Up to Exam 2 Flashcards
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Father of Modern Political Theory
Born: Florence may 3rd 1496 died June 21 1527 in Florence also
Political philosopher statesmen secretary of the Florence republic
Family was wealthy and prominent
Father: Bernado. Was a lawyer but was barred from public office in Florence because of debt
At 29, he became head of the second Chancery, a post that placed him in charge of the Republic’s foreign affairs in subject territories (held until 1512)
During his tenure at the second chancery, Machiavelli persuaded Soderini to reduce the city’s reliance on mercenary forces by establishing a militia (1505)
saved the country a lot of money
Faked his own death
What was Machiavelli’s dedication of the Prince
a letter to Lorenzo de medici, who was the nephew of Giovnabni de’ Medici and became duke of Urbino in 1516. Machiavelli offers his book with customary humility, commenting that it is stylistically simple and unworthy of his audience. Machiavelli describes his book as a dummy of his “understanding the deeds of great men” intended to help Lorenzo de’ Medici achieve eminence as a prince.
ordinary citizen’s perspective according to M
offers a short defense of why he, an ordinary citizen, should know more than rulers about the art of ruling. He uses a metaphor to justify himself: a person standing on a mountain is best positions to survey the landscape the mountain.
To comprehend fully the nature of people, one must be a prince, and to comprehend fully the nature of princes, one must be an ordinary.
The removed perspective of an observer is a more reliable guide than practical experience, and a better mean of improving the art of ruling
the citizen that is removed has a better perspective on how one should rule.
What was the purpose of the prince?
though the book has a scholarly tone, it is not for fellow scholars. A practical how to guide for aspiring princes.
Chapter 1 the Prince
how many kinds of states are there? how many types of principality are there? how are they acquired?
Describes the different kinds of states, arguing all states are either republics or principalities.
Principalities can be decided into hereditary principalities or new principalities.
New principalities are either completely new or new appendages to existing states.
It is by fortune or strength, a prince can acquire a new principality with hi own army or with the arms of others
Chapter 2 The Prince
intro
first of three chapters focusing on methods to govern and maintain principalities. dismisses any discussion of republics, explaining that he has “discussed them at length on another occasion”
Chapter 2 The Prince
on Hereditary Principalities
Notes that it is easier to govern a hereditary state than a new principality for two main reasons.
First, those under the rule of such states are familiar with he prince’s family and are therefore accustomed to their rule. The natural prince only has to keep past institutions intact, while adapting these institutions to current events.
Second, the natural disposition of subjects in a hereditary state is to love the ruling family, unless the prince commits some horrible act against his people.
Even if a strong outsider succeeds in conquering a prince’s hereditary state, and setback the outsider encounters will allow the prince to reconquer the state.
Chapter 3 the prince
On Mixed Principalities
why is maintaining a new principality more difficult than maintaining a hereditary state?
explains why maintaining a new principality is more difficult than maintaining a hereditary state.
people will willingly trade one recently arrived ruler for another, hoping that a new ruler will be better than the present one.
this expectation of improvement will induce people to take up arms against any relatively unestablished prince. Although the people may quickly realize that their revolt is ineffective, they will still create great disorder.
Incumbants
Chapter 3 the Prince
honeymoon period and its constitutes
when a prince takes over another prince’s domain, he finds himself in a tricky situation with regard to the people who put him In power.
He cannot maintain the support of these people because he cannot fulfill all of their expectations that their situation will improve.
But he also cannot deal too harshly with them because he is in their debt. Immediately after taking power, the prince is in danger of losing his newly gained principality.
Chapter 3 the Prince
revolt
when a price successfully suppresses a revolt, however, the ruler can easily prevent further revolt by harshly punishing the rebels and decimating his opposition.
treat the revolters as harshly as he can.
The ruler can deal more harshly with his subjects in response to the revolt than he would be able to normally.
Chapter 3 The Prince
maintaining control of a new principality
It is much easier to maintain control over a new principality if the people shred’s the same language and customs as the prince’s own country.
If this is the case, the prince has to do only two things: Destroy the family of the former prince, and maintain the principality’s laws and taxes. People will leave quietly and peacefully so long as their old ways of life are undisturbed.
Chapter 3 The Prince
living in the state
language and cutstoms
new states have different languages and customs from those of the prince are more difficult to maintain. One of the prince’s most effective options is to take up residence in the new state.
By living there, the prince can address problems quickly and efficiently. He can prevent the local officials from plundering his territory. The subjects will be in close contact with the prince.
Therefore those who are inclined to be good will have more reason to show their allegiance to the prince and those who are inclined to be bad will have more reason to fear him. Invaders will think twice before attempting to take over the state.
