Machiavelli and Evil the Ideas Essay

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46).

These ideas are actually in direct contradiction to the prevailing religious philosophies of the time. Machiavelli does not seed men judged by God, or even by other men -- but instead by whether the deed one sought was accomplished or not; and if that deed has eventual ramifications that may be good. This Prince may come to power through evil means from himself, from others, or through historical forces. However, Princes who come to power based on criminal acts will not last in their position, nor will they be perceived as innately a leader. Cruelty, which by its very nature is evil, may be applied once at the outset and then only when the greater good of the subjects demands it.

In seizing a state, the Prince ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict (evil), and to do them all at one stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily; and thus by not unsettling men he will be able to reassure them, and win them to himself by benefits (Machiavelli, p. 46).

Thus, the essence of good, in the broad and overall state, is consistency and security. If the citizenry is protected from war and pestilence, and allowed to live a life in which they can work and actualize, then the Prince has done his duty. The prime good for the leader is to provide this stability -- through whatever means possible.

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If this leader does that -- the leader will stay in power and be able to protect and provide throughout his reign. Not doing so would, in fact, be false to those counting on stability and would perpetuate evil instead of goodness.

And above all things, a Prince ought to live amongst his people in such a way that no unexpected circumstances, whether of good or evil, shall make him change; because if the necessity for this comes in troubled time, you are too late for harsh measures; and mild ones will not help you. For they will be considered as forced from you, and no one will be under any obligation to you for them (Machiavelli, p. 46).

The basis of Machiavellianism is logic. This logic, however, must, by its very nature, be devoid of all ethical or moral considerations. The Prince has two options: benevolence and destruction. The former is preferred to the later, even if evil means are necessary to secure it:

Men ought either to be well-treated or crushed, because they can avenged themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge (Machiavelli, p. 23)......

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