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Niccolo Machiavelli's political views briefly. Social and political views of the Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. "Social and philosophical views of Niccolò Machiavelli"

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a historian, writer, public figure and statesman of the Florentine Republic. Machiavelli wrote a number of works, including two treatises on political topics, which brought the author the greatest fame. The first is “Discourses on the first ten books of Titus Livy”, the second is “Prince” (or “Sovereign”). Coming from an impoverished nobility, Machiavelli forever remained a supporter of the moderate democratic and republican system. But Machiavelli preached his democratic and republican views only for future times. As for the situation in Italy at that time, in view of its fragmentation and chaotic state, Machiavelli demanded the establishment of a strict state power and the merciless rule of this despotic state to bring Italy into an orderly state.

Machiavelli is a typical and convinced ideologist of the Italian bourgeoisie of the Renaissance. Being a prominent statesman of his time, an attentive and insightful observer of the morals and lifestyle of representatives of his class and other members of society, the Florentine sociologist put forward a number of profound generalizations in his writings. As a thinker of modern times, liberated from the theological dogmas of the Middle Ages, Machiavelli sought to build his political theory on the observation of facts real life, human psyche and the study of history.

Machiavelli's object of study is the world of human relations and actions, primarily the history of the formation, rise and death of states.

Such an analysis becomes possible because the world of people for Machiavelli is as unchangeable as the world of nature. Behind the constant variability, behind the incessant change government system, the constancy and immutability of human nature are visible, and therefore the constancy and immutability of those patterns that move people and states. Therefore, in political doctrine Niccolo Machiavelli replaced the medieval scholastic theory of history with the idea of ​​the dialectical unity of universal variability and constancy of the laws by which people and states live.

Machiavelli advises the politicians of his era to study characteristics human nature, study human history, since knowing the past one can foresee the future. History (and therefore politics, for for Machiavelli history is the political experience of past centuries, and politics is now, now being created history) is not an impersonal “course of things” or “course of times”, in it “fate” means that necessary environment in which a person is forced to act. Therefore, the success of human action depends not only on fate-necessity, but also on the extent to which a person - an activist, a politician - will be able to understand it, adapt to it and at the same time resist it.

Success in politics must come from a study of real human nature. Machiavelli constantly repeats that people are inclined towards evil rather than towards good. They are selfish, greedy, cowardly, envious, fickle and ungrateful. Machiavelli calls man in his “Prince” the most pitiful and unfortunate creature.

People, he says, would rather forget the death of a father than the deprivation of property. And in general, they value wealth rather than honor. Thus, Machiavelli was one of the first to realize the decisive role of material interest as the main driving force public life. Based on this, he comes to understand the meaning class struggle. In every city there are two classes of citizens: the people and the rich, the aristocracy, the nobility. The struggle between them, determined by property interests, lies at the basis of social life. Machiavelli accepts the existing class division of society as natural, but he advises his sovereign to take into account both classes of society and rely on them.

Characteristic is also the hostile attitude of Machiavelli, as the ideologist of the Italian bourgeoisie, towards the nobility, which he calls in his “Discourses” ambitious loafers, the sworn enemy of all citizenship, undermining the strength of any state and impeding the well-being of its citizens. Founder strong state must begin with the extermination of the nobility.

Also worthy of attention are Machiavelli’s considerations regarding the laws of social life, which do not depend on the will of people, on their plans and calculations. True, he often points to the role of fate and chance, but at the same time he also points out that the presence of free will in people allows them to influence fate to a certain extent, fight it and sometimes direct the course of events in our interests.

Machiavelli views religion from purely earthly, practical-political positions. He has no talk of any divine origin. He views religions as phenomena of social life; they are subject to the laws of origin, rise and death. And religions are assessed from the point of view of their usefulness for the political goal facing society. Machiavelli cannot imagine a society without religion. Religion seems to him to be a necessary and the only form of social consciousness that ensures the spiritual unity of the people.

Machiavelli not only reveals the social function of religion in a class society, he insists on its necessity for strengthening the state. Religion, in his opinion, should educate, following the example ancient paganism, courage, civic virtues, love of earthly glory.

Politics is considered by Machiavelli autonomously, as an independent area of ​​human activity, having its own goals and its own laws, regardless of not only religion, but also morality. Moral considerations for Machiavelli are always subordinated to the goals of politics. Political activity has its own unique evaluation criterion, which lies within itself - this is benefit and success, the achievement of set goals. Everything that helps strengthen the state is declared good - deception, cunning, deceit, and even open violence.

