Machiavelli, "The Prince"

Machiavelli's concern in this essay is how to gain power and stay in power. Violence is a critical and necessary component to staying in power. He talks about deception and the importance of appearance. It is important to have the support of the people. Therefore the ruler's appearance must be shown as upright and benevolent in order to have their support. He paints politics in a new light as having their own morals and rules. Anything goes as long as it is for the good of the state. This type of morality can be classified as consequentialism. I agree with Machiavelli on most of his point except consequentialism. Politics is all about being able to get things done, about alliances and appearances. Although I don't agree with physical violence to make a political statement, I do believe at times one has to sabotage an opponent or do verbal or political harm to them. In order to stay in power you have to look like a god, and make your opponent look like evil incarnate. However, if you take consequesntialism to be your ethics, you risk compromising the true objective of politics, the well-fare of the state.