POL206 Seminar 2 – Machiavelli’s The Prince

Exercise One

What have you learned so far about what Machiavelli thinks about the following?

1. People in general;2. The relation between people and rulers;3. Key abilities needed by princes;4. Role of armed force in gaining and keeping power;5. The role of moral standards in politics;6. The differences between principalities and republics;7. Religion;8. Luck.

Try to give examples to back up your answers.

Discussion Question: What is Machiavelli’s view of human nature? How does it influence his view of good government?

Exercise Two

Cesare Borgia and Agathocles Comparison

How to do an analysis:

- Analysis is a key part of what we train you in- Make notes with quotes and references helps you get an overview, and you can use

them as a resource for analysis- Analysis is not description (or lists)- Analysis: break down a text into its parts and put them together in a new way that

makes better sense of the text- In this case you need to think about what you are comparing the thinkers in relation to

– i.e. Machiavelli’s view of what makes a good leader/ prince

For this exercise, you might start making notes about the following questions:

- What are Borgia and Agathocles examples of?- What are the key events and actions that Machiavelli mentions when describing

Borgia and Agathocles?- What are the words and phrases Machiavelli uses to describe Borgia and Agathocles?- Is there any difference in the style of the two descriptions?

In small groups please answer the following questions drawing on Chapters 7 and 8:

1. Summarise the rise to power of both Borgia and Agathocles in Machiavelli’s The Prince.

2. How are they similar and how are they different?

3. What lessons does Machiavelli’s draw from the careers of these two men? Do you agree?

Discussion Questions

1. Many people believe that, for Machiavelli, might is right. Is this the whole story?

2. Does Machiavelli believe princes should be moral, amoral or immoral? Do you agree?

3. Are we forever caught in a Game of Thrones? Or is progress possible?