NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF STUDY AND RESEARCH IN LAW

RANCHI

SUBJECT: POLITICAL SCIENCE II

RESEARCH TOPIC: MACHIAVELLI CONCEPT OF RELIGION: THE PRINCE

SUBMITTED TO:
SUBMITTED BY:

DR. NARENDRA NAROTTAM

NAME: PREM

(ASSISTANT PROFESSOR)
SEMESTER: ‘2ND’
(POLITICAL SCIENCE)
SECTION: ‘A’

(NUSRL, RANCHI)
ROLL NO.- 1010

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many individuals. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them.

I am highly indebted to my faculty Prof. Dr. Narendra Narottam for his guidance and
constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the project &
also for her support in completing the project.

My thanks and appreciations also go to my colleagues in developing the project and people
who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.....................................................................................................................1

TABLE OF CONTENT.........................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................3
1). ABOUT THE NICCOL MACHIAVELLI -.................................................................................3
2). ABOUT THE BOOK “THE PRINCE”........................................................................................3

MACHIAVELLI VIEWS ON RELIGION............................................................................................4

CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................6

BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION

1). ABOUT THE NICCOLO` MACHIAVELLI -

Niccolò Machiavelli is known as the father of modern political philosophy or political
science. He was born in 1469 in Florence, Italy and Florence was one of the five city state of

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Italy. And on those time big kingdoms like Britain, France, Germany and Spain interferes in
the politics of Italy and because of this Machiavelli was influenced by the chaos and lack of
unity of Italy and his ultimate dream was that he wanted to see Italy as a single united nation
like France and Britain. And if we talk about the politics of Italy that time then till 1494
Florence was ruled by “Medica Family” and in 1494 Medici were overthrown and a
Republican Government was established in Florence. And under the new government
Machiavelli came under the Public Life at the age of 29 and appointed as Second Chancellor
and then member of “Ten of War Committee” for 14 years and he travels to different
Kingdoms and have a closer look at the Policies being made. Then it was the year of 1512,
Medici returns in power with help of Spanish army and everything had been changed for
Machiavelli. After the return of Medici, Machiavelli was removed from his post and in 1513
Machiavelli was arrested for conspiring against Medici Family and he is imprisoned and
tortured for almost a year. Medici freed Machiavelli under the condition that he will not
participate in public life and Machiavelli accepts the condition of Medici and went to his
ancestral village and made his name embedded in the history of whole Political Science.
Because in the second half of 1513, he started writing “THE PRINCE” and “THE
DISCOURCE”.

2). ABOUT THE BOOK “THE PRINCE”.

Niccolò Machiavelli has written two books in late 1513 in which his book “THE PRINCE” is
highly influenced book ever written by any political philosopher because this a book on art of
statecraft which means how to run a state and it presents a “Theory of Preservation of State”.
Machiavelli advices the ruler or prince on how to get the power and how to maintain it. And
the main reason behind the highly influenced book in history is that this handbook is very
realpolitik which means this is based on reality and not on the idea of idealism. Machiavelli
wrote in this book that a prince can use evil means like violence, treachery, cunningness,
deception to preserve his state.

MACHIAVELLI VIEWS ON RELIGION

Niccolò Machiavelli’s approach to religion were decisively shaped by his secular profession
as a diplomat at the time of his public life and by his passion for understanding political

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reality during those times. His profession, as well as his intellectual assumptions, separated
him from the medieval theological and priestly perspective on religion. Machiavelli’s attempt
to understand religion appears to be typical of Renaissance Florence, where intellectual
activity was “almost exclusively functional related to specific vocational and professional
purposes, and directed toward the satisfaction of social needs.”

Machiavelli’s writings were his attitude towards religion and morality, which distinguished
him from all those who preceded him. “Machiavelli describe frequently that he sees religion
as man-made, and not divine that the value of religion lies in its contribution to social order
and the rules of morality must be dispensed with if security requires it and that why he was
critical in his attacking the Church and its clergy for their failure to provide moral inspiration.
Machiavelli was anti- Church and anti- clergy, but not anti- religion but he always considered
religion as necessary tool for a state and he states that religion was important within a state
because of the influence it wielded over political life in general. Though an indispensable part
of civic life, it was never an end in itself. As a political tool, princes and rulers were to use
religion in their power struggles effectively, but responsibly and cautiously, otherwise it
could be disastrous. And he states that religion was good only if it produced order, for peace
brought forth fortune and success.

Machiavelli’s attitude towards religion was strictly utilitarian, he states that religion is not
prior to nation. Nation cannot be sacrificed for the sake of religion. Prince may be religious or
non-religious but he should never exhibit his disrespect of religion. Religion matters for
common man but it can be used in the interest of the state. Machiavelli says that religion was
a social force and did not have any spiritual connotation. As a social force, it played a pivotal
role because it appealed to the selfishness of man through its doctrine of rewards and
punishment, thereby inducing proper behavior and good conduct that was necessary for the
well-being of the society. Religion determined the social and ethical norms and values that
governed human conduct and actions.

Machiavelli advised the prince to do anything and everything possible to cultivate belief in
religion, even if the ruler in his personal capacity was irreligious or had very little faith in
religion and he also advised that prince should go for celebrations on high of scale with lot of
pomp and show on regular basis. Even a small achievement needs to be celebrated.
Machiavelli admired qualities like courage, self- assertiveness, fortitude, ambition, vitality,

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intelligence, fame and strength which religion should ideally foster. By his own preference,
he criticized Christianity, for it made men effeminate, charitable and weak, glorifying
qualities like renunciation, humility, lowliness, other worldliness, asceticism, charity, and
patience under injustice.

A civic religion for Machiavelli should instill fear and respect for government authorities and
help in the implant of military valor. He dismissed the Christian view that an individual was
endowed with a divine element and a supernatural end. Machiavelli contended the original
Christianity taught virtues that linked internal good of the soul with the generation and
training of civic virtue. Gilbert does not find any anti- Christianity in Machiavelli. In fact,
many sentiments in the Discourses were Christian. Though Machiavelli was critical of
Christianity, here the basic Christian views on the differences between good and evil. For
instance, he regarded murdering one’s co-citizens, betraying one’s friends, disloyalty and
irreligiousness as lack of virtue not entitled to glory. Machiavelli was clear that Italy was
needed a religion similar to that what ancient Rome had, a religion that taught to serve the
interests of the state wholly. Machiavelli was categorical that Florentines needed a political
and military virtues which Christian faith did not impart.

CONCLUSION
In my opinion Niccolò Machiavelli makes clear difference between politics and religion or
morality. He clearly says that religion is necessary to for common man and he should obey
the natural law or custom of his religion but ruler must not practice these customs blindly

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because this may backfire and he can also lose his kingdom so rather than following religion
blindly he must use religion as tool to preserve his kingdom. And lastly, he advised that
prince must not think about good or evil rather than he must think about his image is in public
life because what real is not important, what is shown in public and what public is perceiving
is important for a ruler and we can saw these qualities in today’s politicians also that they are
using religion and many more things to show a good spiritual image in public life but in
reality the truth may differ.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Political Science II compendium,

 www.jstor.org.nusrlranchi.remotexs.in

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 www.studyiq.com

 www.academia.edu

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