Machiavelli’s claim that it is undoubtedly better to take the initiative in political life and struggle because fortune always favors the bold is consistent with the rest of his political theory because the overall theme of Machiavalli remains based around the necessity for a leader to prioritize his nation-state above all else. Throughout the novel, he has a tendency to adhere to the idea of control. Control towards political policies and control towards how a leader is viewed by his people. As discussed in class, Machiavelli suggests an allowance towards virtuous acts when it comes to matter of the state. In chapter XVI he discusses how a leader should be respected by the decisions he makes for the good of the state, rather than the virtuous nature of these decisions. During the debate many of us even went so far as to say that the good of state always comes before honesty towards its citizens. The idea of “the ends justify the means” that was a critical point during both debates goes hand in hand with Machiavelli’s claim that initiative in politics is vital.
Whether or not it is good advice to tell a leader that making a quick, maybe irrational decision is better than inaction is difficult to answer completely due to the complicated nature of The Prince. As discussed in the introduction, Machiavelli’s letter could be a satire criticizing Medicci’s ruling style, or it could be a legitimate argument. When it comes to difficult matters, leaders should be willing to make decisions that are often times risky, but necessary for the advancement of a state. However, most decisions should be made rationally and thoughtfully, without necessarily placing such a high priority on initiative itself.
No comments:
Post a Comment