First AnnualMachiavellian Conference

Today’s Discussion

Important tips on how to maintain and strengthen your “princely” power in

the classroomhttp://www.successmagazinesltd.com/archives/

june09PDFs/editorial.pdf

TIP ONE:

Guard Oneself Against Flattery

FLATTERYI must not leave out a mistake that is hard for princes to avoid

and this is with regard to flatterers, of which courts are

full… There is no way of guarding oneself against flattery

except by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the

truth. But when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose

people’s respect.

Flattery con’tA prudent prince must therefore take a

third course, by choosing for his council wise men and by giving them alone full liberty to speak the truth of him. And they may speak the truth to him only of those things that he asks, so he must ask them about everything . . .a prince, therefore, should always take advice, but only when he wishes,

not when others wish

TIP TWO:

Remember that “It is better to be feared more than

loved”

This then gives rise to the

question, “whether it be better to be loved than

feared, or to be feared than loved.” It will naturally be answered that it would be desirable to be both at the

same time,

It is much more safe to be feared than to be loved, when you have

to choose between the two.

For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful and fickle,

dissemblers, avoiders of danger, and greedy of gain. So long as you shower benefits upon them, they are all yours.

Fear is maintained by dread of punishment which never fails.

TIP THREE:

Never forget that “The ends justify the

means”

A prince wishing to keep his state is very often forced to do evila prince, especially a new one, cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed, being

often forced, in order to maintain the state, to act contrary to fidelity, friendship, humanity, and

religion. Therefore it is necessary for him to have a mind ready to turn itself accordingly as the

winds and variations of fortune force it, yet, as I have said above, not to diverge from the good if he can avoid doing so, but, if compelled, then to

know how to set about it.”

The Prince This is a book about power. How can a ruler gain power and keep it despite his

enemies Machiavelli began with the idea that most people

are selfish, fickle, and corrupt Machiavelli said that a prince might have to trick

his enemies and even his own people for the good of the state. “The end justifies the means.”

Machiavelli was concerned not with what was morally right but what was politically effective.

Machiavelli maintained that a ruler should be concerned not with the way things ought to be but with the way things actually are.

Miscellaneous

Machiavelli was believed to be the creator of modern politics.

The word “Machiavellian” is a synonym for the politically devious, corrupt, and crafty.

The philosophy of “the end justifies the means.” inspired the deadly casualties of the Russian Revolution

Questions Why might a prince’s court be full of flattery? Why would flatterers be dangerous to a prince? How does Machiavelli say a prince can avoid being

fooled by flatterers? Is there any instance when the ends justifies the

means? When? What is Machiavelli’s view of human nature? Is this philosophy applicable to the classroom?

Why? Is this good business sense? Political sense?

Explain.