Chapter 3
colonies, pampered or crushed, military bases
another effective method of dealing with linguistic and cultural differences: less expensive to establish colonies in the new state than military occupation
stop worrying about poor people
men must either be pampered or crushed. a prince should injure people only if he knows there is no threat of revenge.
military bases throughout the state will not keep order, instead, just piss off the people
Chapter 3
neighboring states
A prince who has occupied a state in a foreign country should dominate the neighboring states. He should weaken the strong ones and ensure that Ono other strong foreign power invades a neighboring state.
Weaker powers will naturally side with the strongest power as long as they cannot grow strong themselves. The prince must remain master of the whole country to keep control of the state he has conquered.
Chapter 3
princes should do what about problems in the state
what is mans natural want?
PRINCES SHOULD ALWAYS ACT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BEFORE PROBLEMS FULLY MANIFEST THEMSELVES. Political disorders are easy to solve if the prince identifies the and acts early. If they are allowed to develop fully, it will be too late.
men naturally was to acquire more. when they succeed in acquiring more they are always praised not condemned. But rulers who lack the ability to acquire, yet still try at the cost of their current state, should be condemned
chapter 4
Why the kingdom of Darius, which Alexander Occupied, did not rebel against his successors after Alexander’s death
2 ways to govern a principality.
The first is a prince and appointed ministers. while the ministers help govern, everyone remains subservient to the prince.
The second way involves the prince and nobles. Nobles are not appointed by the Prince, but they benefit from their ancient lineage and have subjects of their own.
Of both these scenarios, the prince is regarded as being much stronger if he uses ministers, since he is the only ruler in the country
chapter 4
nobles vs ministers
It is much harder to take over a country if a prince uses ministers because ministers have little incentive to be corrupted by foreign powers or to turn on their prince. Furthermore, even if they were to turn against the prince, they would not be able to muster support from any subjects because they hold no persona loyalties. It is easier to conquer a country governed with the cooperation of nobles, because finding a discontented noble eager for change is always possible. Moreover, nobles command the loyalty of their own subjects, so a corrupted noble will corrupt the support of his subjects.
Chapter 4
contd.
although it is easier to take over a state ruled by nobles, it is much harder to maintain control of that state. In a state ruled by nobles, it is not enough to kill the former ruler’s family, because the nobles will still be around to revolt. Holding onto a state with ministers is much easier, because it merely requires killing off the one prince and his family.
Chapter 4
Machiavelli asserts that the rules he proposes are consistent with historical evidence, such as Alexander’s successful conquest of Asia and the rebellions agains the Romans in Spain, France and Greece.
One must look at the way other countries approached a situation.
summary
the first step in his argument is to establish the terms and categories that he will use to make sense out of the multitude of different political situations that exist in the real world. The clear-cut distinctions Machiavelli makes between different kind of states, beginning with principalities and republics- are very effective insofar as they enable him to present his ideas clearly and concisely. Whether his categories do justice to the complexity of political history isa different question. Machiavelli creates an impression of directness and practicality by presenting the world in simple, clear defined terms.
Chapter 5
How you should govern cities or kingdoms before you acquire them, lived under their own laws
THREE WAYS
Machiavelli describes three ways to hold states that have been accustomed to living freely under their own laws.
The first is to devastate them.
The second is for the conqueror to occupy them.
The third is to allow the state to maintain its own laws, but to charge taxes and establish an oligarchy to keep the state friendly.
the third option is advantageous because the newly imposed oligarchy will work hard to secure the authority of the conquering prince within the conquered state because it owes its existence to the prince and cannot survive without his support. Thus, as long as the goal is not to devastate the other state, it is easiest to rule it through the use of its own citizens
It is very important to allow people to keep their own rules
Chapter 5
in states that have been free in the past (republics)
complete destruction is the most certain way of securing a state that has been free in the past. A prince who does not take this route places himself in a position to be destroyed himself. No matter how long it has been since the state was acquired, rebellions will always revive the legacy of ancient institutions and notions of former liberty, even if the state has benefited from the prince’s rule. This sense of tradition will unify the people against the prince.
Chapter 5
Accustomed to being ruled
On the other hand, cities or provinces that are accustomed to being ruled by a prince are easy to take over once the ruling family has been destroyed. People ins such states are accustomed to obedience and do not know how to live in freedom without having someone to rule over them.
