Petrarch and Machiavelli Essay - 809 Words

Thoughts on Ruling: Machiavelli VS. Petrarch In the fourteenth century, the humanist philosopher Francesco Petrarch wrote a letter entitled How a Ruler Ought to Govern His Sate. Nearly a century later, another philosopher by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a book about governing, The Prince. The two documents show many similarities in content and theme. While the two wrote in similar subject matter, it is clear that these philosophers possess distinctly different viewpoints on how a ruler should govern. In Petrarch’s How a Ruler Ought to Govern His Sate and Machiavelli’s The Prince, both philosophers possess different opinions on how a ruler ought to govern. In particular Machiavelli pays specific attention to the importance of†¦show more content†¦In The Prince, Machiavelli repeatedly brings up the theme of importance of appearing like a virtuous ruler. In chapter XV Machiavelli discusses how it is important to appear as a virtuous ruler, but to not actually possess these qualities. He states, â⠂¬Å" one is considered a giver, the other rapacious; one cruel, another merciful; one treacherous, another faithful; one effeminate and cowardly, another bold and courageous; one humane, another haughty; one lascivious, another chaste; one trustworthy, another cunning; one harsh another lenient; one serious another frivolous; one religious another unbelieving; and the like. And I know that everyone will admit that it would be a very praiseworthy thing to find in a prince, of the qualities mentioned above, those that are held to be good; but since it is neither possible to have them nor observe them all completely, because human nature does not permit it, a prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state for him† (The Portable Machiavelli 127). In this chapter Machiavelli is suggesting that a good ruler can’t be virtuous at all times because it would not be in the best interest of the people. Machiavelli rec eived much criticism from this suggestion, but he saw nothing wrong with it. To Machiavelli, the definition of virtue was anything that receives praise from othersShow MoreRelatedThe Rise Of The Renaissance Essay1525 Words   |  7 PagesFlorence. Humanism was inspired by a humanist name Petrarch and a lot of people may know him as the â€Å"Father of Humanism† because he spent a lot of time trying to spread his knowledge. Petrarch had such an influence on the schools that even â€Å"education in humanistic subjects appeared practical while education in logic and natural science, dominant subjects in the medieval curriculum, seemed to breed idle debate† (15). The way that Petrarch brought humanism to education during the early RenaissanceRead MoreThe Emergence Of Italian Nationalism1346 Words   |  6 Pages†2 Petrarch holds a permanent place in literature as a humanist writer during the Renaissance. Born in Tuscany in 1304, Petrarch studied law under his father’s wishes. After his father’s death Petrarch followed his desire to be a writer. Throughout his writing career, Petrarch devoted his time to bringing back the ancient works from writers of Rome and Greece, which focused on the pre-Ch ristian ideas of man being the center of all things. In a letter to his friend Giovanni Boccaccio, Petrarch statesRead MoreA Brief Note On Indian Poetry After Islam Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pagesboundaries between the two traditions. Petrarch: Petrarch was born on July 20, 1304, in Arezzo, Tuscany. He was a classical scholar who was considered the Father of Humanism. There was a philosophy that helped spark the Renaissance. Petrarch s writing included well known odes to Laura. Laura was known as his lover. Petrarch was writing and was also used to shape the modern Italian language. He passed away at age of 69 in 1374. Classics and Humanism Petrarch became a cleric, making him eligibleRead MoreThe Balance Of Rationality And Spirituality1241 Words   |  5 Pagesand the era itself, as Petrarch demonstrates with his letters to Marcus Tullius Cicero. Petrarch laments in the fictional letter, â€Å"we of today are too feeble a folk to read [Cicero’s works], or even to be acquainted with their mere titles†¦those who really know you are very few, be it because the times are unfavorable, or because men’s minds are slow and dull, or, as I am the more inclined to believe, because the love of money for ces our thoughts in other directions,† (Petrarch, Letter to Cicero, http://legacyRead MoreHumanism As The Foundation For The Italian Renaissance1272 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature was just beginning to flourish. It had been hard to get your literature noticed because it had been a time consuming process of re-writing one’s work to make copies. Poetry and comedy dominated the genres of writing and Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch were the most influential writers. But thanks to Gutenburg, the famous literary pieces like Dante’s Inferno, Boccaccio’s The Decameron, and Petrarch’s Il Canzoniere were now available to the mass public. However, over time as the author’s viewsRead MoreThe Long And Cold Effects The Middle Ages965 Words   |  4 Pagessuch as Greek dramas and Aristotle. This idea then spread all over Europe. Niccolà ² di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was not only a writer but diplomat who is best know for writing The Prince and for being the father of modern political theory. Because of some of his works, most notably The Prince, the Catholic Church banned him from entering the church of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy. Machiavelli and his works were condemned by the pope of the time thus showing the defiance he had against the churchRead MoreThe Rebirth Of Ancient Cultures1462 Words   |  6 Pagesprimitivism of medieval life, looking further back to the time of ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. Francesco Petrarch was one such humanist writer. A prominent figure in Renaissance Florence history, he is known as the founder of humanism. On April 6, 1341, Petrarch was crowned Poet Laureate. Many historians cite this date as the true beginning of the Renaissance. Petrarch emphasized life in this world, as opposed to preparation for life in the next world, which revolved around religion f orRead MoreHumanism the Gateway to Individualism530 Words   |  3 Pagesenlightening knowledge to the more literate society of the time. Even peasants believed and were allowed to believe they could achieve a level of intelligence equal to or greater than the great classical philosophers like Aristotle and Plato. Francesco Petrarch, the great Renaissance humanist, noted other humanists, and innumerable others like them, signifying the popularity classical literature had in the then recent past. Pico della Mirandola, a Florentine writer, stated in his On the Dignity of ManRead MoreItalian Renaissance Humanism in Art1826 Words   |  8 Pagespagan=s, and the Church became one of the main reasons why the artistic applications of humanistic values flourished (Jovanovich 84). Two humanistic philosophers who greatly impacted the Italian Renaissance were Pico della Mirandola and Niccolo Machiavelli. Pico della Mirandola, author of AOration on the Dignity of Man,@ believed and emphasized that humans could perfect their existence on earth because they were divinely given the ability to determine their own fate (Mirandola). He accentuated theRead MoreThe Philosophical Point Of Humanism1733 Words   |  7 Pagesone of the greatest humanists, occupied a position midway between extreme piety and frank secularism. Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) represented conservative Italian humanism. Robust secularism and intellectual independence reached its height in Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) and Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540). Rudolphus Agricola (1443-1485) may be regarded as the German Petrarch. In England, John Colet (c.1467-1519) and Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) were early or conservative humanists, Francis