Niccolò Machiavelli, circa 1500s
Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, and writer of the Renaissance period. He is famously known as the author of the political treatise The Prince (Il Principe), written about 1513 but published posthumously in 1532. He is considered one of the founders of modern political science.
Key Works and Ideas:
- The Prince: A treatise on political philosophy, focusing on the acquisition and maintenance of political power. It is renowned for its pragmatic, often amoral, advice to rulers.
- Discourses on Livy: A more republican-leaning work that explores the nature of republics, civic virtue, and the conditions necessary for a stable state.
- Realpolitik: Machiavelli is often associated with the concept of "realpolitik," a political approach that emphasizes practical considerations and national interests over ideological or moral ones.
- Humanism: His work reflects the humanist spirit of the Renaissance, with a focus on human agency and secular concerns, moving away from purely theological explanations of human affairs.
Legacy:
Machiavelli's ideas have been both lauded and reviled throughout history. His name has become synonymous with cunning, unscrupulous political maneuvering, giving rise to the term "Machiavellian." However, scholars also recognize his significant contributions to political thought and his attempt to analyze politics as a distinct sphere of human activity, separate from morality and religion.
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