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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank
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To: one_less who wrote (70728)7/15/2003 4:41:38 PM
From: The Philosopher  Read Replies (1) of 82486
 
One source
suggests the term " Machiavellian" is typically used as a synonym for amoral
cunning and for justification by power.

That is what the term has come to mean. But it is a significant distortion of what Machiavelli wrote and believed. (One must read more than just The Prince.) Some people way that Machiavelli believed that the end justifies the means. But he was clearly concerned about the quality and legitimacy of the end. He was all about good government, about just govenment. But he was also clearheaded about how one actually gets and retains power. His lessons are ones we don't like to face because they are unpleasant, but they are lessons we SHOULD face.

And besides being a brilliant thinker, he is very good writer, and enjoyable to read. Unlike many other political philosophers!
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