When1: 1513
When2: 1527
Who: Niccolo Machiavelli [Machiavelli, Niccolo]
What: philosopher
Where: Florence, Italy
works\ Prince [1513]; Discourses on the First Ten Books of Livy [1513: about political theory]; Mandrake Root [1515: comedy]; History of Florence [1520 to 1527]
Detail: He lived 1469 to 1527.
Politics
Government must maintain public order, because human nature is not noble or honest. Government must maintain itself to maintain order. State actions are justifiable if they are in ruler's interest, because people act to achieve their own interests. Means justify ends, to maintain public order.
State's goals are national independence, security, and well-ordered constitution. States need religion for social cohesion. Power is necessary to achieve state's purposes. However, no legitimate power source exists in states. Opinion, propaganda, virtue, and semblance of virtue can secure power and authority.
Liberty requires virtue in people. Personal rights in states should be commensurate with power. Rulers are better if there is no censorship. People have right to rule. People in states need power, to stabilize state through system of checks and balances. Tyrannies are bad.
Social Sciences>Philosophy>History>Ethics
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Date Modified: 2022.0224