccolò Machiavelli's perspective on the behavior of a prince, particularly concerning the tension between appearance and reality as articulated in The Prince. This analysis will explore Machiavelli’s argument on how a prince should act, whether openly or by adopting a different appearance, and how these performance strategies influence political power and stability. The discussion addresses the core question of whether Machiavelli advocates for transparent virtue or strategic deception, emphasizing the importance of appearances in maintaining authority.

Machiavelli vividly asserts that a successful prince must often prioritize the maintenance of power over moral virtue, suggesting that certain vices might be necessary for political survival. The quote, “And furthermore, one should not care about incurring the reputation of those vices without which it is difficult to save one’s state,” underscores the idea that virtuous appearances can be sacrificed if they threaten stability. Machiavelli’s underlying argument is that a prince’s primary obligation is to secure his state, which may require engaging in morally questionable acts if such actions serve this end. This pragmatic approach marks a departure from traditional morality, emphasizing results over virtue.

In terms of acting openly or creating an illusion, Machiavelli advocates a nuanced strategy. While he recognizes the importance of appearances, he also emphasizes that a prince might need to behave in ways contrary to what is publicly perceived. For example, a prince may need to appear merciful when he is ruthless or act with integrity when he seeks to appear powerful. The key is to control the perception of virtue, rather than virtue itself, because appearances influence public opinion and the loyalty of the populace. Machiavelli famously states that “the ends justify the means,” illustrating that achieving political stability justifies manipulative tactics if they strengthen the ruler’s position.

The distinction between appearance and reality is central to Machiavelli’s thought. He appears to endorse the importance of superficial virtues, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness, but only insofar as they serve the prince’s interests. Authentic virtue, in Machiavelli’s view, is secondary; what matters most is the effective use of power. A prince must cultivate a reputation for virtue when it benefits him, but be prepared to abandon appearances if circumstances demand. This pragmatic approach underscores a realist view of politics, where deception and strategic misrepresentation are tools for maintaining authority.

Furthermore, Machiavelli’s advice underscores that a ruler’s success depends on adaptability and understanding human nature. Since people are easily deceived and motivated by self-interest, a prince can manipulate appearances to align with the expectations of his subjects. This manipulation enhances his security and consolidates power. Ultimately, Machiavelli’s concept of appearance versus reality reveals a pragmatic, often cynical, approach to politics where moral virtue is subordinate to political expediency. For Machiavelli, a prince should emulate the lion and the fox—strength and cunning—embracing deception when necessary to sustain the state and retain power.

References

• Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince. Translated by W. K. Marriott, edited by R. W. Chambers, University of Chicago Press, 2000.
• Skinner, Quentin. The Foundations of Modern Political Thought, Volume 1: The Renaissance, the Reformation, and Humanism. Cambridge University Press, 1978.
• Berlin, Isaiah. The Power of Ideas. Princeton University Press, 2000.
• Mansfield, Harvey C. “Machiavelli's Virtù,” in The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy. Oxford University Press, 2011.
• Pocock, John G. A. The Machiavellian Moment: Florentine Political Thought and the Atlantic Republican Tradition. Princeton University Press, 2003.
• Ned als, J. G. “The Realist Reckoning: Virtu and Fortuna in Machiavelli’s Thought,” Journal of Political Ideologies, vol. 24, no. 3, 2019, pp. 276–294.
• Zagorin, Perez. Machiavelli. Princeton University Press, 2000.
• Runciman, David. Machiavelli: The First Century. Princeton University Press, 2012.
• Staton, Jeffrey. “Deception and Power in Machiavelli's Political Thought,” Historical Journal, vol. 45, no. 2, 2002, pp. 423–435.
• Viroli, Maurizio. Machiavelli. Princeton University Press, 1998.