Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist, writer, playwright and poet of the Renaissance period. He has often been called the father of modern political philosophy and political science. For many years he served as a senior of…
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. He rose to power as Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and later Führer in 1934. During his dictatorship from 1933 to 1945, he initiated World War II in Europe by invading Poland on 1 September 1939. He was closely involved in milit…
Full Answer
What does Machiavelli mean when he says one judge by the results?
In this passage (which is subject to different translations), Machiavelli is saying “one judges by the results,” not “do anything necessary to get your desired ends with no regard for virtue.”
What does Machiavelli say about the ends Trump the means?
Plain and simple, the means are irrelevant if the ends are positive enough to trump them. Machiavelli defends these conclusions using both explicit and implicit language. Machiavelli states, “Therefore, a prince must not worry about the reproach of cruelty when it is a matter of keeping his subjects united and loyal…”.
What does Machiavelli say about not keeping his or her word?
In conclusion, Machiavelli talks about how nice it would be for a prince to keep his or her word, but in reality, that doesn’t work out very well. So not keeping his or her word (the bad means) is okay as long as the result is better for his or her country.
What does Machiavelli mean by let the Prince win and maintain state?
In the actions of all men, and especially of princes, where there is no court to appeal to, one looks to the end. So let prince win and maintain his state: the means will always be judged honorable, and will be praised by everyone. Here, Machiavelli does not seem to be making an ethical argument, but rather a sort of psychological one.
What did Machiavelli mean by the phrase the end justifies the means?
In his book called The Prince, he introduced the idea that “the ends justify the means”. According to Machiavelli, this theory suggests that almost any action or behavior is perfectly acceptable as long as it results in the desired outcome.
What does the ends justify the means translate to?
wrong or unfair methods may be used if the overall goal is good. The Roman poet Ovid expresses this concept in Heroides as exitus acta probat meaning 'the outcome justifies the actions'.
What does the ends don't justify the means mean?
But as young kids, we learned that the “end doesn't justify the means.” In other words, a positive outcome isn't, well, a good thing if the methods used were dishonest or harmful to others.
What is the main message of Machiavelli?
Machiavelli's higher political morality is to pursue the means to gain and hold power. He is of the view that the ruling prince should be of the sole authority and to gain this authority the prince has to command a certain fear from his citizens.
What is the meaning of Machiavelli?
Definition of Machiavellian 1 : of or relating to Machiavelli or Machiavellianism. 2 : suggesting the principles of conduct laid down by Machiavelli specifically : marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith He relied on Machiavellian tactics to get elected.
Who wrote the end justifies the means?
Niccolo MachiavelliOrigin of The Ends Justify the Means Most people attribute this quote to Niccolo Machiavelli. He was the author of The Prince, which was published in the first half of the 1500s.
When the end justifies the means examples?
A good outcome excuses any wrongs committed to attain it. For example, He's campaigning with illegal funds on the theory that if he wins the election the end will justify the means, or The officer tricked her into admitting her guilt—the end sometimes justifies the means.
What is the meaning of ends and means?
Ends, or goals, are what we aim to do, and means are what we use to do what we aim to do. Our means are the things we use and the actions we take to create our ends. The purpose of an end or goal is not to achieve some imagined or desired future state, but rather to resolve some present challenge.
What theory is the end justifies the means approach based on?
consequentialist philosophicalThe consequentialist philosophical viewpoint judges the morality of an action not by its actual consequences (outcomes), but by the probable / foreseeable / intended (depending on your favorite flavor) consequences at the time the decision was taken, as in, “The EXPECTED ends justify the means.”
What are Machiavelli's 3 principles?
Leaders should be feared rather than loved, “if you cannot be both”, in order to avoid a revolt. Leaders should have the support of the people because it's difficult to take action without their support. Leaders should hold good virtues. Leaders should be intelligent.
What is Machiavelli's central argument in The Prince?
Machiavelli defines virtues as qualities that are praised by others, such as generosity, compassion, and piety. He argues that a prince should always try to appear virtuous, but that acting virtuously for virtue's sake can prove detrimental to the principality.
What was Machiavelli's core political thought?
