For Reading 15.2c, Machiavelli’s The Prince: The term Machiavellianism is often employed as a synonym for evil, invoked, for instance, by some psychologists to describe a person’s tendency to deceive and manipulate others for gain. What in the reading suggests that Machiavelli understood politics far more subtly and complexly than this term suggests?
What will be an ideal response?
In The Prince, Machiavelli is not arguing for deceit and manipulation simply for personal gain. Instead, he is articulating a sort of political pragmatism through which a ruler can effectively hold power. In addition, he understands that no ruler is without vice but that the ruler must know how to control these unfavorable traits to maintain control of the kingdom. Far from simplistic greed, Machiavelli argues for a complex but realistic approach to political life.
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