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Machavelli



I'm really fascinated to get underneath a superficial understanding of Machiavelli (1469-1527) and understand his circumstances, and his place in the world of ideas. I started Miles Unger's biography. He starts with Machiavelli's democracy being ousted and him losing his place as the second man in Florence Italy in the  16th century.

Unfortunately or maybe with just cause, his name indicates a kind of ruthless pragmatism, a kind of going all out in getting what you want, and exercising your power. "The term Machiavellian often connotes political deceit, deviousness, and realpolitik."

In my thought experiment, I wondered who is like that in all the culture I consume. My first thought was Schmidt in New Girl.

Here's this guy who lived for ruling Florence, and he's been ousted by a new regime. He loves democracy, but he offers his services to the new regime who can't be bothered with him. He plays games with the local peasants and puts all his energy into arguing about the pennies they bet. I have a certain amount of sympathy for someone who is put out to pasture, and writes as a coping skill for being put out to pasture. 

“My desire that these Medici princes would put me to work, even if that means beginning by rolling a stone." (P.8)

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