Prince Machiavelli is a reasonable politician who puts into practice the rules of political struggle, leading to achieving the goal, to political success. But this does not mean that the sovereign should violate moral norms; he should use them solely for the purpose of strengthening the state. In essence, Machiavelli proclaims the rule “the end justifies the means” as a law of political morality: “Let his actions be blamed,” he says of a politician, “as long as the results justify him, and he will always be justified if the results turn out to be good...” however, this goal, according to Machiavelli, is not at all the private, personal interest of the ruler, but the “common good,” which he does not think of outside the creation of a strong and unified national state.

The highest goal of politics, according to Machiavelli, is the greatness, power and security of the state, the benefit of which should become the main law of public life. According to Machiavelli, the “end” that justifies any means is the “common good” - a national state that meets broadly understood public interests. In Machiavelli's time, this could only be a national state that arose from the ruins of feudal fragmentation. The means of overcoming the feudal monarchy he proposed would lead to the salvation of the fatherland, and he saw salvation only in a strong central government capable of protecting the country from foreign invasions. There was a subordination of political morality to the supreme requirement of state interest, understood as the salvation of the fatherland. In Machiavelli, there is a subordination of political morality to the highest requirements of state interest, understood as the salvation of the fatherland.

“State interest”, to which political activity is subordinated, is not reduced by Machiavelli to the benefit and benefit of the sovereign. This is the interest of the “fatherland,” understood primarily as a popular, national interest. Machiavelli was a patriot of his people, dreamed of expelling the invaders from Italy and believed in a just future. The ideal for Machiavelli was not an abstract state, but a concrete people and their beloved homeland. He emphasized that the shortcomings of the people are no worse than the shortcomings of individual people in general, and especially the sovereigns themselves. It is to the people, and not to the nobility, that the defense of a free state should be entrusted. Peoples, Machiavelli argued, “love a free life more and the less noble have the means to steal freedom for their own benefit. Thus, by entrusting the people with protecting freedom, one can hope that they will care more about it...”

The Italian sociologist saw his political ideal in the ancient Roman republic. He generally considers a republic to be the most durable form of government. It is the republic that most contributes to the growth of the people's well-being and is most compatible with the freedom and equality of its constituent citizens, without which the strength and durability of the state are unreliable.

Machiavelli’s treatise “The History of Florence” clearly demonstrates three points of Machiavelli’s worldview. Firstly, despite the complete disregard for certain personal ideals, the individual here still continues to come to the fore. Secondly, the personality put forward here is completely devoid of all its internal ideals and is considered simply as a kind of arithmetical unit. This arithmetic unit in Machiavelli has meaning in itself, without any possible influences on it from, for example, religion, morality, art, personal likes and dislikes, everyday life, etc. Society is one or another association of these arithmetic units. He is interested in his homeland, not the state. Individuals in politics must be treated like individual stones in the construction of a building. Thirdly, we are talking about creating a proper human society. But these arithmetic units - individuals are internally empty.

The political teaching of Machiavelli is the teaching that for the first time separated the consideration of political problems from religion and morality, with the goal of promoting the formation of national states of the absolutist type. But for all its progressiveness, the national absolutist state was created on the bones of the dispossessed masses of working people. That is why the political teaching of Machiavelli aroused protest not only from the ideologists of the feudal-Catholic reaction, but was also criticized “from the left”: this is the meaning of the open sharp polemic against Machiavellianism and the preaching of “state interest” in the writings of Campanella, which came from the criticism of the political teaching of the author of “The Prince” “from the interests of the broad masses of workers who found themselves victims of the primitive accumulation of capital and social oppression within the framework of an absolutist state.

Niccolo Machiavelli is a Renaissance philosopher, famous for his social, philosophical and political views. Among the works that characterize philosophical activity, the most popular are “The Prince” and “Discourses on the first decade of Titus Livy”, “On the art of war”, as well as plays, novels, lyrics and several philosophical discussions.

Niccolo Machiavelli - philosophy in brief

The Renaissance profoundly revised the established views of the Middle Ages. Using the example of the philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, one can delve into the changes: the concept of divine predestination human destiny, which occupied a central place in philosophical and religious teachings, was relegated to the background. It is replaced by the concept of fortune or the force of circumstances, thereby changing the role of a person - from now on he is in control of his destiny and is obliged to enter into battle with the prevailing circumstances.

