WE LIVE IN A POLITICAL WORLD NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI THE PRINCE LECTURE 2-4 SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, 2015
LECTURE OUTLINE 1. Machiavelli and Florence 2. Structure of The Prince 3. Virtù, or Political Excellence 4. Fortuna 5. Conclusions
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI 1469, Born in Florence (not an aristocrat) 1498, Soderini selected gonfalonier for life; Machiavelli begins public life 1512, Soderini deposed, the Medici return to power 1513, Machiavelli arrested, tortured, lives in retirement, writes The Prince 1515, M writes Discourses 1525, Completes History of Florence 1526, Dies
LITERARY LIFE OF THE PRINCE 1513, Drafted and dedicated to Guiliano de Medici (later to Lorenzo) Circulates in manuscript widely; published only in 1531 Reception: It teaches immorality! To be machiavellian Legacy: Realpolitik Politics is a sphere of human action distinct from all others (ethics, theology, economics, etc) How does a republican write The Prince?
STRUCTURE OF THE PRINCE Genre: Mirror of the Prince Exhortation to the Christian prince M takes the structure, changes the content Radical position: Is it better to be feared or loved? Expected topic in a mirror Common answer: Loved M s: Feared Lesson: Fear is NOT the opposite of Love
Principality (1) Republic (Discourses) Hereditary (2) Mixed (3) New (4-5) By Virtù (6-7) By Fortune (7) By Crime (8) By the People (9) By Religion (11) 12-14: Military issues (10, 20) 15-23: Conduct of the Prince 24-26: Conclusion
AS A HUMANIST TEXT Classical form, historical examples M adds recent Italian-European examples Politics is a human project Brackets questions of God (38) Classical virtues over the Christian ones Christian: Clemency, generosity, integrity Classical: Courage, prudence, temperance, justice
VIRTÙ Frequency of the word in the text (Ex. p19) Virtù = prowess, excellence NOT virtue Origins: vir (man), virile (manliness), linked to mastery and control The lion and the fox (56-7) Historical examples: Cyrus, Moses, Romulus, Theseus Contemporary ex: Cesare Borgia (1475-1507) Fortune and prowess! Remirro de Orco s role; appeased and stupified (25) Why Cesare Borgia?
MACHIAVELLI S PRESENTATION Either/Or presentation Tempts the simple reversal: Good is bad, and bad is good! Lesson: Politics is about context and consequences Cruelty is neither good nor bad; it is used well or poorly What are good consequences? Glory vs Crime Example of Agothocles (Ch8)
PRACTICES OF VIRTÙ Importance of reputation Appearing to be vs Being In practice, many virtues have vicious consequences they harm people Generosity (Ch16) Vs Miserliness What is a Prince s generosity like in practice? Extravagance is self-destructive; burdens the people So, what are you being generous with? Is it sustainable?
INTEGRITY (CH18) Honor, keeping your word Assumption: It s good to keep your promises M: It will end in your ruin! Binds you to specific action in an uncertain future Others will not remain true to their word Integrity is about your ultimate purpose Good governance, not your personal moral purity Prudence: Why believe anyone will keep his word if it s not in his self-interest?
FORTUNA Life is prowess and fortune, what you control and what you don t Fortuna: opportunity, timing, and luck The world is in constant flux Fortune is like a river (79) Caution and accommodation pay off Fortune is like a woman (81) Be impetuous and commanding
CRITIQUE Fortune requires planning and spontaneity? What is up with the gendered vision? Fortune (feminine), Virtù (masculine) What work is this binary doing? What s so real about the manly world of selfinterest and so unreal about women, virtue, and fortune?
CONCLUSIONS Machiavelli is a republican for glory and a prince Politics is a human practice Judged by experience (not ideals) Not a call for absolutism About good governing, strong leadership Many limits to power (practical, not moral) Machiavelli encourages love of this life