In the most famous example of Machiavelli’s modern, ‘scientific’ approach to government, the Florentine observes there are leaders with the means of forcing the issue and those who must rely on persuasion: the former leverages either fortuna or, better yet, prowess (skill). The prince must understand and even foresee circumstances and boldly, opportunistically match his behavior to the times: the ends justify the means, and certainly the people will judge him on results. (He must know how to act the lion and also the fox, and to seize the womanly fortuna.) His foremost skill should be in warfare. Regarding the populace, men worry less about a ruler they love than one they fear – punishment is worse than dishonor – but he should not be hated. he prince rewards those who increase the city-state’s prosperity, and devises ways to promote the citizenry’s acquiescence and dependency. Governing according to an ideal of how people should live is dangerous to a ruler who must solve for how they actually do live (p.50). Men, especially councilors, will behave badly unless forced to do otherwise (p.77). On the surface, Machiavelli’s realism is no longer shocking and he is well described as the father of sociology; on the other hand, it is clear break with Christian Aristotelianism and the embarkment of modern political philosophy.
Coda: intelligence may lie in understanding things in their own right, in what others will understand, or in neither(?).