Basic concepts of the philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli:

  • Virtu: talent, human energy, which are on a par with fortune as the driving force of history.
  • Fate. Human valor and labor contradict it.
  • Free will, which is embodied in politics.

Political philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli briefly

Politics received primacy among other teachings in the philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli. According to the thinker, the rules and natural reasons that are embedded in it allow a person to express himself. Opportunities are revealed, you can take measures in the fight against a combination of circumstances, even foresee the further course of events, without blindly relying on fate or divine guidance, as was typical of the previous era.

Niccolò Machiavelli outlined his political views in his work “The Prince.” Politics, according to the thinker, is based on practice - actions determine the real outcome of the matter, and theoretical premises and empty chatter that took place earlier only create illusions out of nowhere. It is in the philosophy of N. Machiavelli that politics forever leaves the moral background, thereby moving to specifics and actions, consideration of the real actions of people instead of the eternal reflection on how they should act.

The policy is based on:

  • Research into human quality and nature;
  • Study of the relationship between public interests, forces and passions;
  • Explaining the real state of affairs in society;
  • Moving away from utopian dreams and dogmatism;

Social and philosophical views of Niccolo Machiavelli

The socio-philosophical views of Niccolo Machiavelli are based on the principle of human nature. According to the thinker himself, this principle is universal, since it applies to all citizens of the state, regardless of class.

Human nature, according to N. Machiavelli, is not sinless: all people are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, deceitful, they are attracted by profit. The egoistic essence of a person must be controlled by a strong hand, which the philosopher wrote about more specifically in “The Prince.” Since the author excludes the divine principle, moving away from religious views, only a true ruler, in his opinion, can lead the people.

A wise ruler, according to N. Machiavelli, is familiar with evil as the basis of human nature, but, at the same time, may not move away from good. It combines simultaneously the qualities lion And foxes – dignity, honor, valor and cunning, sophistication of mind.

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Ministry of Education Russian Federation

Udmurt State University

Department: New and modern history And international relations

COURSE WORK

Topic: Political and legal views of Niccolo Machiavelli

Completed by: Zakurdaev A.S.

Student gr.124

Checked by: Sannikov N.I.

2003 Izhevsk.

Introduction……………………………………………………....3

1. Biography…………………………………………………….7

3. Machiavelli’s reality…………………………………….9

2. Religion in the state……………………………………11

4. Generosity and frugality………………………………...13

5. About cruelty and mercy and how

Which is better: to inspire love or fear…………………...…13

6. People and state…………………………………..…15

7. Greatness in war…………………………………………...18

8. Machiavelli’s historicism………………………….….……….19

Conclusion………………………………………………………..….…………21

List of sources used………….………………….22

INTRODUCTION

Since the existence of organized society, many have tried to give certain definitions of society, power, the type of management and subordination, and the main processes occurring in the life of the state. For many centuries, humanity has been changing: life, society, ideas about ethics and morality, the availability and limitations of freedom and action, the power of the few and the majority, and who should rule and who should obey have changed. The evolution of political thought took various forms and types. New theories were built and old ones that did not meet the existing norms of political law disappeared; the opinions and statements of thinkers were defended or denied and the ideas of political figures were put into practice, or remained forever in obscurity. Over the long period of existence of civilizations, the mechanisms of political power have gone through a multi-level system of trial and error, in practice showing all their bad and the good side, useful and absolutely unnecessary qualities.

At the origins of society were the rules of subordination to physical force, developed by nature rather than by planned human thought, and the organization of the vertical of power from the position of primitive but effective leadership. Social differentiation, stratification of society, the allocation of the nobility as the basis of individual power or the administrative apparatus - all this contributed to the gradual and natural formation, strengthening and development into a tradition (however, not always justified) of monarchical power. A leader, leader, despot, tyrant, tsar or king, possessing practically unlimited possibilities in his state, could pursue any policy and do things at his own discretion, without relying on numerous advisers, who were always enough at the court of those vested with power; nor on the people, who were in constant fear of the inevitable punishment for disobedience. By order of His Majesty, wars began and ended, cities were built and destroyed, people were born and died. From century to century, the science of management was passed on to the descendants of the greats, preserving traditions and adding something new.

