Machiavelli - Prince

Question 1

Two types of government

Answer 1

• Republics and Principalities

Question 2

Civil Governance

Answer 2

• a leader ought to govern with the favour of his citizens
• the difference between the two political systems is the source of power
• all systems are led by one person who holds all the power

Nobility as source of power
- difficult for the leader because the nobles are all jealous of the power

People as source of power
- easier because the people will not revile his power

Question 3

The People v. The Nobility

Answer 3

• The People are more honest in ruling
• This is because the Nobility wants to oppress The People for their own security
• The People only want not to be oppressed

Question 4

The Prince and Virtue & Necessity

Answer 4

• The Prince, as a form of government, is only needed in emergency situations
• In order to do what is necessary, the Prince may have to bend the rules

Question 5

Rule by Fear & Hatred

Answer 5

• The Prince can be feared, but must not be hated
  
  • Fear is compatible with ruling, but hatred is not
• As long as the Prince does not break the law (e.g. Stealing from his people) he will avoid being hated

Question 6

The Natures of the Fox and the Lion

Answer 6

• “a fox in order to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves”

Question 7

A Prince ready to do battle

Answer 7

• The Prince rules in a city that is in crisis and therefore must be ready to do battle
• He fights in two ways:
  
  • by law (which is of nature to men)
  • by force (which is of nature to beasts)

Question 8

The Importance of Adaptability

Answer 8

• “the one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not”
• The idea of necessity not as ‘the Prince does what is needed at all costs’, but rather as ‘ the Prince recognizes what is needed’
• A republic is better than a Principality as it is better able to adapt to the times

Question 9

The Medici as The Prince

Answer 9

• This work is an appeal for the Medici to become The Prince and repair Florence
• Become incorruptable and restore equality

Question 10

The Purpose of The Prince (Context)

Answer 10

• Written in response to the endemic corruption of Florence under the Medici
• NM recognizes that Florence was corrupt and proposed this system to fix it
  
  • because the corruption is so deep, the city needed a strongman to rule until it is rooted out

Question 11

Political Theory and Amorality

Answer 11

• NM breaks tradition; Political Theory is no longer constructed on ethical standards outside of ‘real politics’
• Rather; Now Political Theory is constructed on what rulers actually do
  
  • it is a theory on successful amoral political behaviour

Question 12

The Limits of the Prince

Answer 12

• The Prince should appear to be good and actually be that way
• But the Prince must also be prepared to be the opposite
  
  • in order to maintain the state he may need to defy “faith, charity, kindness, religion”