
Niccolò Machiavelli and "The Prince"
History
Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a famous Italian political thinker, historian, writer, and diplomat of the Renaissance. Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy, and spent much of his life in the service of the Florentine Republic. He was involved in various diplomatic and military activities, traveling on various missions on behalf of the Florentine government.
His most famous and influential work is “The Prince“, written around 1513 and published posthumously in 1532. This work made Machiavelli a familiar name in the world of politics and philosophy, although he is associated with the concepts of cunning, deceit, and opportunism.
The term “Machiavellianism,” derived from Machiavelli’s name, refers to a political doctrine that emphasizes the unscrupulous use of power to achieve one’s goals. It is often associated with the famous phrase “the end justifies the means,” meaning that any deceitful behaviour is justified if it leads to the desired outcome.
The Prince
The End Justifies the Means in Business
In the context of business, the idea that “the end justifies the means” can be applied by companies aiming to achieve their business goals unscrupulously.
For example, according to me, deceptive marketing and advertising practices fall under this context. But questionable activities in business do not end there. Consider unfair competition, which should not exist, but is an established fact. Think of gossip or spreading false rumours about competitors. Or the exploitation of employees to gain better economic advantage, which according to common belief happens only in third-world economies. But is it so?
The presence of questionable practices, often hidden, is an uncomfortable reality that can be found even in our world. Despite preaching to adhere to ambitious standards of ethics and transparency, we are not exempt from manipulative behaviour, both in the private and public sectors. Machiavelli, in a cynical manner, recognized a truth that remains unchanged over the centuries: the end justifies the means. To make it acceptable to our consciences, we endorse it with various justifications: the strongest wins, we are obliged by competition, survival requires getting our hands dirty, and so on. Do you agree with?
Next article: Rousseau: The Social Contract
Recommended readings:
Political Philosophy:
1. “The Prince” by Niccolò Machiavelli
2. “The Social Contract” by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
3. “The Republic” by Plato
Strategic Philosophy:
1. “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu
2. “The Art of winning an argument” by Arthur Schopenhauer
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