Study Questions & Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. How does Machiavelli
view human nature?
2. Is Machiavelli's
book “evil”? What role does virtue play in Macchiavelli's state?
3. Compare
and contrast the different ways in which a prince can rise to power.
Suggested Essay Topics
1. What are Machiavelli's views
regarding free will? Can historical events be shaped by individuals,
or are they the consequence of fortune and circumstance?
2. In Discourses on Livy (1517),
Machiavelli argues that the purpose of politics is to promote a
“common good.” How does this statement relate to the ideas Machiavelli
presents in The Prince?
3. Do you agree with Machiavelli's
thesis that stability and power are the only qualities that matter
in the evaluation of governments? If not, what else matters?
4. Discuss class conflict in The
Prince and its relationship to successful government.
5. Discuss The Prince's
historical context. In what ways do the arguments and examples of
the The Prince reflect that context?
6. Discuss the form, tone, and
rhetoric of The Prince. Does Machiavelli's choice
in this area lead to a persuasive argument? Why or why not?
7. How much of The Prince is
relevant to contemporary society in an age when monarchies no longer
are the primary form of government?