Machiavelli's view that acquiring a state and maintaining it requires evil means has been noted as the chief theme of the treatise. He has become infamous for this advice, so much so that the adjective Machiavellian would later on describe a type of politics that is "marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith".
Why is Machiavelli's behavior justified?
His behavior is justified, as he says throughout his book, in that its aim is to defend the state, and seek to perpetuate it.
Why is Machiavelli warned against turning what is?
In the Prince, Machiavelli is clearly warned against any attempt to turn what is, because Machiavelli’s philosophy comes from the nature of men. Hence, The prince must take into account the actual realities. He must be aware and be done with, the specificity of social space and political context of its action.
What does Machiavelli say about the prince?
Machiavelli insists only that the prince recognizes the mobility of all things, and they also recognizing thereby the need to remain alert to changing circumstances. Giving advice to princes, Machiavelli wants to avoid that the precariousness of their power, in addition to behavior inconsistent with the political space.
What is Machiavelli's alternative to virtue?
It is the sensible alternative of virtue and vice is “virtue” (virtu).
Why did Caesar think that such full powers were no longer needed and could make him odious?
But then, Caesar thought that such full powers were no longer needed and could make him odious, for he knew that the stringent measures taken by Ramirro had caused some hatred. C. would therefore show that if cruelty had been committed, it was not his fault, but because of the violent nature of his subordinate .
What is Machiavelli's case?
In one example from the text, Machiavelli makes the case that if, out of some misguided view about morality, a leader refuses to be deceptive they will only make themselves vulnerable to competing rulers who will use this as a weakness against the fair minded ruler.
Who said the ends justify the means?
The Ends Justify The Means Niccolo Machiavelli. This article is about the famous quote that is claimed to have been said by Niccolo Machiavelli that seemingly defends his particular view of consequentialism. A view he fleshes out in his legendary political commentary book The Prince.
Who thought that abstract arguments over ethics were a distraction from what a ruler should be thinking about?
Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli thought that the abstract arguments over ethics (what one ‘ought’ to do and the principles one should have in doing them) was a distraction from what a ruler should be thinking about.
Did Machiavelli say Heroides II?
Though Machiavelli may not have said it, his actual text and words were fairly close (and a good abbreviation) of what he actually said. However, we’ll get to that shortly, for now let’s get to who actually said it. In his all too classic text Heroides II, the Roman poet whom readers may remember from assigned readings, ...
What does Machiavelli say about the ends justify the means?
Finally (and this is the long quote) Machiavelli states, “Therefore, it is not necessary for a prince to have all of the above mentioned qualities, but it is very necessary for him to appear to have them.
What does Machiavelli say about keeping his or her word?
In conclusion, Machiavelli talks about how nice it would be for a prince to keep his or her word, but in reality, that doesn’t work out very well. So not keeping his or her word (the bad means) is okay as long as the result is better for his or her country. Aka, “the ends justify the means”. Finally (and this is the long quote) ...
What did Machiavelli write about?
Niccolo Machiavelli, arguably the finest political theorist of his time, wrote in his famous work “The Prince” that a ruler use any methods available to him to maintain stability, for even though some methods might seem abusive and purely attempts toward ...
Who said that rulers should use any methods available to him to maintain stability?
Niccolo Machiavelli, arguably the finest political theorist of his time, wrote in his famous work “The Prince” that a ruler use any methods available to him to maintain stability, for even though some methods might seem abusive and purely attempts toward staying in power, in reality they benefit the people because the ruler manages to maintain stability which is all the people could ask for. If another country is about to attack yours and your people are at risk, would you even hesitate in bribing the other country’s ruler or diplomat to prevent escalation? True, the ethics are questionable, but being that the ends are so positive, it would be futile to look at it otherwise.
Is Machiavelli's ethics questionable?
True, the ethics are questionable, but being that the ends are so positive, it would be futile to look at it otherwise. Plain and simple, the means are irrelevant if the ends are positive enough to trump them. Machiavelli defends these conclusions using both explicit and implicit language. Don't use plagiarized sources.
What did Machiavelli mean by "given an ends profitable enough"?
This was Machiavelli's identifying line to many people, and in my conversations with them, I got the impression that Machiavelli meant the following: that, given an ends profitable enough, any means, even a very immoral one, is justifiable.
