Machiavelli Said, “the Ends Justify the Means” Myth
Niccolò Machiavelli never said, “the ends justify the means”, although he did elude to a complex version of the concept in his Prince.
Niccolo Machiavelli is the father of modern political science. He wrote the book on political realism, and underhanded political tactics, after his political career was ended by a hereditary prince.
Consequently, Machiavelli’s book, The Prince, can be read as satire meant to teach high level political tactics to anyone other than the hereditary prince who took over the free Republic Machiavelli enjoyed in Florence.
Niccolò Machiavelli never said, “the ends justify the means”, although he did elude to a complex version of the concept in his Prince.
Politics can be treated as a science (political science), but it must always seek data that can be confirmed by our senses (empirical evidence).
Many (including Rousseau) consider Machiavelli’s The Prince to be satire, expressing a preference for a free republic over a hereditary principality.
Niccolò Machiavelli can be considered the father of modern political science, and his book The Prince one of the first works of modern political philosophy (if not just modern philosophy).
Saul Alinsky, the American community organizer and author of Rules for Radicals, can be considered the father of modern community organizing.
Criminal virtue is a concept eluded to in Machiavelli’s the Prince. It describes calculated “criminal acts” that can help one get ahead in politics.
Plato can be understood as the father of rationalism and political philosophy (political idealism), and Aristotle, his student, the father of empiricism and political science (political realism).
The bed of nails principle states that while laying on one nail is enough to puncture a person’s skin, laying on many distributed nails isn’t.
Political realism is dealing with politics as they are in reality, political idealism is dealing with politics as an ideal.
The Philosophy of Governments It can be very attractive to have a list of government types, but yet that list may teach a person very little. Here instead is a look at the philosophy behind the government types that create that list. For a simpler list and look, see our page on “the types of . . . read more
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