What important elements of the Renaissance are demonstrated by Machiavelli’s “The Prince”?
In the Prince, Machiavelli demonstrates the renaissance characteristic of humanism, as clearly stated by Machiavelli by saying that princes have control over their actions, not God. It also shows secularism because if you were not focused on this world, you wouldn’t care if you spent all of your wealth on the public and you would only slightly care if something happened to your hold over the state if your focus was preparing for the world to come. Most importantly is the characteristic of individualism, where the princes, believes it is all because of him that the state is coming together or falling apart. All of this put together creates a feeling of skepticism in the fact that renaissance princes would question the control of a medieval God over the entire world.
What makes “The Prince” historically significant?
The Prince is historically significant because it tells a leader what he must do and how he must act to both lead a strong state and what the leader must do to control the people without having them rebel against him. It gives a code of conduct to cover up a leader’s short comings as well as how to spend money to improve the state and still maintain at least neutrality from the people. Machiavelli shows why being to kind and generous is dangerous, in some cases more dangerous than being cruel to the people. It shows how to keep hold of a state from invaders, and deals with the difficulty most leaders face when their people are safe but their possessions are being burned outside their protective walls.
To what extent to you agree or disagree with Machiavelli’s advice for princes?
Machiavelli, that brilliant mastermind, he wrote the standard for any leader in any time. Without Machiavelli where would leaders turn to for orders? This is an incredible tool, if I follow this to a certain extent, I may be able to lead the people I patronize and become the greatest merchant of all time. He makes sense when you think about it plainly, don’t recklessly spend the tax money, never endanger your state through a vice, and only give the people what they need when you think they need it. For a merchant of my size and prospective size, I need to know how to control the people while keeping my patrons, workers, and customers content and shops in good appearance. Using the Prince I can manage this while hiding my darkest secrets from the public eye and appearing to have virtues. I will look like a stand up character, while not having to be one. I can hold the respect and contentment of the people while making money. What is not to love about Machiavelli’s road for success and wealth?
In the Prince, Machiavelli demonstrates the renaissance characteristic of humanism, as clearly stated by Machiavelli by saying that princes have control over their actions, not God. It also shows secularism because if you were not focused on this world, you wouldn’t care if you spent all of your wealth on the public and you would only slightly care if something happened to your hold over the state if your focus was preparing for the world to come. Most importantly is the characteristic of individualism, where the princes, believes it is all because of him that the state is coming together or falling apart. All of this put together creates a feeling of skepticism in the fact that renaissance princes would question the control of a medieval God over the entire world.
What makes “The Prince” historically significant?
The Prince is historically significant because it tells a leader what he must do and how he must act to both lead a strong state and what the leader must do to control the people without having them rebel against him. It gives a code of conduct to cover up a leader’s short comings as well as how to spend money to improve the state and still maintain at least neutrality from the people. Machiavelli shows why being to kind and generous is dangerous, in some cases more dangerous than being cruel to the people. It shows how to keep hold of a state from invaders, and deals with the difficulty most leaders face when their people are safe but their possessions are being burned outside their protective walls.
To what extent to you agree or disagree with Machiavelli’s advice for princes?
Machiavelli, that brilliant mastermind, he wrote the standard for any leader in any time. Without Machiavelli where would leaders turn to for orders? This is an incredible tool, if I follow this to a certain extent, I may be able to lead the people I patronize and become the greatest merchant of all time. He makes sense when you think about it plainly, don’t recklessly spend the tax money, never endanger your state through a vice, and only give the people what they need when you think they need it. For a merchant of my size and prospective size, I need to know how to control the people while keeping my patrons, workers, and customers content and shops in good appearance. Using the Prince I can manage this while hiding my darkest secrets from the public eye and appearing to have virtues. I will look like a stand up character, while not having to be one. I can hold the respect and contentment of the people while making money. What is not to love about Machiavelli’s road for success and wealth?
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