Due Date: Monday, 9/9/2024, handed in class.

We begin our study of politics with Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince”.

NOTE: This reading has 3 parts. You should read all three parts. The first two provide historical and intellectual context. The last reading is the actual excerpt from “The Prince”.  Note, we will discuss the material in all three parts, so make sure you study all of the assigned pages in the reading, not just“The Prince”.

READ – excerpt from “The Prince”


Study Questions – to be handed in class

Study Questions(these are the questions you should answer in your paper for this assignment)

NOTE: Papers have to be typed, in paragraph length and brought to class. We will weave your responses in our class discussion, so be prepared to explain, backup, motivate your answers to these study questions.

Also, remember that these are study questions, the point is not necessarily to answer them correctly, but to give it your best shot, think of it as homework and preparation for our in-class discussion.

  1. What does Machiavelli say on the question of whether a ruler should be compassionate or cruel?
  2. The classic Machiavellian question for those in positions of power: is it better to be feared or loved by those whom you rule over?
  3. Should a good ruler (person in power) always keep their word?
  4. What is Machiavelli arguing in the section about the fox and lion?
  5. What is fortuna(fortune),and what should a good/prudent ruler do with it?