Machiavelli, Niccolò

Machiavelli, Niccolò
(1469–1527)
Florentine political philosopher, and a major presence in subsequent political philosophy. His works Il Principe (1512/13, first trs. in its entirety as The Prince, 1640, although excerpts circulated much earlier) and the Discorsi (c. 1516, trs. as Discourses ) brought a new realism into the study of politics. Machiavelli's shocking contention was that although the Prince or ruler was supposed to be an embodiment of virtue and honour, yet given the way of the world, the successful ruler is only the one who acts effectively without regard to the conventional morality of actions. By seeing political organizations as organic entities subject to their own laws of development, flourishing and disintegrating in ways that owe nothing to an independent moral order, Machiavelli may also be regarded as the first sociologist.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

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  • MACHIAVELLI, Niccolo — (1469 1527) Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian historian, statesman, and political philos­opher. Machiavelli s political theory has turned his name into a synonym for amoral deception and cunning in pursuing one s goals. Machiavelli was born in… …   Renaissance and Reformation 1500-1620: A Biographical Dictionary

  • Machiavelli, Niccolo — (1469 1527)    Florentine political theorist, statesman, and historian, commonly regarded as the greatest political thinker of the Renaissance. His keen analysis of the realities of power and the foundations of political success was so often… …   Historical Dictionary of Renaissance

  • Machiavelli, Niccolò — (1469 1527) An influential Florentine political theorist and humanist. Believing human nature to be essentially selfish, Machiavelli advocated the need for strong government, notably in The Princeand Discourse (written between 1513 and 1521). His …   Dictionary of sociology

  • MACHIAVELLI, NICCOLO —    statesman and historian, born in Florence, of an ancient family; was secretary of the Florentine Republic from 1498 to 1512, and during that time conducted its diplomatic affairs with a skill which led to his being sent on a number of foreign… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • MACHIAVELLI, Niccolo — (1469 1527)    Italian political philosopher whose work The Prince (1513) marks the beginning of modern political thought devoid of religious influences …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • Machiavelli, Niccolò di Bernardo dei —  (1469–1527) Florentine statesman and political theorist, best known for Il Principe (The Prince), 1513 …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

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  • Niccolò Machiavelli — Machiavelli redirects here. For other uses, see Machiavelli (disambiguation). Niccolò Machiavelli Portrait of Niccolò Machiavelli by Santi di Tito Full name Niccolò Machiavelli Born …   Wikipedia

  • Niccolò Machiavelli — Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli [nikkoˈlɔ makjaˈvɛlli] (* 3. Mai 1469 in Florenz, Republik Florenz; † 21. oder 22. Juni 1527 ebenda) war ei …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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