There are really two parts to this question. The first deals with the concept of humanism that gained sway during the Renaissance in Italy and beyond. The second addresses the related issue of secularism. Let us look at each part.
Machiavelli was a humanist through and through. Like most of his peers, he looked to antiquity for guidance and wisdom. The Prince, like all of his works, is full of classical references, allusions, and...
There are really two parts to this question. The first deals with the concept of humanism that gained sway during the Renaissance in Italy and beyond. The second addresses the related issue of secularism. Let us look at each part.
Machiavelli was a humanist through and through. Like most of his peers, he looked to antiquity for guidance and wisdom. The Prince, like all of his works, is full of classical references, allusions, and examples. In chapter 3, for example, he uses the history of the Roman Empire to demonstrate what happens when foreigners occupy a territory. In the next chapter, he points to Alexander the Great's rule over Persia in order to examine another aspect of the same issue. He then uses many other leaders from antiquity to demonstrate the uses of armed power. Like all humanists, Machiavelli used the past to inform the present. The Greeks and Romans offered a trove of examples that could be exploited for the benefit of Machiavelli's readers.
When addressing the issue of secularism, Machiavelli's core message is that a ruler cannot be guided by abstract notions of morality, including Christian justice. Rather, he must make decisions based on what is most likely to preserve and expand his power. Machiavelli essentially argues that the ends (the preservation of power) justify the means (cruelty, treachery, or other methods). No message could be further from the idea of a "Christian king," who would govern according to God's will. As a result, Machiavelli's secularism was as pronounced as his reliance on classical texts.
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