Machiavelli On Fortune

7 Pages 1764 Words

Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince is a commentary which the philosopher composed both as an attempt to assume a political position under Lorenzo di Medici and as a manual of sorts regarding the rule of princes. Machiavelli discusses how he believes a nation-state should be ruled. He goes into great detail, which includes examples from ancient and contemporary rulers, in explaining his proposals. One theme that continues to reappear throughout The Prince is that of fortune. Machiavelli discusses fortune in depth throughout his text and attempts to show the reader how it influences the rule of a prince.
In Chapter VI of The Prince, Machiavelli proposes that it is opportunities that allow princes to shape things, which in turn makes them fortunate. It is these opportunities, according to Machiavelli, that allow the great qualities of the prince to show and his merits allow his good fortune to become success. This theory seems to be valid. Machiavelli provides us with examples from such great mythological figures as Moses and Romulus. He proposes that these men would not have been as great as they were had they not been given the opportunities that they were afforded.
Machiavelli’s theory seems to continue to be valid. It seems that opportunity still rules the fortune that one experiences. A more modern example of the soundness of this proposal can be seen with regards to a college education. If a person does not have a college education in modern times it is much harder for them to be successful. Similarly, opportunities in early life, such as schooling and experiences at home, often dictate success or failure later in life.
However, Machiavelli seems to contradict himself. Earlier in the chapter, he states that the less fortunate a prince is, the more success he will have. While this contradiction is puzzling, it is also a valid point to be considered. While opportunity is necessary for success, those who are no...