Niccolo Machiavelli is revered as the founder of modern political philosophy. He was considered a “realist” because he concerned himself only with the political situations that actually arose in reality, where as previous philosophers were concerned largely with the theoretical politics of an “idealist” perfect society. In Machiavellis’ The Prince, written to the ruler of Florence at the time, Lorenzo de’ Medici, he analyzes the characteristics of numerous past rulers. In doing so, Machiavelli presents …showed first 75 words of 619 total…

…showed last 75 words of 619 total…a successful ruler does not necessarily have to possess every good human trait but that “it is truly necessary that he appear to have them.” Niccolo Machiavelli is regarded by many as an unscrupulous man. Some disagree with his policy of implementing calculated violence. Others disagree with his notion that ends justify means. However, Machiavelli was correct in that these are all things that have proven successful in politics both before and after his life.