Chapter 5
in republics
in republics (or former republics, sentiments of hatred and revenge against the conquering prince will run strong. the memories of ancient liberty never die, so a prince will be better off destroying the republic or personally occupying the conquered state
President trump coming in after president Obama
Chapter 6
about new kingdoms acquired with one’s own armies and one’s own skill
princes should strive to imitate the examples set by great rulers of the past even if that means getting lofty goals. this way f a prince fails to meet those lofty goals, his actions will nevertheless enhance his reputation as a great or powerful ruler.
Chapter 6
one way that rulers acquire states is through their own abilities rather than the good fortune of noble birth, inheretance, or lucky circumstances. Relying on one’s personal prowess is a very difficult method of acquiring a state. However, a state acquired by a ruler’s natural skill will prove easier to maintain control over. Examples of rulers who triumphed on the strength of their own powers include Moses, Cyrus, Romulus and Theseus.
chapter 7***
he wiped out disloyal troops and established a loyal army, and he maintained a friendly yet cautious relationship with other kings and prices. he was unable to complete the consolidation of his power when his father died**
chapter 8
of those who come to power through wicked actions
Machiavelli continues to describe the ways that a man can become a prince. In addition to fortune and prowess, criminal acts or the approval of his fellow citizens can facilitate a man’s rise to power.
those who come to power by crime kill fellow citizens and betray friends. they are treacherous, pitiless, and irreligious. princes who commit criminal acts can achieve power, bit never glory.
Chapter 6
Rulers who rely on prowess instead of fortune are generally more successful in holding power over states because they can meet the challenge of establishing a new order. Nothing is more dangerous or difficult that introducing a new order. This is because those who benefited from the old order will fiercely oppose the prince who tries to introduce a new order. A prince who relies on his ability to persuade others to support him will be unable to succeed against such opposition. However, a prince who relies on his own prowess and can force the issue will usually succeed. At times, forcing the issue might literally mean the use of force. This can be dangerous, but if the ruler succeeds in his use of force, he will become strong, secure and respected.
Chapter 7
About new principalities that are acquired with the forces of others
Sometimes private citizens become princes purely by good fortune. Such people buy their way into power, receive favors from someone else in power, or bribe soldiers. such princes are weak not only because fortune can be capricious and unstable, but also because they do not know how to maintain their position.
buy their way or a favor doesn’t mean they can’t lead, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t lead
chapter 7
a prince must do _____ win favor followers
Laying a solid foundation is a crucial prerequisites for maintaining power.
eliminate rival leaders and win the favor of their followers.
Chapter 8
wicked actions
all at once
therefore when a prince decided to seize a state, he must determine how much injury to inflict. He needs to strike all at once and then refrain from further atrocities. In this way, his subjects will eventually forget about the violence and cruelty and gradually resentment will fade.
Most important, a prince should be consistent in the way he treats his subjects.
Chapter 9
of the citizen ruler
a prince can come to power through the favor of his fellow citizens. princes who rise through this route are heads of what mach calls constitutional principality
common people, noble people
Common people are disposed to avoid domination and oppression of the nobles
Chapter 9
the power to form a principality lies with either the nobles or the people. If the nobles realize they cannot dominate the people, they will try to strengthen their position by making one of the nobles a prince. they hope to accomplish their own ends through the prince’s authority. the people will follow the same course of action if they realize they cannot withstand the nobles, they will make one of the people a prince and hope to be protected by the prince’s authority.
chapter 9
a prince placed in power by nobles will find it more difficult to maintain his position because those who surround him will consider themselves his equals and his selection as prince arbitrary. However, aprince created by the people stands alone at the top.
Jot only are nobles much harder to satisfy than the people, they are less honest in their motives because they seek to oppress the people.
the people, on the other hand, only seek to be left alone
Nobles are astute and cunning and always safeguard their own interests.
Chapter 10
how one should measure the strength of a rules
although a prince should always aim to keep an army of size and strength equaling that of any aggressor it is just as important to maintain defenses and fortifications. These defensive preparations not only provide security but also deter enemies from attacking.
chapter 10
Some might argue that if an enemy lays siege to a fortified city, the people inside, upon witnessing their countryside pillaged and possessions destroyed, will turn against their prince. But a prince who has made adequate defensive preparations can actually inspire his subjects during such times. To do so, he must convince the people that the hardships are only temporary and create feelings of patriotism. when the siege is over the grateful and obliged people will love the prince all the more
Chapter 12
three types of armies
princes own troops
mercenary troops
auxiliary troops
merc and auxiliary useless and dangerous “disunited, undisciplined, ambitious and faithless” because their only motivation is monetary. low moral
unskilled commanders are worthless, but skilled commanders cannot be trusted to suppress their own ambition
it is far more preferable for a prince to command his own army
chapter 12
mercenaries
big risk to hire mercenaries
since the mercenaries were more concerned with increasing their own prestige and status than with taking risks or accomplishing military objectives, the conflicts between these mercenary forces devolved into a series of ineffective, staged, pseudo-battles, ultimately degrading Italy’s political and military might.
