Is George Bush Machiavelli ?: Philosophy Forums

Is George Bush Machiavelli ?
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Is George Bush Machiavelli ?

Banno
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Posted 04/25/08 - 04:20 PM:	#26
Bush is a "gentleman" in Straussian terms. There is too little coherence in his actions to call him Machiavellian.
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softtarget
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Posted 04/27/08 - 06:01 PM:	#27
Postmodern Beatnik wrote: Actually, it's only once you are the king that you do have to be Machiavellian. In The Prince, Machiavelli reports which modes of governing and public relations keep rulers from being deposed and which lead to them being removed from power (and often executed). Just doing as one wishes -- without regard to how it will play among the people -- is just about the most dangerous behavior that exists. Good point, but in this case, I would say that perhaps the characters around Bush are potentially more Machiavellian than the king himself...
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Postmodern Beatnik
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Posted 04/28/08 - 11:19 AM:	#28
softtarget wrote: Good point, but in this case, I would say that perhaps the characters around Bush are potentially more Machiavellian than the king himself... Good point, yourself. Again, I think "Orwellian" is the best descriptor for what has gone on in the US over the past 7+ years, but I think you would be correct in describing some of Bush's staff as having taken The Prince to heart.
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Tad
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Posted 04/29/08 - 09:00 PM:	#29
Bush followed Machiavelli when he said that it is better to be feared than loved, because you ought to choose the one you can control.
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Posted 04/30/08 - 01:59 PM:	#30
Bush and his administration have used fear vis-a-vis terror management theory to control voters, to be sure, but by way of positing an invisible army of external enemies. Machiavelli suggests that rulers should themselves be feared. So again, I find this administration to be more Orwellian than Machiavellian.
_____________________ "I find that offensive!" -Bender Bending Rodriguez "Remember, Jesus would rather constantly shame gays than let orphans have a family." -Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA

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