Machiavelli's The Prince Essay

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In Machiavelli’s The Prince, traditional philosophy and political morals are placed into question. From an authoritative standpoint, one who possesses virtue usually takes on a life of high principle and morality for the good of the state. However, Machiavelli’s The Prince centers around his vision known as Virtù, which contradicts what we traditionally believe to be virtuous. Machiavelli was a historical philosopher who disposed of commonplace ethics to explain how we actually are, and how virtue works in the real world. For example, he states in order to acquire and maintain power, a prince must utilize strength and be willing to shift from good to evil if the situation calls for it. The precedence of the state must be prioritized even …show more content…
Machiavelli’s model is applicable to many political situations throughout histories such as authoritarian regimes and even modern American politics. Based on these examples, a primary focus of this essay will discuss the value of Machiavelli’s Virtù by exploring if it has led to the good of the whole. In Machiavelli’s The Prince, he proposes a vision where a leader must develop a psychology that opposes what mankind has readily accepted over generations. To expand on this notion, we must analyze the characteristics he deemed necessary for a Prince to possess, and if they’ve had success through contemporary examples. Firstly, before attaching these qualities to leaders around the world, it’s critical to closely examine lines from his work to effectively present a justified application. First off, Machiavelli quotes, “It is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two must be lacking. For this can be generally said of men. That they are ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for profit, and as long as you serve their welfare they are entirely yours.” Here, Machiavelli explains

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