AdminModel Answers to PYQs (2019-2024)
1] Comment on Machiavelli’s secularism. [2020/10m/150w/1e]
Machiavelli, the Florentine thinker and statesman is known for pioneering the separation of politics from religion, ethics and morals.
In his books ‘The Prince’ and ‘Discourses on Livy’, Machiavelli holds the church responsible for the moral and political abyss that Florence and Europe were in. Thus, His advice to the Medici Prince in this book is grounded in his conviction that a ruler should not be constrained by religion, its morals or the clergymen imposing it.
Machiavelli emphasizes that religion can put the prince in a dilemma, resulting in inaction. Hence, he declared that the ‘virtú’ of a Prince is to be free from the ethical limitations imposed by religion. This way, he laid the foundation for a secular state.
It’s also important to note that Machiavelli was not against the use of religion altogether. He suggests that religion is a necessity in a state, for it alone can ensure order and discipline among the common men. In ‘The Prince’ he says “where religion exists, it is easy to introduce army and discipline”. And as a corollary, Machiavelli asks the Prince to appear religious in public whenever possible.
Thus, the Machiavellian view on religion is more utilitarian rather than the traditional morality and mysticism associated with it. [207 words]
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NICCOLO DE BERNARDO MACHIAVELLI WAS A FLORENTINE DIPLOMAT, AUTHOR, PHILOSOPHER WHO EXISTED DURING THE TIME OF RENAISSANCE IN ITALY. HE BELONGS TO A PERIOD WHERE MEDIEVAL AGE WAS COMING TO AN END AND MODERNITY WAS ABOUT TO START. HE SET THE TONE FOR ONE OF THE MAIN THEMES OF MODERN TIMES CALLED SECULARISATION OF THOUGHT AND LIFE. HE SEPERATED RELIGION FROM POLITICS. HE HAD UTILITARIAN APPROACH TOWARDS RELIGION. HE SAW CHURCH AS A CORRUPT BODY WHICH HAD RESULTED IN THE SERVITUDE OF ITALY AND AT THE SAME TIME HE SAW MANY USES OF RELIGION FOR PRINCE. HE HELD THAT RELIGION… Read more »
good one