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Tale as old as time (lemmy.world)
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[-] something_random_tho@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

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."

[-] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 13 points 4 months ago

"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?

[-] something_random_tho@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago

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.

[-] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

Well shit. I got Poe'd by a dead man.

this post was submitted on 13 May 2024
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