Machiavelli Quiz

"The Prince is a concise statement of Machiavell’s belief that classical and Christian political theory is unworkable in a world that defines politics as the exercise of power and the struggle for power. It is also implicitly a rejection of a nihilistic counterethic, that only power and brute force matter."

Discuss to what extent you agree or disagree with this statement. What evidence can you bring to support your position?

To this statement, I have to disagree. Contrary to the statement, I believe that "The Prince" proclaims that only power and brute force matter. In "The Prince", the real concern of the political ruler is the acquisition and the maintenance of power. The notion of legitimate rights of rulerships adds nothing to the actual possession of power.

Goodness and right are not sufficient to win and maintain political office. Machiavelli teaches the rules of political power; power defines political activity and it is necessary for a successful ruler to know how power is used, proper application of power is the only way to bring individuals to obey and will the ruler be able to maintain the state in safety and security. The rules of political power do not contain looking after his people in a virtuous way, or doing what is right, but rather focuses on power.

Machiavelli's political theory excludes issues of authority and legitimacy. It concentrates on force. Legitimacy of law rests entirely upon the threat of coercive force. Authority is impossible from the power to enforce it. The two main points that define his theory are power and force.

Virtuous deeds and actions are not looked upon, but rather frowned upon. Fear is always preferable to affection in subjects, just as violence and deception are superior to legality in effectively controlling them. Politics can be defined in terms of the supremacy of coercive power. In that definition of Machiavelli's politics, by using the words, coercive power, forceful power, contradicts the statement above. Authority cannot be without power.

The qualities of the prince are not ones to be looked highly of. For the prince to act with virtue can be detrimental to the state, but vicious actions are good for the state. The appearance of virtue may be better than true virtue.