Often we are shocked how cunning and insincere are some politicians
but it would not have to. For such cases
we must remember and read the work of Niccolo Machiavelli.
Counselor and political theorist of the 15th century
who argued that we should not think that politicians are immoral
and wicked, for lying, ignoring or making games.
A good politician according to Machiavelli, is not someone who behaves in a socially, honest or good way.
But there is someone who, however cunning may seem to us,
know how to protect, enrich and bring glory to the state,
which is also a major task.
Being ‘Good’ can be considered Virtue, but what citizens need most from their ruler
is effectiveness, which often requires dark actions.
Once we understand this basic need
we will worry less and we will be clearer about what we want from our politicians.
Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence in 1469.
His father was a lawyer and Machiavelli received a general education
and was hired as secretary to the city of Florence.
But shortly after his appointment, Florence exploded politically
expelling the Medici family, which had ruled for 60 years
and for many years suffered from political instability.
As a result, Machiavelli made steps back to his career
within just a few decades, he from an important diplomat became a relatively successful general
and finally an enemy of the state. He was tortured and sent to exile when the Medici family returned to power.
Though Machiavelli was a failed politician, he was remembered as a really great man
because of the two works he wrote: “Prince” and “Discourses”.
In these works he deals with the political problems of that time, but which are still present today.
It is impossible to be a good politician, and at the same time a good man in the traditional Christian sense.
Machiavelli thought the inescapable task of a good prince was to protect the state
from internal and external dangers, with a view to the stability of governance.
This means he should know how to fight but above all
he should keep his reputation and manage those around him.
The people should not think the prince is gentle and replaceable
but neither to think it is cruel and disgusting by him.
It should be strict but rational.
When Machiavelli faced the dilemma, if the prince is better to love or be afraid
he writes that it would be extraordinary for the leader to love and fear at the same time
but if we had to choose, the prince must always be afraid of the people
because only so can you keep them in control.
Machiavelli’s contemporaries suggested that the prince should be merciful, peaceful, generous, and tolerant.
They felt that being a good politician is just like being a good Christian.
But Machiavelli argued otherwise.
He asked the reader to notice the incompatibility between “Christian Ethics” and “Good Governance”.
He referred to the concrete case of Girolamo Savonarola.
Savanorola was a Dominican monk, an idealist Christian, who for some time managed to rule Florence in 1494.
He came to power promising to build the “City of God on Earth” in Florence.
He preached against the practice of tyranny by the government of Medichi
and for several months managed to govern Florence as a peaceful, democratic, and relatively honest state.
However, Savanorola’s success could not last long
because in Machiavelli’s view, he was based on weakness
which always aims at the good according to Christian principles.
Soon, his regime became a threat to Pope Alexander’s corrupt power.
Consequently, his assistants tortured Savanorola, hanged him in the middle of the city and burned him in the eyes of the citizens.
According to Machiavelli this is the fate of good people in politics.
Rather than following this unfortunate Christian example, Machiavelli suggested that
the leader would do well to proactively promote what he called “virtue”.
Virtue according to Machiavell included: wisdom, strategy, strength, courage, and when necessary, even cruelty.
In fact, Machiavelli uses a controversial notion, “Kriti Virtue”.
Where he describes the leader’s ability to be merciless and cruel on behalf of the state
but at the same time as good as a leader.
Machiavelli gave the criteria that defined the “Criminal Prosecution”.
Violence is indispensable to safeguard the security of the state.
It should be done fast at night and should not be repeated frequently.
Machiavelli took the case of Cesare Borghias
whom he admired, as someone who knew to be fierce but massively involved.
When Cesare invaded the city of Cesena, ordered his assistant Ramiro d’Orco to rule the region.
The thing Ramiro did quickly and brutally.
Men cut your heads in the eyes of women and children. The properties were plundered. The traitors came.
In the end, Caesar seized Ramir himself, divided it into two and placed it in the middle of the city
to remind people of who the true boss was.
And then, as Machiavelli notes, the bloodshed ended.
Cesare cut taxes, imported cheap grain, built a theater, and organized some beautiful festivals
to take away bad memories of people.
The Catholic Church forbade Machiavelli’s work for 200 years.
Because of the arguments that a good Christian can not be a good leader.
But even for atheists and for us who are not politicians, Machiavelli’s writings are important.
He thinks we can not be in all good things.
Not only because of limited resources and resources,
but also because of the conflict within moral codes.
Not only in politics but also in business or in the family we face the so-called:
“tough decisions”. Which may be in the form of ethical exchanges.
We can sacrifice the neo-Christian view of goodness for the sake of effectiveness.
We can lie to save the connection.
We can ignore the feelings of employees, to develop business.
This, according to Machiavelli, is the price we have to pay for the world we are in.
And not the World as it should be.
