What if Machiavelli and Voltaire met for lunch to discuss war and Essay

What if Machiavelli and Voltaire met for lunch to discuss war and politics - Essay Example Niccolà ² Machiavelli, born 1469 in Florence and died 1527, and Voltaire, real name Francois Marie Arouet, born in Paris in 1694 and died in 1778, would obviously never have met in life, despite the fact that Machiavelli , the statesman as well as political theorist, traveled widely as a representative of his native Florentine state, and Voltaire traveled to various European countries. However it is possible that, though coming from geographically and chronologically separate places, they may have shared some ideas, despite the differences of their backgrounds and the more than 200 years which separate their births. They both for instance had problems with authority. Both outspoken men, this imaginary luncheon might not have gone well unless they could find common ground. It must be asked what language would they speak? Which wines would they prefer? What would the menu be? Both had traveled. Would Italian, French, German or even English food be on the menu? Where would they meet? S witzerland, always neutral, seems the ideal place, in distance, as well as being a place where both had traveled. Presumably one of them could suggest a good place to meet. This essay will consider which ideas were important to these two profound thinkers whose influence has extended beyond their own generation, topics they feel to be so important that they would be discussed when they met, wherever and whenever that might be. ... I t is assumed by biographers3, but not proved, that he, attended the university in Florence. He certainly received a good education somewhere. In 1498 Florence became a republic and Machiavelli became a clerk in the republic’s service, quickly rising through the ranks. He would have been one of several intellectuals who considered historical and political problems in detail . Between 1498 and 1512 Machiavelli was entrusted with several missions on behalf of the Florentine republican state. While in France he was able to observe at first hand how a country was ruled by only one person., something at that time not happening in Florence. The first inklings then of ‘the Prince’ that was to come in 1513. When he returned home he found the republic in great trouble, as Cesare Borgia was attempting top carve out for himself a state he could rule as a prince in the area of Italy lying south of Florence as described by on the web page ‘Machiavelli’s â€Å"Th e Prince† a summary with quotations’ – anonymous and undated. In 1513 things had changed when the powerful Medici family again took charge. Machiavelli was arrested and accused of conspiracy, possibly even tortured. . He was known as an analyzer of political powers, perhaps he analyzed too closely for the comfort of his rulers. Soon pardoned he withdrew himself from the public arena and turned to a literary life, creating plays, comedies and poetry. He is best known for ‘The Prince’ was not published until 1532, well after his death . The main thrust of the work is that in order to maintain his authority any acts of a ruler are justified. He must have ‘virtu’. This is not the same as virtue, i.e. goodness, rightness or morality, but rather can be translated as prowess, skill or