Niccolo Machiavelli, Italian Political Philosopher

Italian political philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli, famous for his advice outspoken that a ruler who wants to stay in power and strengthen his power must use guile, cunning and lies, combined with the use of cruel use of force.
Cursed by many people as the bastard bennoral, revered by others as genuine realist who dared to expose to the world as it is, Machiavelli was one of the few authors whose work was so close to the study of both philosophers and politicians.


Machiavelli was born in 1469 in Florence, Italy. His father, a lawyer, considered a leading member of the family, but not so located.

During Machiavelli's lifetime - at the time of the peaks of the Italian Renaissance - Italy is divided in small countries, in contrast to a unified country such as France, Spain or England. Because it is not surprising that in his time Italy was militarily weak but brilliant in terms of culture.

At times the young Machiavelli, Florence was ruled by the famous Medici ruler, Lorenzo is commendable. But Lorenzo died in 1492, and several years later expelled the Medici rulers of Florence; Florence became a republic (the Florentine Republic) and in 1498, Machiavelli was twenty-nine years old have a high position in the civil government of Florence. For fourteen years after that he served the Florentine Republic and engage in various diplomatic missions on his behalf, to travel to France, Germany, and Italy in the country.

Year 1512, the Florentine Republic was overthrown and the Medici rulers re-hold the reins of power, Machiavelli was dismissed from his position, and the following year he was arrested for alleged involvement in the conspiracy against the Medici rulers. He was tortured but survived his innocence and was eventually released in that year. After that he retired and living in a small plantation in San Casciano not far from Florence.

During the fourteen years after that, he wrote several books, two of the most famous of which is The Prince, (The Prince) was written in 1513, and The Discourses upon the First Ten Books of Titus Livius (Discussion of the first ten books of Titus Livius). Among other works are The art of war (the arts of war), A History of Florence (the history of Florence) and La Mandragola (a good drama, sometimes people are still staged). However, the main works of famous is The Prince (The Prince), perhaps the most brilliant ever written and is most easily read of all philosophical writings. Machiavelli was married and had six children. He died in 1527 at the age of fifty-eight.

The Prince may be considered the most important practical advice to create a state. Basic thought of this book is, for a success, a prince should ignore moral considerations entirely and rely on everything, things on the strength and cunning. Machiavelli stresses above all the most important is a country must be well armed. He argued, only with the required troops from the country's own citizens who could be trusted; countries that rely on mercenaries or soldiers from other countries is weak and dangerous.

Machiavelli advises the Prince in order to support the population, because if not, he has no source of trouble. Of course, Machiavelli advised that sometimes a new ruler, to solidify his power, must do something to secure his power, was forced to do unpleasant citizens. He suggested, though it to seize a country, the conqueror should regulate violence as well as steps that they need not experience every day leeway should be given little by little so that they can feel good. "

To achieve success, a prince must be surrounded by ministers who are able and faithful: Machiavelli warns the prince to stay away from sycophants and asked what opinion is worth doing.

In chapter 17 of The Prince, Machiavelli discussing whether a prince is better hated or loved.

Machiavelli writes: "... The answer is that people should be feared and loved at the same time. ... More secure, but feared than loved, if we must choose one. The reason, love is bound by obligations that makes a person selfish, and bond It will end when dealing with their interests. ... But the anxiety prompted by fear of punishment subject, never miss ... "

Chapter 18, entitled "The way how a prince holding the belief." Here Machiavelli said "... a ruler who is not careful to hold the belief that if you work against the interests ..." He added, "Because there is no formal basis to blame a prince who apologized because he did not fulfill his promise," because "... people were so simple and easy to comply with the requirements needed at the time, and that those who cheat will always be find people who allow themselves be deceived. " As a natural result of this view, Machiavelli advises the prince to be constantly vigilant against the promises of others.

The Prince (The Prince) is often called the "user guide for the dictator." Machiavelli's career and the various writings indicate that in general he tends to the republican form of government than dictatorship. But he was anxious and worried over the political and military weakness of Italy, and longed for a powerful prince who could manage the country and dispel the foreign armies that damage and insult his country. Interesting to note, though Machiavelli advocated a prince to take measures cruel and cynical, he was himself an idealist and a patriot, and not so able to practice what he himself proposed.

Few political philosophers such as experienced fierce diganyang Machiavelli. Over the years, she cursed like a derivative of the devil, and his name is used as a synonym for deceit and cunning. (Not infrequently, the fiercest condemnation came from those who actually practice the teachings of Machiavelli, a hypocrisy that principle may also be approved by Machiavelli)!

Criticisms that Machiavelli was tossed into the face of moral reasoning is not, of course, shows that he is not influential at all. A more direct criticism is the alleged objection that his idea was not specifically out of his own head. Not original! This is somewhat a point. Machiavelli repeatedly asked that he did not propose anything new but merely indicates that the technique has been implemented by the Prince with great success earlier. Reality show Machiavelli incessantly describes his proposal as he took the example of the greatness, the greatness that had happened in times past, or from events in Italy are somewhat renewal. Cesare Borgia (the highly praised by Machiavelli in The Prince) did not learn the tactics of Machiavelli; on the contrary, Machiavelli who learn from them.

Although Benito Mussolini was one of the few political leaders who had praised Machiavelli in public, because it was no doubt a large number of prominent political figures have ever read The Prince carefully. It is said that Napoleon always slept on a pillow tucked beneath which the book The Prince, as well as they say committed by Hitler and Stalin. However, it is not clear that Machiavelli was more common tactic used in modern politics than in the days before The Prince was published. This is the main reason why Machiavelli is not placed higher than its present in this book.

However, if effect, Machiavelli's mind in political practice is not so clear, its influence in political theory need not be debated. Previous writers such as Plato and St. Augustine, has linked politics with ethics and theology. Machiavelli discussing history and politics entirely in terms of human and ignore moral considerations. The central question, he said, is not how people should behave; instead of who should be powerful, but how real people can get power. Political theory is discussed now in more ways than ever before without realisitis minimize the significance of the influence of Machiavelli. This person can accurately seen as one of the important founders of modern political thinkers. Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.