But what is the science of governing a state? Many people have thought about this. IN ancient Greece, where the polis became the basis of society, the axis of statehood, Aristotle and Plato, preachers of democratic thought, considered democracy the best form of government, giving people the freedom to arrange their own lives. Rousseau developed this theory by expanding the definition of representative democracy, again placing executive power in the hands of the monarch or a limited number of individuals. Rule by the people, as the basis of the existence of the state, was recognized by all politicians and statesmen the past and, to some much milder extent, the present. An uncontrollable crowd is the main enemy of the state. Even an anarchist society is not able to appear and exist long enough without the formation of a leader and some kind of authority, which sooner or later will have to obey. But how can we direct the power in the right direction, because otherwise all the work will be in vain, and the power will lose stability. One of the first to consider this issue from a scientific point of view, applying his experience and practical knowledge of the entire history of the existence of states, was Niccolo Machiavelli.

His works were assessed differently by contemporaries and researchers of our time, but over five centuries they have by no means lost interest in themselves and have not lost their relevance. Should we govern the state from a position of strength or use more liberal approaches, how to behave in foreign policy, communicating with neighboring states, how to organize an army and treasury, how to prosper and achieve power in all spheres of activity - all these aspects were considered and indicated in great detail by Machiavelli in his works. IN modern world These issues, of course, have already been well worked out and look quite definite from the standpoint of established political norms. However, in order to understand what the state is now and what it was like, what evolutionary stages of the state apparatus left clear traces in the structure modern states, you need to know the works of Machiavelli.

The object of study of this work is not only Machiavelli’s legal views, but also his personality, character traits and biography, which directly influenced his ideas. The subject is the influence and use of his ideas in the historical process. In doing so, my goal was to consider Political Views Machiavelli both from the point of view of medieval ethics, morality, legal norms and values, and from the perspective of a modern observer. To achieve it, it is necessary to solve the following tasks:

Identify sources on this topic;

Consider the biography of Niccolo Machiavelli;

Consider the political and legal views of Machiavelli and reveal the essence of Machiavellianism;

Conduct an analysis of the political situation in Italy and neighboring countries during the Renaissance;

Find confirmation or refutation of the use of Machiavelli's concepts of power in practical political activity.

Niccolo Machiavelli was a truly extraordinary and talented person and it is not surprising that the historiography of his works and biography occupies quite a large place in political culture. Among the voluminous number of books and articles, several areas can be distinguished:

Marxist (coincides with Soviet);

Bourgeois (countries Western Europe, mainly until the middle of the 20th century);

Post-Soviet ( modern Russia);

Modern (European and American countries).

Outdated bourgeois and Marxist trends are useful from the point of view of analyzing Machiavelli's views in the second half of the 19th and 20th centuries from the opposite poles of political life (capitalism and socialism). Modern and post-Soviet views practically coincide, and differ from the first two in a more independent and politically sober comparison of facts and definitions addressed in the works of Machiavelli. Marxist-Leninist propaganda usually extolled the ideas and works of the “great Florentine”, justifying totalitarianism and authoritarianism in the USSR. Modern historiography, considering Machiavellianism from the position of international law, still takes into account the peculiarities of the era of Machiavelli and his followers, giving the most complete assessment of this phenomenon.

I used various types of sources in my work. The basis was made up of modern, Marxist and post-Soviet. They included:

Dolgov K. N. “Humanism, revival and political philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli” (1982). The author of this book analyzes the works, ideas, thoughts, and views of Machiavelli in the political mainstream of time. Traces the relationship between the era and the work of Machiavelli and the results of his political activities for Italy.

K. Marx and F. Engels. Full composition of writings. Reflects the views of Marxist historiography on a given topic.

Article by Kravchenko I.A. “Machiavelli: the technology of effective leadership” (1993): reveals the main features of Machiavellianism, ideological approaches to politics and an analysis of the practical use of Machiavelli’s ideas. The incomplete disclosure of this issue in Marxist historiography is criticized.

- “Machiavelli. Favorites" edited by Bochkalo I. B. (1998): the book contains all the political works of Machiavelli, as well as a number of articles about his political and legal activities in the Florentine Republic at the turn of the XV-XVI centuries.

