Niccolo Machiavelli, widely known as the father of political science, authored a pocketbook called “The Prince” in 1532. This book has an enduring impact even to this day and serves to inform much of the theoretical debates around morality in politics. Within “The Prince” Machiavelli addresses the idea that morality is often not a productive tool to use when governing a nation. In the eyes of Machiavelli, morality can be seen as anti-realistic in the face of the complex diplomatic situation of a political state.
The Challenge of Maintaining Morality in Politics
Maintaining morality in the political environment can be exceedingly difficult. In almost every level of government, someone’s moral sense must be compromised in order to facilitate the majority’s agenda. This is a result of the strict polarity of politics and its requirement for laws to have a victor and a loser. This can lead to often unethical scenarios in order to gain a desired outcome for a party.
Effects of Morality on Political Action
Essentially, morality can be seen as an obstacle when it comes to taking action related to governing the state. This is because having strong moral principles influences the course of action one can take. This can be especially seen in terms of the actions taken with regards to foreign policy. When governed by a moral basis, leaders may act in a way that puts the nation and its citizens in a compromising position. This can be avoided by setting aside moral values and thinking in instead in terms of what will maintain the integrity of the nation.
Machiavelli’s Advice Regarding The Use of Morality in Politics
Machiavelli’s advice on morality in politics was simple, yet profound. He advised princes against taking any action based on moral compunction and instead trump tactical benefits over moral ones. He noted that principles of morality can be seen as the basis for bad political decisions. This was in reference to rulers maintaining morality due to inner distress and sometimes their character defects or their passions.
Machiavelli’s View of Morality: Disposition of Virtue and Vice
Machiavelli’s view of morality was twofold: a ruler must have the disposition of virtue and the disposition of vice. In other words, the prince must have a understanding of the morality of both sides of the coin, so to speak. He should be aware of both good and bad, virtuous and vicious. The prince must have the ability to cater these principles in order to effectively govern the state. This means being prepared to take both moral and immoral routes to achieve desired outcomes – something that Machiavelli’s morality of self-interest can accommodate.
Benefits of Practicing Anti-realistic Morality in Politics
Using an anti-realistic morality can be beneficial for rulers, on a case-by-case basis. Since a prince cannot always maintain a high ground on moral principles, one must be prepared to compromise their morals to attain successful outcomes. Additionally, being lenient with morality can be a better way to gain the trust of foreign allies as they are less likely to feel as though they need to take precautions against a ruler dominated by moral values.
When Morality Is Most Important
At the same time, however, there are certain situations in which it is important to adhere to moral values. This is especially true when the ruler of the nation is trying to maintain their own personal reputation or the reputation of their nation. If a leader finds themselves in a position where their personal morality is being tested, then it is essential that they remain firm in their convictions and accept the consequences of their decisions.
Opportunities for Growth
Having a negative stance on morality does not mean that a prince should never opt for a moral course of action. It only serves to say that it is not necessary if the outcome does not require it. This is where personal growth opportunities can be afforded for rulers. They can challenge themselves to understand both sides of the coin, allowing themselves to make wiser decisions that enjoy a balance between moral and practical concerns in their decision-making process.
Machiavelli’s view of morality in politics can be seen as anti-realistic in nature. This idea serves to advise rulers to set aside their sense of morality when making difficult decisions related to the state. That said, morality should still be respected in certain scenarios where practical decisions make it essential. In these cases, a ruler must always remain firm in their convictions and focus on achieving the best possible outcome for the nation as a whole.
