What is Machevallian?

jumpr

Golden Member
Jan 2, 2006
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiavellian
Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism is the term some social and personality psychologists use to describe a person's tendency to deceive and manipulate the others for personal gain. Used to describe later works by other authors based on Machiavelli's writings?particularly The Prince?in which the authors stress the view that "The ends justify the means." These authors failed to include some of the more moderating themes found in Machiavelli's works and the name is now associated with the extreme view point. Notwithstanding the mitigating themes in The Prince, it was viewed in a negative light largely because the Catholic church put the work in its Index ? a list of books against the faith.

The word was also adopted by some of Machiavelli's contemporaries, often used in the introductions of political tracts of the sixteenth century that offered more 'just' reasons of state, most notably those of Jean Bodin and Giovanni Botero.
 

jumpr

Golden Member
Jan 2, 2006
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Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: Tick
Machevallian: What is Tick.
Tick: someone who doesn't know how to spell M-A-C-H-I-A-V-E-L-L-I-A-N.

Not that I coppied the OP's spelling, because I was to lazy to look it up.
How about copying MY spelling, which is shown in the Wikipedia article I posted?
 

imported_Tick

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
4,682
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Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: Tick
Machevallian: What is Tick.
Tick: someone who doesn't know how to spell M-A-C-H-I-A-V-E-L-L-I-A-N.

Not that I coppied the OP's spelling, because I was to lazy to look it up.
How about copying MY spelling, which is shown in the Wikipedia article I posted?

That would require an additional few seconds of effort. Screw that.
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
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Originally posted by: scott
Go to your public library.

Check out The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.

It's a brief read. Unvarnished look at human nature and how a ruler can cunningly manipulate people.
Should be required high school reading.

It often is, some people just don't soak up much from their HS english classes. :p
 

ntdz

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: Tick
Machevallian: What is Tick.
Tick: someone who doesn't know how to spell M-A-C-H-I-A-V-E-L-L-I-A-N.

Not that I coppied the OP's spelling, because I was to lazy to look it up.

Are you too lazy to remember how to spell "copied" too?
 

mundane

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2002
5,603
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Originally posted by: scott
Go to your public library.

Check out The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.

It's a brief read. Unvarnished look at human nature and how a ruler can cunningly manipulate people.
Should be required high school reading.

I voluntarily read it, but didn't find the text interesting.
 

HomeAppraiser

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2005
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Sh!t, had to read 'The Prince' for ninth grade history. A fictional prince tries to unite all the provinces of Italy. Tony Soprano quotes "Prince Machiavelli" as a leadership tome.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
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Originally posted by: Mucho
"The ends justify the means."
The character and behavior of the prince

Machiavelli recommends the following character and behavior for princes:

* It is better to be stingy than generous.

* It is better to be cruel than merciful.

* It is better to break promises if keeping them would be against one?s interests.

* Princes must avoid making themselves hated and despised; the goodwill of the people is a better defense than any fortress.

* Princes should undertake great projects to enhance their reputation.

* Princes should choose wise advisors and avoid flatterers.


um.. isnt "avoid being hated" contridictory to being stingy and creul?
 

miniMUNCH

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
4,159
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Originally posted by: JEDI
Originally posted by: Mucho
"The ends justify the means."
The character and behavior of the prince

Machiavelli recommends the following character and behavior for princes:

* It is better to be stingy than generous.

* It is better to be cruel than merciful.

* It is better to break promises if keeping them would be against one?s interests.

* Princes must avoid making themselves hated and despised; the goodwill of the people is a better defense than any fortress.

* Princes should undertake great projects to enhance their reputation.

* Princes should choose wise advisors and avoid flatterers.


um.. isnt "avoid being hated" contridictory to being stingy and creul?


Hence the need for a spin doctor to manage public perception.