Article by I. S. Sharkova “Anti-Machiavelli” of Frederick II and his Russian translations” (1979). It outlines the views of the Prussian king on the ideas of the Italian thinker from the point of view of criticism and subsequent justification, as well as modern comments.

- “Sovereign.” Niccolo Machiavelli. Translation by G. Muravyova. This is the author's main work on political topics, expressing the main political views of Machiavelli after his civil service. The work is addressed to Lorenzo Dei Medici - the new to the sovereign Florentine Republic. In detailed formulas, the author gives practical advice and recommendations “for the good of the homeland,” by adhering to which the new ruler will achieve recognition and prosperity of his state. This work is a reference piece in the work.

V.P. Pugachev and Soloviev “Introduction to Political Science” (1996).

V. P. Pugachev “Fundamentals of State and Law” (1998).

Great Russian Legal Encyclopedia.

This issue, undoubtedly very important and interesting from the point of view of political science, has been addressed by many thinkers at different times. Among them we can highlight such eminent philosophers as Hegel, Spinoza, Gramsci.

The main method used in the work is historical-comparative. With its help, the essence of the studied phenomenon, object and processes in time is revealed, and the work is given a finished look. Comparisons are synchronous and diachronic. These research methods are organically supplemented by the results of the historical-genetic method with its consistent determination of the functions of properties and changes in reality in the process of historical movement. The combination of all these research methods most fully reveals the picture of the work, reveals and solves all the tasks.

Despite the fact that Niccolò Machiavelli created his philosophical works in the 16th century, the concepts of the Great Florentine are still used in political practice, management and some social sciences. His works were criticized many times, but still remained classics in the field of political science and political history. Machiavelli's ideas are, first of all, practical recommendations, based on the vast experience of the Florentine writer and politician.

Florence in the time of Machiavelli

Machiavelli's political and philosophical views are directly related to the events he experienced and the social processes that he had to face. Political structure Florence during Machiavelli's life was very peculiar. During the wars between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, a commune system was formed here, which allowed residents to independently govern their city. 25 years before the birth of Niccolo Machiavelli, power in the city was seized by the powerful Medici dynasty. At the same time, members of the Medici family did not hold any government positions; their power was based on authority and wealth. Formally, Florence remained a democratic commune, but in fact it was an oligarchy - all the most important issues of the city were decided by the Medici. The Medici were patrons of science and the arts, and under them the humanistic movement began to flourish in Florence.

In 1492, the unofficial head of the city, Lorenzo Medici, died and the struggle for control over Florence began with the abbot of the local monastery, Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola managed to achieve the expulsion of the Medici family from Florence, and after that he began to introduce new orders, aimed, in his opinion, at reviving the morality of the townspeople. Songs, dances, fun and luxurious outfits were prohibited in the city. The persecution of many humanists began, and works of art were destroyed. The city plunged into asceticism and despondency. Savonarola's dictatorship lasted 5 years and ended with the execution of the power-hungry abbot in 1498.

Even during Savonarola's lifetime, chaos began in the city. Italy of the 16th century was not a single state, but a collection of strong cities and principalities pursuing independent policies. Many foreign rulers and representatives of Italian noble families were tempted to unite Italy under their leadership. Of course, the rich and majestic Florence attracted conquerors. Therefore, at the turn of the 15th-16th centuries, Florence found itself at the very epicenter of the Italian wars that flared up on the Apennine Peninsula. The city-commune was simultaneously claimed by:

  • France,
  • Spain,
  • Holy Roman Empire.

Biography of Niccolo Machiavelli

The future writer was born on May 3, 1469 in the village of San Casciano, near Florence. His family was very noble, but not rich. The head of the family, Bernardo Machiavelli, served as a notary. He was a man who was skeptical about religion and deeply interested in ancient literature. Subsequently, his views would have a great influence on Nicollo's philosophy.

Machiavelli received his education at the city school of Florence and from private teachers. So he learned to count, write, Latin and became acquainted with the works of ancient classics - Titus Livy, Cicero, Suetonius, Caesar. However, the young man was interested not only in ancient authors. He read the books of Dante and Petrarch and concluded that these authors managed to masterfully describe the characteristics of the mentality and the main vices of the Italians. At that time, Florence was one of the main cultural centers of Italy, so Niccolo was able to get acquainted with the best achievements of art and science of that time.

