Or, did he not trust anyone?
2007-08-22 20:08:44 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Machiavelli believed that there were different levels and types of trusts.
Many times it depended on the situation that would dole out how much trust was required to put into a person. In the end, most relationships are based in some type of exploitation or another, the smart people recognize this and are capable of dismissing trust in favour of self interest while the sheep trust no matter what.
2007-08-22 20:20:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Machiavelli was the first person to really challenge the Christian orthodox of his time, making a distinction between the way an individual should act and the way a state should act - he told it as it was, and that is if a government wishes to maintain power and act for the good of the majority, Christian morality doesn't always have the right answers. Eg. Executing a mass-murderer might not sit well with the Christian notion of turning the other cheek, but achieves a good in that it protects a community.
As a result, he was depicted as some power-hungry, ruthless nut. This wasn't the case, read 'The Prince' for yourself and see.
As an individual, he was deeply Christian and he did try to live his life by Christian values (he just didn't think you could always run a state by them - and he was right) - so, short answer, yes he did trust a lot of people, those he was close to and those he admired.
2007-08-22 22:06:17 · answer #2 · answered by Mark A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course he did. After all his work is dedicated to his Prince. He trusts the ruler with his life and well being,and all his instructions are intended to make the ruler a wise and realistic person.
Read Macciavelli, it is well worth the effort. It is a pity that so few of our politicians know of his philosophy (except the twisted opinions taught by self-styled liberals)
My favourite quote is "The Prince should take great care to perceive the world as it really is, and not as he would like it to be"
2007-08-22 21:20:56 · answer #3 · answered by cp_scipiom 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. He felt that gaining and keeping power depended upon a general lack of trust.
2007-08-22 20:12:37 · answer #4 · answered by qwiklimegirl 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Apparently not. Nor did they trust him- he got imprisoned, tortured, and exiled at least twice (something people who take his advice too much to heart tend to forget).
2007-08-22 20:11:40 · answer #5 · answered by Jonathan D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't think of him as an evil guy...he was rather a intelligent who look at politicts from the realist's view
2007-08-22 23:49:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
who the hell was he? i just remembe my fay, gay, athiest teacher talk about him all the time in 10th grade
2007-08-22 20:13:56 · answer #7 · answered by Kenneth M 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