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Political Thinking POL 161

Political Thinking POL 161. Erik Rankin Machiavelli 54-71. Machiavelli – Book XIII. Auxiliary troops- troops that are borrowed from an army more powerful than the Prince’s These are as useless as mercenaries, why? What if the auxiliaries lose a battle? What if they win?

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Political Thinking POL 161

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  1. Political ThinkingPOL 161 Erik Rankin Machiavelli 54-71

  2. Machiavelli – Book XIII • Auxiliary troops- troops that are borrowed from an army more powerful than the Prince’s • These are as useless as mercenaries, why? • What if the auxiliaries lose a battle? • What if they win? • Where does their loyalty lie? • So which do think are more dangerous, mercenaries or auxiliaries? (think Agathocles!) • The prince must use his OWN troops, if he ever wants to be secure • By using auxiliary forces, does this rely on prowess or fortune? • Using auxiliaries is only good in prosperous times, not in times of danger, they become a reliance on fortune

  3. Machiavelli – Book XIV • Read the 1st sentence in Book XIV, this is a good quote to remember! • How do you think Machiavelli feels about the importance of war? • Mastering war can even allow a common citizen to become Prince • Easiest way to lose a state is to focus on something else (like luxury) • What analogy did Machiavelli use in this chapter?

  4. Machiavelli – Book XIV • Not logical for an armed man to obey an unarmed man • Not logical for the unarmed man to feel safe if those in his employ are armed • The unarmed should always be suspicious of the armed man, the armed man will feel open disrespect for the unarmed man • What does this do in terms of cooperation? • A prince must understand warfare in order to lead his armies • Not just understand but study (all the time) • He must know geography, history, hunting • Prepare in peace for war

  5. Machiavelli – Book XV • Begins discussion on Prince behavior • Machiavelli argues that others have talked about this but his will be practical, not theoretical • Many have spoken how men should live, Machiavelli will discuss how me do live • Who is he taking shots at here? • For Machiavelli, truth and imagined ideals are often far apart • A prince should not focus on living virtuously, rather acting to achieve the most practical benefit

  6. Machiavelli – Book XV • Certain personal traits will earn men praise • Faith, courage, compassion, generosity, craftiness • Certain personal traits will earn men condemnation • Cruelty, cowardice, stubbornness, miserliness • A prince should have all qualities that men deem “good”, but this is unlikely • #1 for the Prince is to protect the state and sometimes that means doing “bad” • “Bad” things done for the good of the state are acceptable even if others dislike the idea

  7. Machiavelli – Book XVI • OK, funky word niggardliness – the better word is Parsimony- both words mean to be stingy with money – nothing to do with race! • Liberality is a funky word as well, it means being loose with one’s money • Liberality has nothing to do with being liberal which would indicate freedom • This is an easy way to get confused with Machiavelli • If a prince tries to be free with his money – he will have to overtax those same people to make money back • More taxes means a hated prince • Quote on pg. 88 “And of all things…”

  8. Machiavelli – Book XVI • But if he is parsimonious or stingy – he will end up having a reputation for liberality • He will not have to take anything from most who are not rich and “infinite in number” • This will have the vast majority of people on the prince’s side, this is a theme throughout the book • He will only have to take from the few “those to whom he does not give • Even if alienating the rich, you will have the multitude on your side • The few cannot hurt the prince if the many are on his side • Best thing to do is leave the many alone

  9. Machiavelli – Book XVII • Compassion is an admired trait in all leaders • But compassion can also be dangerous • If disloyal subjects are not punished, there will be disorder • Disorder causes crime and crime hurts the people • Executions only harm the individual that committed the crime • Some cruelty is necessary to maintain order • This is not absolute, this must be dealt with in a very delicate manner, cruelty can be tempered • Machiavelli asks whether a prince should be feared or loved? What do you think?

  10. Machiavelli – Book XVII • Ideally, the answer is both! • But… it is better to be feared than loved • Machiavelli describes human nature as being the reason, men are by nature • “ungrateful, greedy, fickle, dissembling, anxious to flee danger, and covetous of gain” • In time s of real danger a man will turn on a prince if it is to his benefit • The bond of love is easily broken, but fear is always effective • But using fear must be done carefully, the prince must avoid becoming hated

  11. Machiavelli – Book XVII • Executions must be justified • Prince should never take property, or women of subjects because that may instill hatred • If property is taken the reason must be understandable to all • However, when it comes to the treatment of armies, no such thing as too much cruelty • To keep discipline and unity requires cruelty • Even inhuman cruelty (Goooo!)

  12. Machiavelli – Book XVIII • Princes that keep their promises are praised by others • Princes however are most successful when they are able to trick other, use cunning and deceit • 2 ways of fighting • By laws • By force • Laws are natural to men & force is natural to beasts • If success is desires a Prince must learn to fight with laws and force (Half man, half beast)

  13. Machiavelli – Book XVIII • Discussion of force and the two types of beasts • Lions & Foxes • A fox is defenseless against wolves, and a lion defenseless against traps • A prince must learn to act like both, a fox to avoid traps and a lion to frighten the wolves • Applied to people: a prince must be willing to break promises when they no longer serve his interest – Prince should not rely on promises • Men by nature are wretched and deceitful • Prince must master trickery

  14. Machiavelli – Book XVIII • Even if the prince is tricky, he must appear virtuous • Example of Pope Alexander VI • Virtues of compassion, trustworthiness, kindness, etc… are not able to be attained as a whole, but appearance is key! • If the people feel the prince is not virtuous he will be in danger of losing his state • Men judge on appearance and results • This makes evil acceptable as long as these are taken care of • Success = Appearance of Virtue

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