Machiavelli

(Originally written July 28, 2006 in Book 7)

The History of Western Philosophy
Bertrand Russell

Chapter 3 - Machiavelli

The Renaissance didn't produce any important theoretical philosophers.

Niccolò Machiavelli was an important and preeminent political philosopher of the Renaissance.  His political philosophy is empirical and scientific aimed at assigning the means to the ends. He was unconcerned as to if the ends were good or bad.

Machiavelli (1476 - 1527) was a middle class Florentine.

He opposed the Medici family and had a post in the government until they acquired power in 1512.

The Prince is his most famous work and was written in 1513. It deals with how principalities are won, governed and lost.

Machiavelli advocates that religion should play a prominent role in the State because of its cement-type quality in society, not because of its truthfulness.

He blasts the Church for two reasons:
1) The corruption undermines religious beliefs
2) It prevents the unification of Italy

He held that rulers must be cunning but must appear to be virtuous and religious.

The Discourses is a book that runs contra to The Prince and was written to please the Medici. The Discourses was written from Machiavelli's own interest.

He advocated for a political system of checks and balance.