Machiavelli.....should his teachings be taught in school?

[DJC]

The Prince is taught or at least recommended reading if you take European History at A-level and if you take Classical Studies then the ancient philosophy aspect of the course should ask you to contrast the teachings of Socrates, Seneca, Horace, Plato et al against Machiavelli.

A lot of The Prince however, cannot be read in just the context of management, game theory, political manipulation and philosophy, it is also a history lesson and insight into an extremely interesting period of history and an extremely dysfunctional family!

An excellent read though and a good reason why it remains an integral part of any decent European history course.


Oh and Mandelson, Campbell and Blair actually fall foul of much of what Machiavelli says, they were only "successful" because they were faced by one of the most disjointed and inept Oppositions of modern politics.

[Saddle bum]

"God made the strong and he made the weak.
But Samuel Colt made up the difference"

Machiavelli would have wrote that.