Chapter 13
aux troops, native troops and composite armies
auxiliary troops- armies borrowed from a more powerful state- are useless as mercenaries. they often fight well, but using auxiliaries places himself in a no win situation. if the aug fail, he is defenseless
Aux troops’ loyalty is to another ruler
worse to hire aux than mercenary
Chapter 13
if a prince does not command his own native troops, the principality can never be secure. depending on outside armies is Essen the same as depending good fortune. the use of auxiliaries and mercenaries is effective during prosperous times, but in times of adversity, reliance on borrowed troops, like reliance on fortune, is a perilous liability.
chapter 14
what a ruler should do as regards the militia
the only thing a prince needs to study is the art of war. this is the primary discipline of the ruler. mastery of this discipline can make even a common citizen a great ruler. the easiest way to lose a state is by neglecting the art of war. the best way to win a state is to be skilled in the art of war.
chapter 16
on generosity and parsimony
liberality or generosity is a quality that many men admire. but if a prince develops a reputation for generosity, he will ruin his state. a reputation for generosity requires outward lavishness, which eventually depletes all of the prince’s resources. in the end, the prince will be forced to burden his people with excessive taxes in order to raise the money to maintain his preparation for generosity. ultimately, the princes liberality will make the people despise and resent him. Moreover, any prince will attempts to change his reputation for generosity will immediately develop a reputation for generosity
John Locke
Aug. 29 1632- Oct. 28, 1704
often referred to as the Father of Liberalism
He inspired both the European Enlightenment and the US constitution
Locks political thought was grounded in the notion of a social contract between citizens and in the importance of “toleration” especially in matters of religion.
Locke’s political philosophy was guided by his deeply held religious commitments.
God and religion according to Locke
Locke was a devoutly religious man.
Lockes idea of equality in the state of nature relies upon a certain christian theological context
god created humans or a certain purpose namely to live a life according to his laws and thus to inherit eternal salvation; God gave humans just those intellectual and other abilities necessary to achieve this end.
Humans using the capacity of Reason, are able to discover that God exists, to identify his laws and duties they entail, and to acquire sufficient knowledge to perform their duties and thereby to lead a happy and successful life
Locke believed that the right to life and liberty are inalienable, meaning they cannot be waived or transferred or waived, because we belong to God.
Our rights to life, liberty property and health can be forfeited however, when one kills or allows ourselves to be killed or submit to slavery that would be in violation of God’s rights he gave to us. “do not harm another in his life, liberty, health or possessions”
Lockes definition of political power
Locke defines political power as a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently, all less penalties for the regulation and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community in execution of such laws and in defense of the common-wealth from foreign injury and all this only for the public good
Lockes definition of political power has an immediate moral dimension. It is a right of making laws and enforcing them for the public good. power for Locke never simply means capacity but always morally sanctioned capacity
morality pervades the whole arrangement of society, and it is this fact, tautologically, that makes society legitimate.
Locke would be a conservative today because of his views on political power and property rights
state of nature according to Locke
what society would be like if all political and legal institutions were to disappear.
humans are entirely free
a state of perfect freedom and equality
there is no political superior and inferior, that would be unnatural.
that relationship only exists if it is created by free and voluntary consent.
with that being said, there is a natural superior and inferior relationship between child an son. no consent is required there but it is in political relationships
one enjoys the right to life, liberty, health and property in the state of nature AS WELL as the right to punish anyone who transgresses the law of nature and to exact compensation from those who have violated one’s own natural rights.
laws of nature (three)
The state of nature is not state of complete license, because it is set within the bounds of the law of nature.
ALL ABOUT SELF PRESERVATION
preserve yourself
do not harm others
help others if you can, but only if you do not harm yourself
don’t harm another in his life, liberty health or possessions
natural laws forbid us to violate others natural rights
This is self evident. pre legal and moral right. inalienable
each person is naturally free and equal under the law of nature. each person is required to enforce as well as to obey this law. it is this duty that gives to humans the right to punish offenders. it is obvious that placing the right to punish in each persons hands may lead to injustice and violence. This can be remedied if humans enter into a contract with each other to recognize by common consent a civil government with the power to enforce the law of nature among the citizens of that state
at some point, humans will want to punish those who they felt have done wrong to them even in a state of nature
injustice cannot be tolerated
need of a civil government
