1.       Machiavelli notes that by destroying the weaker powers King Louis made a dangerous mistake. However, if a state is striving for dominance, aren’t demonstrations of power necessary to appease the people and also warn enemies?  (Julie Kim)

2.       Machiavelli’s war-disease analogy seems to justify preemptive warfare.  Do you agree with his worldview?  (Esther Schoenfeld)

3.       Machiavelli seems to have no concern for justice whatsoever; he is only concerned about maintaining power. In light of our past discussions about justice, however, how do you view the assertion that “there is no surer way of keeping possession than by devastation?” (Allegra Wiprud)

4.       Is practicality always the best policy?  (Maaz Tambra)

5.       Do you agree that “there is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others?” Is war a necessity?  (Daniel Frankel)

6.       What do we expect from new rulers when they are chosen today? How important is change?  (Omika Jikaria)

7.       Machiavelli advocates the use of settlements rather than armed troops to exert a foreign nation’s influence upon another. Is this good advice? In particular, think about Israel’s settlements in the West Bank. Does this pacify the Palestinians or inflame tensions?  (Jacob Sunshine)

8.       Machiavelli says “whoever is responsible for another’s becoming powerful ruins himself.” Do you agree with this? What does it say about the value of allies?  (Sharada Sridhar)

9.       Would Machiavelli approve of U.S. foreign policy?  (Anna Gordan)

10.   Does Machiavelli’s merciless desire to keep enemies down hold in a global society with multinational police institutions like the U.N?  (Phillip Yuen)

1.       Can a criminal today become president? Is it easier or more difficult for those in power to commit crimes?  (Taha Ahsin)

2.       Machiavelli says unarmed prophets fail. Would he also say that the principle of civil disobedience is not an effective way to achieve political change?  (Sandesh Kataria)

3.       What is the ultimate goal of the Machiavellian prince? Is it worthwhile?  (Dominika Burek)

4.       Can cruelty be used “well?” If “those who use [cruelty well] can, with God and with men, somehow enhance their position”—do immoral means justify moral ends?  (Cassie Moy)

5.       Machiavelli states that “without opportunity, the virtue of their spirit would have been extinguished.” This clashes with the American sentiment that with hard work, one can achieve anything. Is Machiavelli’s vision outdated, or is it still true today?  (Masha Gindler)

6.       “Therefore one must urgently arrange matters so that when they no longer believe they can be made to believe by force.” Should efficiency in government be sacrificed for democratic ideals?  (Paul Lee)

7.       Machiavelli says “the less a man has relied on fortune, the stronger he has made his position.” Is this still applicable to our government?  (Tammuz Huberman)

8.       Are Agathocles and Oliverotto models of our perfectly unjust man?  (Allegra Wiprud)

9.       What do you make of the story about Agathocles? Can cruelty ever be used well, as Machiavelli says it may be?  (Sarah Kaplan)

10.   Does using past examples to prove his points make Machiavelli right? Or should we side with Plato and condemn Machiavelli’s use of particulars?  (Matthew Solomon)

11.   How large a role, if any, should morality play in foreign policy?  (Esther Schoenfeld)

12.   “Men do you harm either because they fear you or because they hate you.” Do you agree?  (Kai Sam Ng)

13.   “Whoever believes that with great men new services wipe out old injuries deceives himself.” Does this mean that reconciliation is never possible? What implications does this have for world leaders today?  (Casey Griffin)

14.   Machiavelli does condone unnecessary violence and criminality on the part of princes. How was his reputation for moral decrepitude, and the decidedly negative connotation of “Machiavellian” arrived at?  (Evan Smith)

1.       What is the end goal of Machiavelli obtaining these principalities and land? Can this be translated into today’s modern system of power?  (Taha Ahsin)

2.       How does Machiavelli’s idea of what constitutes a “good law” differ from that of other philosophers we have read? Which leads to a more successful state? (Julia Kaplan)

3.       “When things are quiet, everyone dances attendance, everyone makes promises, and everybody would die for him so long as death is far off.  But in times of adversity, when the state has need of its citizens, there are few to be found.” Does this hold true today? Is this true of America? (Maaz Tambra)

4.       Machiavelli argues that low expectations are the greatest advantage, because “when man receive favors from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under greater obligation to their benefactor.” Do you agree? (Claire Littlefield)

5.       “Princes… rule either directly or through magistrates. In the latter case, their position is weaker and more dangerous…” Does bureaucracy weaken the power of the sovereign? (Kai Sam Ng)

6.       Can Machiavelli’s critique of the use of mercenaries be likened to our own use of military contractors in places like Iraq and Afghanistan? If so, does it mean that out use of these contractors is ultimately detrimental to our goals in these wars? (Anna Gordan)

7.       How does a prince find balance between doing favors for his people and making reasonable laws? (Sandesh Kataria)

8.       In this day and age of centralized governments and large states, do Machiavelli’s arguments about controlling a small city-state still prevail? (Jacob Sunshine)

9.       Given Machiavelli’s opinions on mercenary armies, how would we feel about how t he United States Armed Forces is composed today? Specifically, would he have an opinion on the fact that expedited citizenship is offered to immigrants who perform military service? (Lily Ostrer)

10.   Is the United States a strong state in Machiavelli’s terms? (Tousif Ahsan)

11.   Many of Machiavelli’s theories seem to coincide with why wars were won and lost even after he dies. Does one simply have to follow his ideas to get to the top? (Marley Lindsey)

12.   Do you think that Machiavelli believes in God? If he does, how can he reconcile his philosophy with theology? (Sarah Kaplan)

