this post was submitted on 13 May 2024
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It shows our failure as a species that most people don't understand that Machiavelli's most famous work was satire.
The Prince was certainly not satire. He wrote it to Lorenzo de Medici with the intention of being hired as his advisor. The entire book is specific instructions of how to rule for this very purpose. Of course he wasn't hired, since the book boils down to "be as duplicitous as you can be to get what you want."
Ok, maybe I'm missing it then. I thought that made it obvious satire. Is this another Poe's law situation?
No, Machiavelli sincerely argued for this kind of extreme pragmatism--do whatever's necessary to get what you want. It was wasn't satire. It's pretty obvious why he didn't get the job as advisor, though.
Well shit. I got Poe'd by a dead man.