Machiavelli

Choose one of the following topics, and write an essay on one of the two texts by Machiavelli you have read. You may choose to write on either The Prince or History of Florence, not both. 1) Machiavelli is the first true political scientist. His own political biases (whatever they may be) play no role whatsoever in his book. Machiavelli simply presents political facts as they actually occur in a detached and objective manner. 2) Machiavelli is an immoral author. In his book, openly or implicitly, he encourages lying, murder, and other depraved acts, showing complete disregard for any moral concern. Though he may never have used the expression, for Machiavelli, nonetheless, “the end,” understood as getting what one wants, “justifies the means.” 3) Machiavelli is a flatterer of tyrants. His book treats “the people” with contempt, depicting them as passive, powerless and gullible. In contrast, Machiavelli shamelessly grovels before the powerful.