Introducing Machiavelli: A Graphic Guide (Introducing...) by Patrick Curry

Author:Patrick Curry [Curry, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781848319783
Publisher: Icon Books Ltd
Published: 2015-06-18T05:00:00+00:00

SETTING ASIDE EVERY SCRUPLE, ONE MUST FOLLOW TO THE UTMOST ANY PLAN THAT WILL SAVE HER LIFE AND KEEP HER LIBERTY.

Note that Machiavelli does not say that the end justifies the means, morally or otherwise; only that the end, when it is good, “excuses” the means.

WHAT MAKES THIS END “GOOD”?

WHEN ITS OBJECT IS NOT INDIVIDUAL SELF–INTEREST BUT THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL CITIZENS.

For apart from just laziness and decadence, the chief danger to republican virtù is when either powerful individuals or small factions follow their own agenda at the expense of the collective public interest. Such corruption is ruinous to liberty, and it was the major concern of Machiavelli and republicans like him. This emphasis on collectivism – “a people is more prudent, more stable, and has better judgement than a prince” – was a departure from The Prince.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.