Machiavelli's outlook sounds very much like the 42 Laws of Power.
I wouldn't be surprised if the latter was inspired by the former.
I love how you framed the issue as a balance between being wise as a serpent AND harmless as a dove, just as Christ told His disciples.
If you err too much on the side of being wise as a serpent, you become an amoral monster. Ironically, if you err too much on the side of being harmless as a dove (radical pacifism), you also become an amoral monster, because you allow your ideals to prevent you from using violence to protect your wife and children from rape, assault, and murder.
In order to be a virtuous person, you need wisdom and harmlessness united.
This is a wonderful synthesis, and you're exactly right on the 48 Laws of Power book. I've always considered that read a Machiavelli book for modern man, and ought to be read the same way.
You captured that perfectly between a true wisdom of the world is a morality between the extremes of radical pacifism and nihilism.
Like Orwell, Machiavelli's name has become a term unto itself.
The point you bring up about Machiavellianism being misread is crucial. Cherry-picking information is dangerous, especially when dealing with someone whose subject matter is about as consequential as it gets. And I think you're right: the point isn't so much "moralizing Machiavelli," but learning from him. Naivety is by itself a major risk.
Machiavelli's outlook sounds very much like the 42 Laws of Power.
I wouldn't be surprised if the latter was inspired by the former.
I love how you framed the issue as a balance between being wise as a serpent AND harmless as a dove, just as Christ told His disciples.
If you err too much on the side of being wise as a serpent, you become an amoral monster. Ironically, if you err too much on the side of being harmless as a dove (radical pacifism), you also become an amoral monster, because you allow your ideals to prevent you from using violence to protect your wife and children from rape, assault, and murder.
In order to be a virtuous person, you need wisdom and harmlessness united.
This is a wonderful synthesis, and you're exactly right on the 48 Laws of Power book. I've always considered that read a Machiavelli book for modern man, and ought to be read the same way.
You captured that perfectly between a true wisdom of the world is a morality between the extremes of radical pacifism and nihilism.
Like Orwell, Machiavelli's name has become a term unto itself.
The point you bring up about Machiavellianism being misread is crucial. Cherry-picking information is dangerous, especially when dealing with someone whose subject matter is about as consequential as it gets. And I think you're right: the point isn't so much "moralizing Machiavelli," but learning from him. Naivety is by itself a major risk.
I'm so glad you addressed this