The world continues to love and hate Machiavelli
because it insists on the fact that the two things we love the most we can not have at the same time:
Effectiveness and Kindness.
but it would not have to. For such cases
we must remember and read the work of Niccolo Machiavelli.
Counselor and political theorist of the 15th century
who argued that we should not think that politicians are immoral
and wicked, for lying, ignoring or making games.
A good politician according to Machiavelli, is not someone who behaves in a socially, honest or good way.
But there is someone who, however cunning may seem to us,
know how to protect, enrich and bring glory to the state,
which is also a major task.
Being ‘Good’ can be considered Virtue, but what citizens need most from their ruler
is effectiveness, which often requires dark actions.
Once we understand this basic need
we will worry less and we will be clearer about what we want from our politicians.
Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence in 1469.
His father was a lawyer and Machiavelli received a general education
and was hired as secretary to the city of Florence.
But shortly after his appointment, Florence exploded politically
expelling the Medici family, which had ruled for 60 years
and for many years suffered from political instability.
As a result, Machiavelli made steps back to his career
within just a few decades, he from an important diplomat became a relatively successful general
and finally an enemy of the state. He was tortured and sent to exile when the Medici family returned to power.
Though Machiavelli was a failed politician, he was remembered as a really great man
because of the two works he wrote: “Prince” and “Discourses”.
In these works he deals with the political problems of that time, but which are still present today.
It is impossible to be a good politician, and at the same time a good man in the traditional Christian sense.
Machiavelli thought the inescapable task of a good prince was to protect the state
from internal and external dangers, with a view to the stability of governance.
This means he should know how to fight but above all
he should keep his reputation and manage those around him.
The people should not think the prince is gentle and replaceable
but neither to think it is cruel and disgusting by him.
It should be strict but rational.
When Machiavelli faced the dilemma, if the prince is better to love or be afraid
he writes that it would be extraordinary for the leader to love and fear at the same time
but if we had to choose, the prince must always be afraid of the people
because only so can you keep them in control.
Machiavelli’s contemporaries suggested that the prince should be merciful, peaceful, generous, and tolerant.
They felt that being a good politician is just like being a good Christian.
But Machiavelli argued otherwise.
He asked the reader to notice the incompatibility between “Christian Ethics” and “Good Governance”.
He referred to the concrete case of Girolamo Savonarola.
Savanorola was a Dominican monk, an idealist Christian, who for some time managed to rule Florence in 1494.
He came to power promising to build the “City of God on Earth” in Florence.
He preached against the practice of tyranny by the government of Medichi
and for several months managed to govern Florence as a peaceful, democratic, and relatively honest state.
However, Savanorola’s success could not last long
because in Machiavelli’s view, he was based on weakness
which always aims at the good according to Christian principles.
Soon, his regime became a threat to Pope Alexander’s corrupt power.
Consequently, his assistants tortured Savanorola, hanged him in the middle of the city and burned him in the eyes of the citizens.
According to Machiavelli this is the fate of good people in politics.
Rather than following this unfortunate Christian example, Machiavelli suggested that
the leader would do well to proactively promote what he called “virtue”.
Virtue according to Machiavell included: wisdom, strategy, strength, courage, and when necessary, even cruelty.
In fact, Machiavelli uses a controversial notion, “Kriti Virtue”.
Where he describes the leader’s ability to be merciless and cruel on behalf of the state
but at the same time as good as a leader.
Machiavelli gave the criteria that defined the “Criminal Prosecution”.
Violence is indispensable to safeguard the security of the state.
It should be done fast at night and should not be repeated frequently.
Machiavelli took the case of Cesare Borghias
whom he admired, as someone who knew to be fierce but massively involved.
When Cesare invaded the city of Cesena, ordered his assistant Ramiro d’Orco to rule the region.
The thing Ramiro did quickly and brutally.
Men cut your heads in the eyes of women and children. The properties were plundered. The traitors came.
In the end, Caesar seized Ramir himself, divided it into two and placed it in the middle of the city
to remind people of who the true boss was.
And then, as Machiavelli notes, the bloodshed ended.
Cesare cut taxes, imported cheap grain, built a theater, and organized some beautiful festivals
to take away bad memories of people.
The Catholic Church forbade Machiavelli’s work for 200 years.
Because of the arguments that a good Christian can not be a good leader.
But even for atheists and for us who are not politicians, Machiavelli’s writings are important.
He thinks we can not be in all good things.
Not only because of limited resources and resources,
but also because of the conflict within moral codes.
Not only in politics but also in business or in the family we face the so-called:
“tough decisions”. Which may be in the form of ethical exchanges.
We can sacrifice the neo-Christian view of goodness for the sake of effectiveness.
We can lie to save the connection.
We can ignore the feelings of employees, to develop business.
This, according to Machiavelli, is the price we have to pay for the world we are in.
And not the World as it should be.
The world continues to love and hate Machiavelli
because it insists on the fact that the two things we love the most we can not have at the same time:
Effectiveness and Kindness.
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