What is the analysis of Machiavelli's word choice?
1. Analysis of Machiavelli's Word Choice -- The Ends Define The Means. I choose to analyze the phrase, "the end justify the means," to determine why Machiavelli would have chosen the word "justify.". Based on my interpretation, Machiavelli is more likely to have believed that, the ends "define" the means, and given Machiavelli's ends, ...
Why can't Agathocles be judged inferior?
Because if one considers Agathocles's skill at plunging into and out of danger, and the greatness of his spirit in enduring and overcoming adversity, he cannot be judged inferior to the most excellent leaders. In other words, one cannot attribute to Fortune or skill what he attained without either of them.
What is Machiavelli's theory of the end justifying the means?
According to Machiavelli, this theory suggests that almost any action or behavior is perfectly acceptable as long as it results in the desired outcome. For instance, this unconventional belief would support almost any kind of behavior ...
Why are men created equal?
The Right To Fail Speech Analysis. In my opinion, men are created equal because everyone has the same freedom of choice to do what they want. In the Declaration of Independence, America chose to live the life they want by wanting the American dream or not.
What is the rule of utilitarianism?
Rule Utilitarianism is self-explanatory in that it states that we should all follow the rules which will maximise people’s well-being ‘actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure.’ (Mill,1861). This set of rules can both be moral rules and guidance but also political rules which help governments decide on laws and policies which will maximise the citizen’s well-being and happiness. Rules such as keeping your promises can help maximise another’s well-being but raises the question of whether it could become a universal rule which is followed by all.…
Why was the White Man's burden important?
Through conflict and war, something positive came from the burden. It allowed for intellectual growth and expansion of the civilized world. Although the White Man’s Burden is fundamentally unethical, it was needed throughout history to make the world a stronger place for everyone. As Wilson said, making the world safe for the American way of life was paramount. The ideological goal of sharing the best of society with the rest of the world was well intentioned but these ideas were taken far too literally throughout time.…
Who wrote the essay on ethical egoism?
Essay On Ethical Egoism. Utilitarianism was produced by John Stuart Mill who mutated a theoretical version put forward by friend and mentor Jeremy Bentham. The original basic principle of utilitarianism was “ Actions are right to the degree that they tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number.”.
Contents
- The above can be gleaned from the Prince chapters 6 9, especially Chapter 8 where he describes criminal virtue, and chapter 18. Furthermore, the concept can be found throughout Discourses on Livy.
Origin
- With that in mind, although it isnt fully misguided to attribute an ultra-realist grey area line of political thinking to the Father of Modern Political Science Niccolò Machiavelli, this consequentialist misquote is an over simplification of Machiavellis realist Republican philosophy and the phrase itself never appears in his work in the way in which it is often passed around in m…
Criticism
- A simple maxim like this is needs revision, and the actual utilitarian theories of everyone from Plato to Bentham, to Mill, to Rawls essentially refute the simplistic take on the concept. These are all good theories from the original utilitarian theory of Morals and Ethics. So it is no surprise Machiavelli, the Father of Modern Political Science, presents a more complex argumen…
Analysis
- In this passage (which is subject to different translations), Machiavelli is saying one judges by the results, not do anything necessary to get your desired ends with no regard for virtue. He is poking fun at Princes, which fits with the idea that the Prince is essentially written as satire and is trying to teach virtuous leaders how to overthrow tyrants and people how to form Republics.
Style
- The Prince is written to look like a realist guidebook for hereditary princes. In reality, it is a mix of underhanded insults and of underhanded tactics for virtuous leaders who lacked the criminal virtue needed to ensure power in a world full of con men and tyrants.
Philosophy
- DO THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS? The ends can sometimes justify the means, and the ends are often more important than the means. Sometimes, one must muster up criminal virtue to ensure an end which brings the greatest happiness, but one must understand that we are talking about the greatest happiness theory here. Thus, people should consider the philosophy of conse…
Influence
- People dont seem to understand Machiavelli, but a close reading of the book proves that Rousseau is right, unsurprisingly, like every other Republican in history, Machiavelli was one of the good guys and didnt have overly simple ideas like the ends always justify the means. He is the father of political science, not a brain dead power hungry Tyrant. For the love of liberty, let us sto…