LS195 -- Great Ideas in Western Culture II -- Fall 1998
Assignments for Tuesday, 10 November 1998
Professor Caldwell, Clarkson
University
Box 5750, Liberal Arts Room 207, Tel:
268-3972
Read the following:
- Machiavelli, The Prince, pp. 20-68.
Answer the following questions on paper and be prepared to discuss them
fully in class.
- What are the three ways to maintain cities who lived under their own
laws before they were occupied by a new prince
Which does Machiavelli think is the most effective and why?
- In what specific ways are Moses, Romulus, Cyrus, and Theseus alike?
- What does Machiavelli have to say about relying on fortune for one's
success?
- Chapter VII details the career of Cesare Borgia. Describe who he
was
and outline his career.
- According to Machiavelli, what is the most important virtue an
aspiring or reigning prince can have?
- What do you think Machiavelli means by the word "virtue"? How does
it
compare with other meanings of the word
virtue that you may know?
- Chapter VIII details the career of Agathocles the Sicilian.
Describe
who he was and outline his career.
- How does Agathocles acquire empire but not glory?
- What two diverse humors are found in every city, and how does the
prince use these two humors to his advantage?
- Describe the rise of the temporal forces of the Pope.
- Who is Pope when Machiavelli is writing? Why does it matter?
- What are the principal foundations all states must have?
- What does Machiavelli think about mercenary and auxiliary soldiers
and why, and what examples does he use.
- According to Machiavelli, what should be the major art of the
prince,
and why? How is the prince to maintain his study
of this art?
- Does Machiavelli base his advice to the prince on what should
ideally
be done or on what is done in reality, and why?
- According to Machiavelli, what must a prince do in order to maintain
himself?
- Should a prince be liberal, i.e., generous, according to
Machiavelli?
Why or why not?
- Is it better for a prince to be loved or feared? Explain why.