1Machiavelli The First Modern Political T PDF

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Machiavelli as the First Modern Thinker...

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Q) 'Machiavelli is a child of Renaissance'. In light of this statement discuss Machiavelli as the first modern political thinker. Ans) Introduction Niccolo Machiavelli (1469- 1527), is an Italian philosopher and regarded as one of the most creative influential thinkers in political philosophy. This outstanding Italian philosophers has left behind many important works, out of which ‘The Prince’ and ‘The Discourse’ is of great interest to all those interested in the political ideas of modern age. Machiavelli has been credited for laying the foundations of the Italian political conditions, as he explored, analyzed and covered a wide range of philosophical perspectives and issues. He is regarded as the child of renaissance and the first modern political thinker. Through his writings he brought renaissance in Italy which further spread to the rest of Europe by the late fifteenth century.

‘Machiavelli’- The First Modern Political Thinker According to Dunning, “Machiavelli was in the fullest sense the child of his time”. To comprehend the full importance of Machiavelli’s writings and their context, it is important to understand the series of cultural, economic, social and political changes that began in the fourteenth century called the Renaissance. The end of middle ages and the beginning of modern period started with two movements known as Renaissance and Reformation. Renaissance came forth in Italy by the revival of ancient thought and learning which had been buried deep by Christianity in medieval age. Laski rightly observes that “the whole of the Renaissance is in Machiavelli”. The immediate impact of renaissance was in Italy, which gradually spread to the rest of Europe by the late fifteenth century. More than anybody else, it was Machiavelli who could understand the dynamics of this modern state and the modern individual. Writing at a time of political chaos and moral confusion, Italian unification became the chief objective for Machiavelli, who could see “clearly the direction that political evolution was taking throughout Europe. Machiavelli’s attachment was to his country Italy, and not to a state as an abstract entity. He desired to redeem Italy from servitude and misery. Like Dante, he dreamt of a united, regenerated and glorious Italy. In order to achieve this, any means were justified, for the purpose was the defense and preservation of the

state and its people. Freedom of the country and the common good remained the core themes of Machiavelli’s writings. Born in the year 1469 in Florence (Italy), Machiavelli belonged to an affluent family and was well educated for a public career. At a young age he attained one of the higher posts in the Government of Florence. Later he was sent on a diplomatic mission to several foreign countries where he acquired firsthand experience of political and diplomatic matters. However, political upheavals in the Florentine Republic caused the fall in the career of Machiavelli in 1513, and he was even put to a year's imprisonment. He was released from prison by the influence of his political friends on condition that he would retire from political life and refrain from all political activities. It was during this period of forced retirement that he induced his most memorable literary works out of which the "Prince" and the "Discourse” are most prominent. Their contents spelt out his political thought and earned him notoriety such as indifference to the use of immoral means to achieve political purposes and the belief that government depended largely on force and era. Machiavelli was the creator of this renaissance which dominated Italy in general and Florence in particular. He stood on the border line between the middle and the modern ages. The age of Machiavelli has been called the ages of bastards and adventures. It was a society intellectually brilliant and artistically creative. But it was a victim to worst political corruption and degeneration. Cruelty and murder were normal methods of government. Force and craft were keys to success. Society was leaderless. The public leaders were activated more by selfish motive than by public interest. Church according to Machiavelli has kept and still keeps our country divided. Public morality was very low, the Pope authority in Italy constituted greatly towards political degradation. Popes were opposed to the unification of Italy, which was divided into five states. In such an atmosphere, Machiavelli lived and wrote books. This degenerating and depressing state of Italy could not leave uninfluenced and unmoved a sensitive patriot and keen observer like Machiavelli. Dunning remarked, “The era was of the strong man and Machiavelli’s writings give copious evidence that he realized this fact. His writings are mainly influenced by the then prevailing situation which half the time was the battle ground of conspirators and ambitious politicians-local as well as foreign.

Conclusion Machiavelli is known as a father of modern political theory. Machiavelli was the first pragmatist in the history of political thought. His method and approach to problems of politics were guided by common sense and history. Apart from theorizing about the state he has also given meaning to the concept of sovereignty. Machiavelli was the first who gave the idea of secularism. But despite this he is criticized by many like William Shakespeare who called him “The Murderous Machieval” or “A Damned Machieval”. Interestingly, Machiavelli also has many admirers too like Spinoza, Rousseau, etc. who praised his writings. Due to his outstanding works in ‘The Prince’ and ‘The Discourse’, he was honored with the title of being the “first modern political theorist and scientist”....