Due to lack of money, Niccolo was unable to enter university, but under the guidance of his father he learned a little about law. These skills allowed Machiavelli to take up government work. He took his first steps in the political field under Savonarola, serving as secretary and ambassador. Despite the fact that after the execution of Savonarola, Machiavelli was disgraced for some time, in the same 1498, he took the important post of secretary of the second chancellery of the republic and became secretary of the Council of Ten. The young politician had to balance between supporters of the Medici and the party of the late Savonarola, without joining any of the coalitions.

However, Machiavelli's work was very effective, and he soon began to enjoy the respect of representatives of both factions. For 14 years, Machiavelli was regularly re-elected. Over the years, he gave thousands of orders, commanded several military companies, more than once represented Florence in other city-republics and outside the borders of Italy, and also resolved many complex diplomatic disputes. At the same time, Machiavelli continued to read ancient authors and study political theory.

In 1502, the position of lifelong gonfalonier appeared in Florence (before this, gonfaloniers were replaced every month). Gonfaloniere could convene councils, initiate the development of laws and, in fact, was the most important person in the republic. Piero Soderini, who later became a close friend of Machiavelli, was appointed to this position. Soderini lacked a little insight and organizational skills, so in all matters he began to rely on Machiavelli, who quickly became a real Florentine " eminence grise" Machiavelli's advice was very useful; they made it possible to strengthen Florence and increase its wealth.

However, in 1512 Florence suffered a serious blow. The troops of Giovanni Medici entered the city, restoring his family's power over the republic. Soderini fled Florence, and Machiavelli was captured, accused of plotting against the Medici and thrown into prison. He was soon released, but Machiavelli was no longer able to regain his former power. He was exiled to his small estate in San Casciano.

Machiavelli was very upset by his forced inaction and wanted to serve Florence and Italy again. But the Medici considered him unreliable and suppressed all his attempts to again occupy any government post. Therefore, the period from 1513 to 1520 became for Machiavelli a time of summing up the results of his vigorous activity and active literary creativity. During these years the following works were created:

  • "The Sovereign" (1513);
  • "The Art of War" (1519-20);
  • theatrical play “Mandrake”;
  • fairy tale "Belphagor" and much more.

In 1520, the disgraced philosopher and politician began to be treated more gently. He was able to often come to Florence and carry out small government assignments. At the same time, Machiavelli took the position of state historiographer of Florence and, by order of the Pope, wrote the work “History of Florence.”

At the very end of his life, Machiavelli had to endure new shocks. In 1527, Italy was ravaged by Spain. Rome fell and the Pope was under siege. Another coup took place in Florence, ending with the expulsion of the Medici. The townspeople began to restore the democratic system and Machiavelli hoped to return to work as an official in the revived republic. However, the new government simply ignored him. The shocks associated with the defeat of Italy and the inability to do what he loved had a negative impact on the philosopher’s health. On June 21, 1527, Machiavelli died.

Machiavelli's ideas

Machiavelli's literary heritage is very extensive. It includes many of his reports on the implementation of diplomatic missions and memos on the foreign policy situation. In these documents, Machiavelli outlined his views on certain events and the behavior of heads of state. However, the most important and famous work of the Florentine philosopher is the work “The Prince”. It is believed that the prototype of the sovereign described in the work of Machiavelli was Cesare Borgia, Duke of Romagna and Valentinois. This man became famous for his immorality and cruelty. But at the same time, Cesare Borgia was distinguished by his insight and careful approach to solving important state issues. Also, Machiavelli's work was based on his own experience and analysis of the political life of contemporary countries and ancient powers.

In The Prince, Machiavelli expressed the following ideas:

  • The optimal form of government is an absolute monarchy, although in some cases a republic can also be effective;
  • History is cyclical. All states go through the same phases endlessly. First - one-man rule; then - the power of the highest aristocracy; then a republic. However, republican rule cannot last forever; sooner or later it will again be replaced by an absolute monarchy;
  • The change in the phases described above is associated with a clash of interests of many social groups. Machiavelli was one of the first to note the dialectic of the historical process;
  • The three main pillars of any sovereign: legislation, army and allies;
  • The most important state tasks can be solved by any means, even not the most humane ones. The latter can be resorted to in cases where the question of creating or maintaining a state arises;
  • A good sovereign must be able to combine honesty and deceit, kindness and cruelty. By skillfully using one or the other, a ruler can achieve absolutely any goals. The sovereign should not avoid hypocrisy; cunning is the main weapon in the political field;
  • The sovereign must instill fear in his subjects, but not hatred. In order to avoid the latter, the ruler should not abuse cruelty and be able to soberly assess the current situation in the country. Machiavelli was a categorical opponent of tyranny. In his opinion, tyrants are weak people who destroy themselves and their good name;
  • The sovereign should not be a spendthrift;
  • The most dangerous people for the state are flatterers. The sovereign must bring closer to himself those people who always tell the truth, no matter how bitter it may be.

