Worthy of Power?

In the ‘Circle of Power’ by Nicoolo Machiavelli writes the article not to persuades the reader of which form of government; monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy is good or bad but to demonstrate both sides and leaves it for the reader to decide.

Machiavelli discusses how government is a product of natural state of human living; a natural state of desire for power from an individual or group. Even with the simple idea of power and leadership can be compared with a small group of hunters and gathers with an organizer showing them the right path to collect food or make the decision of where they should live. He writes “as the human race increased, the necessity for uniting themselves […], they chose the strongest and most courageous from amongst them and placed him at their head, promising to obey him’ (Ross, 264). As a emerging state or group they the idea of having one leader make the choice for them is ideal because of the uncertainties of what lies ahead of them. One man could decide on what duties should be divide up and what would bring the community up and allow them prosper. But as Darwin theory of survival of the species, human would take advantage of the power and would turn it for their benefit. Like a child who learns from the environment and activities that he is in would then understand that one man rule maybe too one sided to benefit the group; the group may see more and more of the ideas of their leader and the ideas are hunting them more helping them; they might put in a check and balance system for the leader which then turns their government into an oligarchy. A group may feel they could be a better leader; they would visualize ‘the causes of disorders, conspiracies, and plot against the sovereigns’ (Ross, 265). As an emerging state or young developing country it not necessary for the ‘right government’ but more of a strongest contender will survive. Which type of government that has the support, would hold up through the test of time.

In the ‘Florentine’, Machiavelli life was more of an up battle in proving himself that he was worth more than what he was born into; he demonstrated his depth of knowledge, his innocent, and his pride for his country. He was accused of crimes that he did not commit; he would not move up the ranks with in the government due to his lack of money and there he would see the government developing coming from men who had money, who were able to buy their way into the seat of power. They could not rule because they did not have a feel for the people, a feel for what they wanted, how to improve their lives but the king would only fulfilled his own desires

Machiavelli understands that all forms of government is not perfect, indeed they are many flaws, most cause by the greed of humans. From reading the article, Machiavelli might have feel power can be brought instead of earn through demonstration of skills, people who can afford will rule but they may not always be the most fit one to do so. The one who have talent may be not be called upon due to social class and birth order; those two categories has nothing to with being a good ruler but they will never be heard because they are poor and when they die, their talent dies with them.

Reference

Ross, B. The Portable Renaissance Reader. Penguin Books, New York. 1953.

Pierpont, C. ‘The Florentine’

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2008/09/15/080915crat_atlarge_pierpont?currentPage=all