Machiavelli - Discourses

Question 1

What the Discourse is About (Context)

Answer 1

• written on Roman society; specifically on Livy

Question 2

Class Struggle and Freedom/Liberty

Answer 2

• Class struggle (between Rich and Poor) is good for freedom
  
  • there will always be rich and poor
• Class Struggle is evidence of a healthy political system
• From Class Struggle comes great liberty (if society is ‘good’)
  
  • Upper Class action (to have more) precipitates Lower Class Revolt
  • This revolt results in greater liberty if the people are not corrupted

Question 3

Two Classes and Protecting Liberty

Answer 3

• The Upper and Lower Class
• the goal of society is liberty

Who is better a Safeguarding Liberty?
- The poor because the poor are concerned with keeping what they had; whereas the rich desire to take more from the poor

Question 4

Role of a Middle Class?

Answer 4

• NM does not believe in the Middle Class
• There is no way to be stable because human affairs are always in a flux
  
  • Rome dealt with this issue; they had an official caste system

Question 5

Florentine Corruption and Roman Corruption Compared

Answer 5

• Corruption in Florence was so deep that the city was unable to function after the Medici were ousted
  
  • the corruption was ingrained in the city
  • revolt would mean destroying Florence
• In Rome, the corrupt kings were ousted before their corruption spread to the people
  
  • ergo the people could safely rise up
• People learn corruption from their rulers
• Good Law is ineffective in a corrupt society unless you have a strongman (i.e. The Prince) to lead society until it is fixed

Question 6

Governance by the Populace is better

Answer 6

• the populace is fickle, but so are Princes
• In the election of officials, the populace is better
  • The Prince is susceptible to corruption, the people are not

Question 7

NM as a Conservative Moderate

Answer 7

• Does not speculate ideals, rather analyzes social realities
• Conservative = openly acknowledges there is an upper class
• Moderate = the nobility does not need to dissappear

Question 8

“Good Material” and “Bad Material”

Answer 8

“when the material is not corrupt, tumults and other troubles do no harm, but, when it is corrupt, good legislation is of no avail unless it is initiated by someone in so extremely strong a position that he can enforce obedience until such a time as the material has become good”