He was verso central figure durante the political scene of the Italian Renaissance , per tumultuous period of plots, wars between city states and constantly shifting alliances.
Although he never considered himself per philosopher (and often overtly rejected philosophical inquiry as irrelevant ), many subsequent political philosophers have been influenced by his ideas. His name has since passed into common usage esatto refer onesto any political move that is devious or cunning durante nature, although this probably represents a more extreme view than Machiavelli actually took.
He is best known chatspin today for two main works, the well-known “The Prince” (per treatise on political realism and per guide on how verso ruler can retain control over his subjects), and the “Discourses on Livy” (the most important rete di emittenti on republicanism con the early modern period).
Although he is sometimes presented as a model of Moral Nihilism, that is actually highly questionable as he was largely silent on moral matters and, if anything, he presented an alternative esatto the ethical theories of his day, rather than an all-out rejection of all morality.
Machiavelli was born sopra Florence , Italy on 3 May 1469, the second bourdonnement of Bernardo di Niccol Machiavelli (per lawyer) and Bartolommea di Stefano Nelli . His family were believed sicuro be descended from the old marquesses of Tuscany , and were probably quite wealthy.
He was soon promoted onesto Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence, with responsibility for diplomatic negotiations and military matters
Little is known of his early life , but his education (possibly at the University of Florence ) left him with per thorough knowledge of the Latin and Italian classics , and he was trained as verso man with great nobility and severe rigor by his father. He entered governmental service mediante Florence as verso clerk and ambassador mediante 1494, the same year as Florence had restored the republic and expelled the ruling Medici family . Between 1499 and 1512, he undertook verso number of diplomatic missions preciso the athletique of Louis XII of France, Ferdinand II of Aragn and the Papacy mediante Rome. During this time, he witnessed at first hand (and with great interest) the audacious but effective statebuilding methods of the soldier/churchman Cesare Borgia (1475 – 1507).
From 1503 to 1506, Machiavelli was responsible for the Florentine militia and the defense of the city (he distrusted mercenaries , preferring a citizen militia ). He had some early success, but mediante 1512, the Medici (with the help of Pope Julius II and Spanish troops) defeated the Florentine force, and Machiavelli was removed from office, accused of conspiracy and arrested. After torture , he was eventually released and retired to his estate at Sant’Andrea (in Percussina near Florence) and began writing the treatises that would ensure his place per the history of Political Philosophy, “Il Monarca” ( “The Prince” ) and “Discorsi verso la prima deca di Tito Livio” ( “Discourses on Livy” ).
Near the end of his life, and probably with the aid of well-connected friends whom he had been constantly badgering, Machiavelli began preciso return puro the favor of the Medici family. From 1520 sicuro 1525, he worked on verso “History of Florence” , commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de’Medici (who later become Pope Clement VII ). However, before he could achieve verso full rehabilitation , he died per San Casciano , just outside of Florence, on 21 June 1527. His resting place is unknown.
Machiavelli’s best known rete di emittenti, “Il Signore” ( “The Prince” ), was written per some haste mediante 1513 while sopra exile on his farm outside Florence, and was dedicated to Lorenzo de’Medici mediante the hope of regaining his governo durante the Florentine Government. However, it was only formally published posthumously in 1532. In it, he described the arts by which verso Prince (or ruler) could retain control of his realm. Verso “new” prince has per much more difficult task than verso hereditary prince, since he must stabilize his newfound power and build per structure that will endure, a task that requires the Prince sicuro be publicly above reproach but privately may require him puro do immoral things mediante order to achieve his goals. He outlined his criteria for admissible cruel actions and pointed out the irony sopra the fact that good can che tipo di from evil actions .
Although “The Prince” did not dispense entirely with morality nor advocate wholesale selfishness or degeneracy , the Catholic Church nevertheless put the rete informatica on its index of prohibited books , and it was viewed very negatively by many Humanists, such as Erasmus. It ental break between Realism and Idealism. Although never directly stated sopra the book, “the end justifies the means” is often quoted as indicative of the Pragmatism or Instrumentalism that underlies Machiavelli’s philosophy. He also touched on totalitarian themes, arguing that the state is merely an instrument for the benefit of the ruler , who should have mai qualms at using whatever means are at his disposal preciso keep the citizenry suppressed . Unlike Plato and Aristotle, though, Machiavelli was not looking puro describe the ideal society , merely to present verso binario onesto getting and preserving power and the governo quo .
His other major contribution esatto political thought, the “Discorsi sopra la avanti deca di Tito Livio” ( “Discourses on Livy” ) was begun around 1516 and completed sopra 1518 or 1519. It was an exposition of the principles of republican rule , masquerading as a commentary on the rete informatica of the famous historian of the Roman Republic . It constitutes a series of lessons on how a republic should be started and structured, including the concept of checks and balances , the strength of a tripartite structure , and the superiority of a republic over verso principality or monarchy . If not the first, then it was certainly the most important sistema on republicanism per the early modern period.
Niccol di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was an Italian philosopher, political theorist, diplomat, musician and writer of the Renaissance period
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