Also in his work, Machiavelli discussed how best to keep conquered states in his power, how to subjugate the population of other countries and how best to fight with the most powerful neighbors.

Machiavelli's ideas were not limited to just one public administration. The writer laid the foundations for a completely new way of thinking, different from medieval scholasticism. Machiavelli believed that philosophy should not be reduced to empty contemplation, but be practical in nature and serve for the benefit of society. In fact, Machiavelli became the founder new area knowledge - political science. He began developing its subject, object of study and methodology.

To a modern person, the philosophy expounded on the pages of Machiavelli’s book may seem inhumane and anti-democratic. Moreover, Machiavelli's ideas were also criticized by his contemporaries. The philosopher directly asserted that all processes occurring in the state are not a manifestation of divine will, but are generated by a person who is not always distinguished by high moral principles. In fact, this idea made a real revolution in political teaching, making this scientific field purely secular. At the same time, Machiavelli rethought the concept of “morality”, also rejecting its religious interpretation. Morality and morality for the Florentine writer, first of all, concerned the relationship between man and society. Because of these ideas Catholic Church included all of Machiavelli's works in the Index of Prohibited Books.

What are the main philosophical and political views of Niccolo Machiavelli, you will learn from this article.

The main ideas of Niccolò Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli was an outstanding philosopher of the Renaissance, who created his own political and social-philosophical views. They are clearly expressed and characterized in his popular works (“Discourses on the first decade of Titus Livy”, “The Prince”, “On the Art of War”), novels, plays, lyrics and philosophical discussions.

Social and philosophical views of Niccolo Machiavelli

He identified several basic philosophical concepts:

  • Virtu. It includes human energy and talent. They, together with fortune, are driving forces stories.
  • Fate. It opposes human valor and labor.
  • Free will. Its embodiment was found in politics.

Machiavelli's social and philosophical views were based on the principle of human nature. This principle itself is universal and applies to absolutely all citizens in the state, regardless of their class affiliation.

The thinker also believed that man by nature is not sinless: he is ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, deceitful, and is attracted by profit. That is why the egoistic essence of a person must be kept under the control of a strong hand. He described this theory in his work “The Sovereign”. In his views on the development and creation of personality, Niccolo Machiavelli excluded divine influence and completely moved away from the views of religion. He believed that only a wise ruler could lead the people. In general, the entire philosophy of the thinker is devoted to the ideas of creation highest manifestation human spirit.

Political teachings of Niccolo Machiavelli

Machiavelli was especially interested in politics. According to the scientist, it contains rules and reasons that allow a person to fully express himself without relying on fate or coincidence. He drew a line in politics at the level of moral background, moving to actions and deeds instead of eternal reflection.

The main purpose of people's lives is to serve the state. Machiavelli always wanted to understand the laws of politics and translate them into philosophy. And he did it. According to the philosopher, the creation of a state is determined by the egoistic nature of man and the existence of a desire to forcibly curb this nature.

For Niccolò Machiavelli, the ideal example of a state is the Roman Republic, characterized by an internal order that extended to all the peoples living under its flag. To achieve such an ideal state, it is necessary to develop civic morality in society. He described his views in his 1513 work “Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius.” Also in it, he described his thoughts regarding the fact that in contemporary Italy, papal power undermined all the foundations of statehood and reduced the desire to serve the state in people.

Machiavelli's politics are based on:

  • Study of human qualities and his natural essence;
  • Moving away from dogmatism and utopian dreams;
  • Study of the relationship between passions, public interests and forces;
  • Explaining the actual state of things in society;

Also, for the existence of an ideal state with ideal political principles, the existence of an ideal ruler is necessary. According to Machiavelli, he must combine honor and dignity, cunning and valor, sophistication of reason and a bit of evil.

We hope that from this article you learned what the political philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli is.