Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Response to Luther
I agree with Luther. I don't think a Christian should not use the law for personal gain. A Christian should use the law to govern the wicked.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Rhetoric Quiz I
The Prince is a concise statement of Machiavell's belief that classical and Christian political theory is unworkable in a world that defines politics as the exercise of power and the struggle for power. It is also implicitly a rejection of a nihilistic counterethic, that only power and brute force matter."Discuss to what extent you agree or disagree with this statement. What evidence can you bring to support your position?
(Dante Germino, Machiavelli to Marx: Modern Western Political Thought, p. 32)
#1: Machiavelli believes that Christian political theory is unworkable in a world that defines politics as: “exercise of and struggle for power.”
The primary objective of Machiavelli’s composition of The Prince was to persuade Italy to unity. Machiavelli believed that a Classical and Christian political theory would not properly maintain power. Machiavelli often made assertions that stand in direct opposition of Christian values and principles. Machiavelli invested his faith in the ability and power of man. His ultimate standard was the preservation of power, and to act according to the good of the state, no matter the cost.
From the Christian viewpoint war is a last resort. Machiavelli assumes quite the opposite, he saw war as a means by which all princedoms are built and maintained. As told by James, good works result from faith in God. Machiavelli simply saw virtue as a political tool. He said it is better to appear virtuous than to be truly virtuous. Machiavelli also claimed that it is more profitable to be feared than loved. He said that cruelty is morally justifiable as long as it is used to obtain fear in one’s subjects. Machiavelli advised a Prince not to be hated, unless those who hate him do not have the power to overthrow the Prince. Machiavelli differs from the Christian by putting his faith in man instead of God. He simply labels anything outside man’s control to be “fortune.” Machiavelli’s only answer to this uncertain concept of fortune is to be prudent in the good times in order to store up for when fortune changes. His faith in what he calls fortune is simply an illustration of the confidence he puts in man’s ability to control his own destiny.
Machiavelli had a single objective: stability of reign. The only standard that he advised his Prince to live by is to simply do what is good for the state. He applied the principle of causality by asserting that anything is justifiable as long as it is a means to maintain power.
#2: It is also implicitly a denial of a nihilistic counterethic, that only power and brute force matter." Instead of denying a “nihilistic counterethic,” Machiavelli defends it. Throughout The Prince Machiavelli affirms that power through brute force is all that matters. Machiavelli favored a rule by force rather than law. Machiavelli claims that maintaining power should be the primary objective of any ruler. He viewed any form of collateral damage to be justifiable as long power was maintained.
(Dante Germino, Machiavelli to Marx: Modern Western Political Thought, p. 32)
#1: Machiavelli believes that Christian political theory is unworkable in a world that defines politics as: “exercise of and struggle for power.”
The primary objective of Machiavelli’s composition of The Prince was to persuade Italy to unity. Machiavelli believed that a Classical and Christian political theory would not properly maintain power. Machiavelli often made assertions that stand in direct opposition of Christian values and principles. Machiavelli invested his faith in the ability and power of man. His ultimate standard was the preservation of power, and to act according to the good of the state, no matter the cost.
From the Christian viewpoint war is a last resort. Machiavelli assumes quite the opposite, he saw war as a means by which all princedoms are built and maintained. As told by James, good works result from faith in God. Machiavelli simply saw virtue as a political tool. He said it is better to appear virtuous than to be truly virtuous. Machiavelli also claimed that it is more profitable to be feared than loved. He said that cruelty is morally justifiable as long as it is used to obtain fear in one’s subjects. Machiavelli advised a Prince not to be hated, unless those who hate him do not have the power to overthrow the Prince. Machiavelli differs from the Christian by putting his faith in man instead of God. He simply labels anything outside man’s control to be “fortune.” Machiavelli’s only answer to this uncertain concept of fortune is to be prudent in the good times in order to store up for when fortune changes. His faith in what he calls fortune is simply an illustration of the confidence he puts in man’s ability to control his own destiny.
Machiavelli had a single objective: stability of reign. The only standard that he advised his Prince to live by is to simply do what is good for the state. He applied the principle of causality by asserting that anything is justifiable as long as it is a means to maintain power.
#2: It is also implicitly a denial of a nihilistic counterethic, that only power and brute force matter." Instead of denying a “nihilistic counterethic,” Machiavelli defends it. Throughout The Prince Machiavelli affirms that power through brute force is all that matters. Machiavelli favored a rule by force rather than law. Machiavelli claims that maintaining power should be the primary objective of any ruler. He viewed any form of collateral damage to be justifiable as long power was maintained.
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