13.   Is being the Prince truly worth all the emotional and mental trouble? (Sharada Sridhar)

14.   Do you agree with the idea that good laws cannot exist without good armies? Can the two ever be independent of one another? (Omika Jikaria)

1.       Does democracy doom politicians to generosity? Are government entitlements an example of destructive generosity?  (Claire Littlefield)

2.       Machiavelli says that “Many have dreamed up republics and principalities which have never in truth been known to exist;  the gulf between how one should live and how one does live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be done moves towards self destruction rather than self preservation.” Is idealism a fault? What does this mean for the writings of Plato, Augustine and Aquinas?  (Sarah Kaplan)

3.       Machiavelli claims that men are “ungrateful, fickle, liars and deceivers” who “shun danger and are greedy for profit” and “who sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.” Do you agree with this characterization of mankind?  (Sarah Kaplan)

4.       Can a person gain power while acting virtuously?  (Casey Griffin)

5.       Can a state be injured by constantly remaining on guard, even against the benefits which allies can bring? Are other opportunities lost due to a lack of trust?  (Julie Kim)

6.       Is the very start of Chapter XV a concealed criticism of Plato?  (Anna Gordan)

7.       What would Machiavelli think of Cincinnatus, the Roman who gave up his power in times of peace instead of preparing for the next war?  (Max Blitzer)

8.       How would Plato respond to Machiavelli’s criticism that a virtuous life “moves toward self-destruction?” What do you think?  (Esther Schoenfeld)

9.       Is diplomacy only reserved for those who can afford the alternative?  (Tousif Ahsan)

10.   Is there something morally wrong with lending a country’s troops to another country?  (Matthew Solomon)

11.   Machiavelli has previously stated that a prince must be willing and able to eliminate former allies, and here states that allies are ultimately harmful in war. Can true alliances or friendships exist without jealousy or rivalry?  (Allegra Wiprud)

12.   Is there any room for morality in Machiavelli’s city?  (Masha Gindler)

13.   Does being skilled in the art of war allow one to govern properly as a ruler?  (Michael Huang)

1.       Would you rather be feared or loved? (Marley Lindsey)

2.       Is the prince’s main goal to keep order in the state (much like Plato’s conception of the perfect city) or does he aspire to give all individuals the best life? How do power and order clash with individualism? (Jacob Sunshine)

3.       “A prince… cannot observe all those things which give men a reputation for virtue, because in order to maintain his state he is often forced to act in defiance of good faith.” Do you agree? (Matthew Solomon)

4.       Is there room for true compassion in politics or can nothing be free from calculation? (Allegra Wiprud)

5.       “Fear is quite compatible with the absence of hatred.” Do you agree? (Casey Griffin)

6.       How do Aristotle and Machiavelli’s political animals compare and which is bound to be more successful? (Daniel Frankel)

7.       Must a prince overcome adversity in order to be great? If this is the case, does greatness depend more on the individual or circumstance? (Sarah Kaplan)

8.       Do Machiavellian conclusions lead to relativism? (Kai Sam Ng)

9.       Machiavelli mentions that one of the despised traits in a ruler is effeminacy. Though societal attitudes towards women have changed greatly, there are still many similarities to Machiavelli’s day. Does the aversion to effeminacy explain why there are very few female heads of state? Or do any other requirements in a ruler that Machiavelli mentions require an explanation? (Lily Ostrer)

10.   Because of Hannibal’s cruelty, “the historians… on the one hand admire what [he] achieved, and on the other hand condemn what made those achievements possible.” How do we evaluate our leaders? Do the ends justify the means? (Claire Littlefield)

11.   Is there aesthetic value to being a great leader? Should aesthetics be considered on the same level as virtue? (Esther Schoenfeld)

12.   Does true love or friendship exist? Or is love what Machiavelli defines it to be: “a bond of gratitude which men, wretched creatures they are, break when it is there advantage to do so?” (Tammuz Huberman)

13.   “Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.” Are all people not who they appear to be? (Angela Han)

1.       Would you rather live under the Prince or the Republic? (Maaz Tambra)

2.       “If everyone can speak the truth then you lose respect.” Is this true? (Casey Griffin)

3.       Even though Machiavelli endorses ruthlessness towards others to gain power, he still has some reservations, whether on the grounds of aesthetics or virtú. Why does he have these reservations? (Kai Sam Ng)

4.       If a lot of the things Machiavelli writes are self-evident, why is the term “Machiavellian” pejorative? (Kai Sam Ng)

5.       Throughout The Prince, Machiavelli advocates warfare, violence, cruelty and deceit. Does his impassioned plea for a unified Italy make you see him in a more sympathetic light? (Esther Schoenfeld)

6.       Do you agree that “it is probably true that fortune is the arbiter of half of the things we do, leaving the other half or so to be controlled by ourselves?” (Julia Kaplan)

7.       “…this is a common failing of mankind, never to anticipate a storm when the sea is calm.” Do you agree? (Anna Gordan)

8.       Have the requirements for governing society changed since Machiavelli’s time? What would need to be updated for such a manual for the prince in the modern day? (Lily Ostrer)

9.       Is caution a vice? (Sarah Kaplan)

10.   Is it not more practical to watch two warring countries fight while staying neutral, waiting for an opportunity, rather than choosing a side? (Michael Huang)

11.   What do you think of Machiavelli’s reason for the Prince to exist? Is stability that important, especially if the ruler sacrifices people’s rights? Do the ends justify the means? (Matthew Solomon)

12.   Has Machiavelli convinced you of his virtue? Do you still see being Machiavellian with a somewhat negative connotation? (Marley Lindsey)

13.   “…men are won over by the present far more than by the past.” Do you agree? (Angela Han)