What is Machiavelli’s Theory?
Machiavelli’s view that acquiring a state and maintaining it requires evil means has been noted as the chief theme of the treatise. He has become infamous for this advice, so much so that the adjective Machiavellian would later on describe a type of politics that is “marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith.
Hercules (known in Greek mythology as Heracles or Herakles) is one of the best-known heroes in ancient mythology. His life was not easy—he endured many trials and completed many daunting tasks—but the reward for his suffering was a promise that he would live forever among the gods at Mount Olympus.
This rant is neither about Machiavelli nor about Hercules. But, the culture that we live in expects us to be fiercely independent and function like the be all and end all. Invincible or Winvincible?
The need we have to knead is to need each other. Be in a state of deep dependence. But the diktat floating around in our society is completely the opposite.
Realisation of full potential is not through total individual independence but through transcending the self. It’s about connecting with something greater through altruism, spirituality, and a collective purpose. To be kind, to have hope and to love, ( note that four letter words- they can be a salve too) is a collective responsibility.
Mutual reliance is nothing to be embarrassed about. Our growth, our fulfillment, indeed, our very potential, are interwoven with our connection to others. What should ideally be obsolete terms include self-made, self-help, self-centred. An ‘ever evolving society’ should not sideline our need for emotional connections.
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” – Herman Melville