Morality and Politics in the Thought of Niccolo Machiavelli

Abstract

The terms “Machiavellian” or Machiavellism find regular purchase among politician and philosophers concerned with a range of ethical, political, and psychological phenomena, even if Machiavelli did not invent “Machiavellism” and may not even have been a “Machiavellian” in the sense often ascribed to him. Moreover, in Machiavelli’s critique of “”grand” philosophical schemes, we fins a challenge to the enterprise of philosophy that commands attention and demands consideration and response. Thus, Machiavelli deserves a place at the table in any comprehensive survey of philosophy. Anyone who makes more than a hasty conclusion after an integral, unbiased reflection on his views will acknowledge the fact that though his thoughts were radical and “out of the normal” they were at least well intended. In this paper therefore we have examined his views on the place of morality in politics. And in the process we have established that contrary to the popular conceptions, Machiavelli was not totally antagonistic to moral goodness. Rather, he merely advised the Prince and Seekers of political power on how to gain and maintain their hold on power given the challenges of political intrigues of both friends and foes.
Keyword: morality, politics, Machiavelli philosophy, and political thoughts.