The Neo-liberal Prince I
Machiavelli, would face quite difficulty in choice of a living model for the protagonist of his prudent Prince owing to their presence in plurality. The Prince is not a divinely ordained or dynastically-sanctioned prince, but a private person, a Condottiere, a mercenary leader, who leads his people (through war/election now) to establish a new state. He tells his protagonist, whose mind should be occupied with no ideas other than the war that he has to do nothing but to choose the right model from the classical period, which had accomplished all the virtues and greatness and compare and contrast it with some living models of successful princes. One of the classical suggested models is, Agathocles of Syracuse, son of a migrant potter, who rose to be a mercenary leader and eventually the emperor of Syracuse through treacherous(magnificent) designs, deceptions and deceits, cruelty, brutality and barbarism.
"It cannot be called prowess to kill fellow-citizens, to betray friends, to be treacherous, pitiless, irreligious. ... Still, if the courage of Agathocles in entering into and extricating himself from dangers be considered, together with his greatness of mind in enduring overcoming hardships, it cannot be seen why he should be esteemed less than the most notable captain. Nevertheless, his barbarous cruelty and inhumanity with infinite wickednesses do not prevent him to be celebrated among the most excellent men. "[ Machiavelli: Prince( page 29)]
contd............
Machiavelli, would face quite difficulty in choice of a living model for the protagonist of his prudent Prince owing to their presence in plurality. The Prince is not a divinely ordained or dynastically-sanctioned prince, but a private person, a Condottiere, a mercenary leader, who leads his people (through war/election now) to establish a new state. He tells his protagonist, whose mind should be occupied with no ideas other than the war that he has to do nothing but to choose the right model from the classical period, which had accomplished all the virtues and greatness and compare and contrast it with some living models of successful princes. One of the classical suggested models is, Agathocles of Syracuse, son of a migrant potter, who rose to be a mercenary leader and eventually the emperor of Syracuse through treacherous(magnificent) designs, deceptions and deceits, cruelty, brutality and barbarism.
"It cannot be called prowess to kill fellow-citizens, to betray friends, to be treacherous, pitiless, irreligious. ... Still, if the courage of Agathocles in entering into and extricating himself from dangers be considered, together with his greatness of mind in enduring overcoming hardships, it cannot be seen why he should be esteemed less than the most notable captain. Nevertheless, his barbarous cruelty and inhumanity with infinite wickednesses do not prevent him to be celebrated among the most excellent men. "[ Machiavelli: Prince( page 29)]
contd............
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